Todah Rabah, Sheynem Dank, and Huge Thanks to everyone who came to Northbrook Public Library on 8/13, Harold Washington Library Center on 8/14, and/or Wilmette Public Library on 8/19 to hear the sixth in my annual series of lectures on Fiddler on the Roof for the Chicago YIVO Society’s “Summer Festival of Yiddish Culture.”
This year’s lecture was called My Fiddler: From Grodna to Broadway in honor of my grandmother–my mother’s mother–Sophie Slotnick Hecht.
Upon reflection, I have finally realized that my Gramma Heckie laid the foundation for all of the “traditions” which guide me in my own life today while she chopped the gefilte fish, ground the liver, and fried up stacks and stacks of latkes.
My Gramma Heckie didn’t exactly “teach me to cook,” but she did let me sit there in her kitchen while she slaved away on behalf of our family, and the things she taught me are beyond measure.
To all my friends in Metro Chicago: I love you all, I miss you all, and I am tremendously grateful for all of your unflagging encouragement and support!!!
Click here to view my Metro Chicago presentation as a pdf –> 14Aug11YIVO
Thanks also to Jeff Marden who worked so hard behind-the-scenes to get the word out 🙂