Mazal Tov!

The University of Dayton's Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop just named me Humor Writer of the Month. I'm honored. Thanks so much UD EBWW and mazal tov all around!

I'm sneaking in a quick post before today's flight, writing from the Radisson University Hotel in Minneapolis. Today caps off a tremendous week on the road, with a new event each night in a new venue:

Sunday was Hillel at U of M Ann Arbor as part of the annual Jewish Book Fair. 'Twas
cozy, collegiate, and frankly, quite snowny.

Monday wasthe 3rd Annual Jewish Book Festival at the Alpert JCC in Long Beach, Calif. with a super friendly crowd and signature Manitinis. (See p. 41. Sounds gross. Tastes yum!)

Tuesday was a joint event with Gesher City and St. Louis Hillel at the annual St. Louis Jewish Book Fair. Simcha Weinstein and I laughed it up on stage at Wash U. We're going for more soon at a Tenement Talk on the Lower East Side...

Wednesday was the exuberant Young Artists Panel Exploring Our Heritage at the American Sefardi Federation in Manhattan. Sarah Aroeste, Erez "Diwon" Safar and I got Sefardi wid it, moderated by Michelle Ishay-Cohen. Da crowd of Sefardim of all ages loved it. So did we!

AND Thursday... ahhhhh Thursday, was the blow-out New York Launch Party with an amazing artists showcase at "Extreme Book Signing" the JCC of Manhattan. A night for the Annals of Heebster History... this rockin' list of Heebros and Holy Sistahs rocked da house: recording artists Michelle Citrin, Rav Shmuel, Sarah Aroeste, Naomi Less, Chana Rothman and Dov Rosenblatt and Avi Hoffman of Blue Fringe as well as actors Naomi Less and Franny Silverman of Storahtelling, performance poet/novelist Matthue Roth, and a last minute surprise: stand-up comedian Yisroel Campbell. Amidst an exhibit of historic Heebster signage assembled by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld of the original Jewish Catalog, it was a terrific night, filled to the rafters with about 200 guests, PopJudaica.com, Zeek and more!

To cap it all off... Friday night Shabbat dinner at Hillel at the U of Minnesota in Minneapolis at the annual Milgrom Shabbat program in memory of the superlative Rabbi Louis Milgrom. I woke up Shabbos morning to layers of new snow, just as the week began...

And what a week it was! Thanks so so much to the fabulous Heebster hosts, friends, guests and students who made all these events such a great success.

It's back to NYC today for the wedding of sweet friends, Judy and Marc. Up ahead? Shearith-Israel, the historic Spanish-Portugese Shul in Manhattan on Tuesday. Deets at the link and here:

Tuesday, November 25th - Lisa Alcalay Klug, Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe – This book serves as field manual for the 21st century Jew. It decodes contemporary Judaism and its hippest forms of cultural and creative expression, covering everything from identity, rituals, clothing and cuisine, to holidays, spirituality, diversity, and language. It is an updated combination of the beloved Jewish Catalog meets the Joys of Yiddish with a hip-hop spin that captures the spirit of the times; a hallmark of the current Pan-Jewish cultural revival. Ms. Klug is a journalist, comedian, and much more. She will join us to discuss her book and the multifaceted face of Jewish culture today. This program will be co-sponsored with Birthright NEXT.

Stay tuned for more posts, photos and recaps as the tour continues!