Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival
October 29–November 15
Get inspired by Jewish Authors
and other community innovators.
Noah Rothbaum
The Whiskey Bible
Thursday, October 29, 6:30pm
Oak Hill Country Club
145 Kilbourn Road, Rochester, NY 14618
$135
(Includes souvenir Glencairn glass and a signed copy of The Whiskey Bible)
Take a once-in-a-lifetime whiskey tour with the world-renowned liquor expert and award-winning author Noah Rothbaum. He will pour some of his favorite drams and share the innovative stories behind them. Noah will also present some of the fascinating findings from his new book, The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit. If you’re a whiskey drinker, you won’t want to miss this special event.
Underwritten by David and Wendy Dworkin
Community Partner:
Jim Kelly
in Conversation with Rabbi Ben
Monday, November 2, 7pm
JCC Ballroom
General Admission:
$150 premier seating, $100 section B, $50 section C
$250 includes pre-event reception and premier seating. Limitations apply.
Don your team colors and spend an evening with an icon, a legend, and a true hometown hero! A powerful testament to resilience, legacy, community, and faith in an intimate conversation between Rabbi Ben Goldstein and Buffalo Bills legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Moderated by Rabbi Ben Goldstein, Temple Beth El
Underwritten by:
Platinum Level
Ed and Blanche Fenster
Catherine D’Amico
Gold Level
Wendy Howitt and Jeffrey Levinson
Donna Adwin
Dan and Victoria Goldstein
There are still sponsorship opportunities available with great benefits! Contact Marci Wiseman at mwiseman@jccrochester.org or (585) 461-2000 x237
Jim Kelly Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seating like?
This event is currently planned to be held in the JCC Ballroom space. Seats are not assigned in advance and will be first come, first served. You can choose from three sections of seats: Basic (furthest from the stage), Standard, or Premium (closest to the stage).
Will I be able to meet Jim Kelly or get his autograph?
This event does not include autographs or a meet and greet.
How long is the program?
Approximately 60–75 minutes
Is the venue handicapped accessible?
Yes! If you or someone in your party will be using a wheelchair, please let us know so we know how best to accommodate you.
Can I bring in food or drinks?
Water in a closed container is permitted. All other food and beverage is prohibited during the event.
What’s he going to talk about?
Jim Kelly will be in conversation with Rabbi Ben Goldstein to discuss the events of his life and how he has used faith to face challenges and successes.
Can I wear my jersey?
Yes! Feel free to attend decked out in Bills gear in true tailgate fashion.
Brian Schaefer
Town & Country
Wednesday, November 4, 7pm
JCC Ballroom
$25 (JCC Members $20)
Brian Schaefer brings unlikely heart and humor to American politics in his acclaimed debut novel Town & Country, an entertaining, propulsive, and poignant story of unexpected connection across political difference. Whether you follow politics like a sport or try to avoid the circus at all costs, this is the perfect, uplifting event for a midterm year.
Moderated by Thomas Warfield, co-chair of the City of Rochester Arts Creative Community Committee (AC3)
Underwritten by
Linda Epstein
Harold and Judy Samloff
Dr. Gerald and Maxine Rosen
Community Partners:
Leigh Evans
Literary Salon
Thursday, November 5
11am: Danish and coffee
7pm: Wine and cheese
NOTE: These are two separate events with the same content.
JCC Ballroom
$25 (JCC Members $20)
This literary salon unpacks the vibrant mosaic of contemporary Israeli identity. Together, we will sample captivating excerpts from three modern books—no advance reading required! Expect a thoughtful, engaging discussion about culture, belonging, and everyday life looked at through rich Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mizrahi perspectives. Grab a seat, share your thoughts, and discover Israel’s stories from the inside out.
Featured books:
Sarit Yishai-Levy, The Woman Beyond the Sea
Lihi Lapid, On Her Own
Ayelet Tsabari, The Art of Leaving
Underwritten by:
JCC 55+ Adult Enrichment Program
Community Partners:
JCC Jewish Life
Barak Benaryeh
The Vet Will See You Now
Tuesday, November 10, 7pm
JCC Hart Theater
$25 (JCC Members $20)
The Vet Will See You now is best described as Kitchen Confidential meets All Creatures Great and Small. Using stories as a backdrop, the book delivers current veterinary information that every pet owner needs. It is a behind-the-scenes view of a veterinary hospital, showing readers what happens on the other side of the “employees only” door. The stories are irreverent, bitingly satirical on occasion, often humorous, and sometimes tragic.
