Noted Author Scheduled to Speak at Congregation Agudath Israel

Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell is offering a Celebration of Wellness with Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin on Wednesday, April 30, at 8 p.m.

Pogrebin will be speaking about her book, How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick.

"Illness is friendship's proving ground," writes acclaimed journalist and activist Letty Cottin Pogrebin.

Fascinated by the varied reactions of her friends during her recent bout with breast cancer, she was inspired to interview more than 80 people to learn what those who are hurting—physically or emotionally—wished their friends or relatives had said or done to provide help and comfort.

Letty Cottin Pogrebin was raised in an observant Jewish home. She left Judaism at the time of her mother's death, when she was told that as a woman she could not participate in the Minyan. Letty did not become observant again for 15 years, until she felt that Judaism had ended the practice of excluding women. She became a remarkable feminist and a strong observant Jewish woman. She has participated in a black-Jewish dialogue group and two Jewish-Palestinian dialogue groups. In addition, she is a co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus; the Ms. Foundation for Women; the UJA-Federation Task Force on Women; and the International Center for Peace in the Middle East.

In 1991, Letty expressed her combined Jewish-feminist identity by writing the book, Deborah, Golda and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America. With her Jewish women friends, she began to create Jewish rituals around life-cycle events meaningful to women.

Letty is a founding editor and writer for Ms. Magazine, author of ten books, and is the editor of a collection of short stories, fables, and fairy tales emphasizing non-sexist, multi-racial, multi-cultural themes, Stories for Free Children. Additionally, Letty served as the consulting editor on Free to Be You and Me and Free to Be...A Family, Marlo Thomas' ground-breaking series of children's books, record and television specials.

Congregation Agudath Israel is located at 20 Academy Rd., in Caldwell. Call 973.226.3600 for more information.

Submitted by CAI