Katz Family Library Book Group

Katz Family Library Book Group

Wednesday, April 26 at 10:30 am

The book group will meet via Zoom to discuss “The Last Rose of Shanghai” by Weina Di Randel. In Japanese-occupied Shanghai in 1940, two people from different cultures are drawn together by fate and music. Aiyi Shao is a young heiress and the owner of a formerly popular Shanghai nightclub. Ernest Reismann is a penniless Jewish refugee driven out of Germany, an outsider searching for shelter in a city wary of strangers. He loses nearly all hope until he crosses paths with Aiyi. When she hires Ernest to play piano at her club, her defiance of custom causes a sensation. His instant fame makes Aiyi’s club once again the hottest spot in Shanghai. Soon they realize they share more than a passion for jazz—but their differences seem insurmountable, and Aiyi is engaged to another man. As the war escalates, Aiyi and Ernest find themselves torn apart, and their choices between love and survival grow more desperate. In the face of overwhelming odds, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever.

Contact the office for the Zoom link.

Israel 75 Live

Israel 75 Live

Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 pm

Join us in person for our community-wide celebration of Israel’s 75th birthday! Our guests will be Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt, comedians and co-authors of the forthcoming book “Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land.” They will speak about their new book, make us laugh, shed some light on the challenges Israel faces today, show you the Israel you didn’t know you didn’t know. Their hope is that you’ll leave with as many questions as answers!

Visit https://tinyurl.com/Israel75 to register.

There is no charge to attend this event, thanks to the generosity of Temple Beth El, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Springfield JCC, Sinai Temple, Geoff & Jane Berman, Ben & Adena Falk, Bill & Susan Firestone, Stanley & Candy Glazer, Marc & Susan Goldman, Robyn Newhouse, Stan & Sue Polansky, Diane Troderman, and the Fred & Ruth Weiss Fund for Israel.