Northern Virginia J-Talks

An ongoing series of "J-Talks," conversations with authors and artists. Join us throughout the year for hard truths and inspiring stories, Jewish values, and living history — along with food, fiction, and humor!

J-Talks are held at the Pozez JCC in Fairfax, as well as around Northern Virginia at partnering synagogues, organizations, and area businesses who support offering literary arts programs for all ages, backgrounds, and interests.

Lisa M. Shulman, MD
Before and After Loss: A Neurologist’s Perspective on Loss, Grief and Our Brain

Thursday, February 27, 12:30pm–2pm
Neurologist Dr. Lisa Shulman describes a personal story of loss and her quest to understand the science behind the mind-altering experience of grief. Part memoir and part scientific discovery, this moving book combines Shulman’s perspectives as an expert in brain science and behavior, with her experience as a clinician, a caregiver, and a widow.

Presented by the J’s Adult Learning Institute, Thursday at the J and the J’s Community Engagement Department

Rebecca Erbelding
Rescue Board: The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to Save the Jews of Europe

Tuesday, March 3, 10:30am–noon
Location: Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Avenue, Reston
America has long been criticized for refusing to give harbor to the Jews of Europe as Hitler and the Nazis closed in. Join us to hear Rebecca, archivist, curator and historian at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, tell the extraordinary story of the War Refugee Board, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s little-known effort late in the war to save the Jews who remained.
Presented by Pozez JCC and NVHC Silver Line

Ambassador Alfred Moses
Bucharest Diary: Romania’s Journey from Darkness to Light

Monday, March 30, 12:30pm
In this high­ly read­able mem­oir, Ambassador Moses explains the complicat­ed his­to­ry of the Balka­ns from the devel­op­ment of Roma­nia and the fate of its Jews to the dawn of the twen­ty-first cen­tu­ry. He discusses international issues and personal observations. ​“I had the good for­tune to be… more than a wit­ness to his­to­ry. In a brief moment in a far­away coun­try, I helped make it.” And we, his read­ers, are invit­ed along for the ride.

Kirsten Fermaglich
A Rosenberg By Any Other Name: A History of Jewish Name Changing in America

Thursday, May 7, 12:30pm
Our think­ing about Jew­ish name changing tends to focus on clichés: ambitious movie stars who adopt­ed glam­orous new names or insen­si­tive Ellis Island officials who changed immi­grants’ names for them. But as Fer­maglich elegant­ly reveals, the real sto­ry is much more pro­found.

The J is a member of the Jewish Book Council. The above authors are members of the Jewish Book Council’s Author Network, which coordinates over 1,100 literary events each year across North America.

The J is a member of the Jewish Book Council. Our J-Talks authors are members of the Jewish Book Council’s Author Network, which coordinates over 1,100 literary events each year across North America. Learn more at jewishbookcouncil.org

Host an Author
When authors visit, we provide funds for their travel, housing and per diem. Please consider “hosting” an author with a donation of $360, which will include a signed copy of your author’s book, four tickets to the author event, and recognition at the author event.