Beth speaking Jan. 2 at the Yiddish Vinkl

The next meeting will take place on  Thursday January 2nd at 12 Noon  At Free Times Cafe, 320 College St.  We invite you to hear  Beth Kaplan speak about Jacob Gordin, The Jewish Shakespeare.  Beth Kaplan, MFA in creative writing, is the author of three nonfiction books: Finding The Jewish Shakespeare: The Life and Legacy of Jacob Gordin, the biography of her great-grandfather; All My Loving, a memoir of the sixties; and True to Life, a guide to writing a memoir and the textbook for her courses. She has taught memoir and personal essay writing at Ryerson University for 25 years and for 12 years at U of T as well, where in 2012 she was given the Excellence in Teaching Award. A former actress, Beth produces So True, a curated reading series for her long-term students and herself twice a year at the Black Swan in Toronto.  Her website and blog are at bethkaplan.ca. Beth will speak about her journey of many years in search of her great-grandfather’s extraordinary story: his idealistic early life in Russia, his flight to the Lower East Side, the rapid start of his career in the Yiddish Theatre, his worldwide success, and the tragedy of the last years before his untimely death in 1909. And she will speak about her bond with him - the power of his on-going genetic legacy through family  members and her own theatrical and literary calling. Please go to the website do more information yiddishvinkl.com  Cost:  $23.00.  Includes buffet lunch (brisket, latkes, blintzes, salads, non alcoholic beverage and dessert); Includes tax, tip, and program. We are unable to reserve seating. However, it would be appreciated if you RSVP to yiddishvinkl@yahoo.ca so that we can prepare for the appropriate size of the audience. Please pass this on and keep the first Thursday of the month open.