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July 1, 2005
Authors form new group
Book club looks for Jewish writers to join their ranks.
Eva Cohen
A new Jewish book group has begun in the Lower Mainland, open to
anyone interested in discussing literature. Dan Propp, a photographer
and publisher of two books, including Through the Sunshine,
started the group by calling up writers he knew in the Vancouver
area.
"Our objective is to provide support and to publicize books
in print and on the way," said Propp.
The group currently attracts three or four people each week and
is hoping to expand its membership base. No fees are required to
join.
"We are a group of Jewish writers who have been published and
hope to work together and keep in touch," said Propp. "I
think it's an important thing to do."
The group has already attracted personalities such as Sima Holt,
a former member of the Trudeau administration and former columnist
at the Vancouver Sun, who has spent the last several years
tracking the Jonathan Pollard case. She has a lot of things on her
plate, but hopes to see the group take off.
"I would like to see them going somewhere," said Holt.
"It's something Jewish writers should be doing."
Another member of the group is Miriam Bromberg, who has self-marketed
her poetry around the city to such places as drug stores and hospitals.
Her poetry also appeared on an invitation for the Jewish Community
Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) following the rebuilding of the
centre. She shares Holt's sentiments on where she hopes the group
will go.
"Dan Propp contacted me about the group," said Bromberg.
"I think it's a great thing that he thought of."
Sally Rogow, a professor emerita at the University of British
Columbia, has also attended meetings. She will be coming out with
a new book soon, titled They Must Not be Forgotten. It is
a true story about a Jewish child raised by nuns after the Holocaust.
Although authors such as Rogow are widely published, this should
not discourage aspiring writers from coming out, members say. Everyone
has something to contribute to the discussion.
At a recent meeting, topics ranged from Canadian newspaper images
to Israeli politics. Opinions varied greatly but one thing was certain,
every member is deeply passionate about the impact of writing on
humanity.
"Writing is the biggest weapon to let people know what is wrong
in the world," said Holt. "It's important that you have
an informed opinion."
It is this sentiment that drives the group as they search for writers
to join and enjoy the atmosphere. They meet weekly on Wednesdays,
9-10:30 a.m., at the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library in the
JCC. Attendance is encouraged of anyone in the region who has been
published at any level or is interested in becoming a published
author.
Eva Cohen is a freelance writer living in Vancouver.
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