Moderated by Don Alhart, 5-time winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and Guinness World Record holder for Longest Career as a TV News Broadcaster
Underwritten by:
Sharon Kovalsky and Judge Karen Morris
Community Partner:
Carol Becker
William Greenberg Desserts Bakes Vegan
Wednesday, November 11, 7pm
JCC Ballroom
$35 (JCC Members $30)
Veterans FREE with Military ID
Born from increasing customer demand for parve kosher desserts and plant-based alternatives, Carol Becker, owner of Manhattan’s legendary William Greenberg Desserts, transforms nearly 80 years of baking tradition with her groundbreaking new cookbook featuring meticulously created and delicious vegan recipes that maintain the bakery’s signature flavors and textures. Becker spent over a year perfecting vegan versions of beloved classics including Apricot Cheesecake, Cinnamon Rolls, and Iced Sugar Cookies, proving that plant-based desserts never need to feel like compromises.
Moderated by Rebecca Malek, founder and former owner of Balsam Bagels
Underwritten by
Gary and Marcia Stern Family Foundation
and Deborah G. Goldman
Community Partners:
Movie Trivia!
Happy Hour!
Prizes!
Caroline Bock
The Other Beautiful People
Thursday, November 12, 7pm
JCC Ballroom
$35 (JCC Members $30)
In the entertainment world, the spotlight shines on the beautiful—but behind the scenes are those who make the magic happen. Amy Greene is one of them. As head of marketing and public relations at the Cinema Channel, a beloved yet struggling cable network, Amy is at the height of her career and torn between her work family, her home—and her secrets. A dazzling cinematic novel set in the weeks after 9/11, inspired by the author’s two-decade career in marketing and public relations in cable television, notably at BRAVO and IFC.
Underwritten by Debi and Ralph Brenner
Community Partners:
Fiction Panel Lunch
Friday, November 13, 11:45am
JCC Ballroom
$35 (JCC Members $30)
Includes boxed lunch by Lipman’s Kosher Market.
Both meat and veggie options will be available.
Talya Jankovits
THE VERY UNREMARKABLE LIFE OF MRS. ETTY BLOOM
In the insulated Hasidic community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, tradition and cultural norms are as sacred as religion, and young girls are primed for marriage and motherhood. So, when Etty Greenberger, a headstrong redhead and the only child of Holocaust Survivors, commits one ugly and thoughtless act, she believes she has sabotaged her opportunity to secure a desirable match. Reluctantly, she agrees to marry Benji Bloom, and as she grapples with loss, grief, and the challenges of motherhood, she also discovers friendship, love, and joy in the most unexpected places.
Della Leavitt
VIVIAN’S DECISION
An evocative work of historical fiction, Vivian’s Decision is an all-too-relevant story of repeated history, female friendship, and the strength that it takes to make choices of one’s own. As Vivian struggles with a houseful of children and a supportive but absent partner, she is buffeted by a series of revelations, including her Jewish immigrant mother’s parallel secret. Ultimately, she must find the courage to make a decision that is best for her family—and her own fulfillment.
Emily Matchar
THE LOST GIRL OF CRAVEN COUNTY
One humid August day, a decade into the Great Depression and in the small Jewish community of New Bern, North Carolina, Millicent Green discovers a young woman unconscious behind a pickle barrel. This mystery woman, mute and without identification, will upend Millie’s life. Together, they embark on a quest that will reveal some of the twentieth century’s most shameful episodes.
Moderated by longtime committee member Ellen Comisar,
Debut Spotlight host and Substack Director for A Mighty Blaze
Underwritten by Rubens Family Foundation
Community Partner:
Rochester's Own: Roundtable and Bagels
Sunday, November 15, 11am
JCC Ballroom
$25 (JCC Members $20)
Jerry Elman
ECHOES OF HISTORY
Most people believe they would recognize major societal change while it was happening. History suggests otherwise. In Echoes of History, Jerry M. Elman explores how fear, division, silence, distrust, and changing norms gradually become ordinary—and asks whether recognizing these patterns can help us make choices about where we are headed.
Harry Reis
HOW TO FEEL LOVED
We can be loved—and still not feel loved. Many people try to say the right words or make themselves more lovable, hoping to feel more loved. But this approach usually backfires. How to Feel Loved presents a radical, hopeful, and science-backed shift in thinking and creating more love in our lives.
Nora Rubel
RECIPES FOR THE MELTING POT
This book examines the ways that the 20th century cookbook, The Way to a Man’s Heart: The Settlement Cook Book, became a beloved Jewish icon. Filled with non-kosher recipes, the cookbook has been called “unabashedly Jewish” and “a Jewish Joy of Cooking” by generations of reviewers and cooks, yet dismissed as Jewish “by association only” by some historians. Rubel will discuss the ways in which a cookbook can be coded as Jewish, despite having no direct references to Jews or Judaism.
Stephen Schottenfeld
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (Working Title)
This novel is about a woman who is trying to make a video game of her neighborhood. The book is set in Rochester. Stephen Schottenfeld is the author of the novels This Room Is Made of Noise (2023) and Bluff City Pawn (2014). His short fiction has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, New England Review, and Virginia Quarterly Review, among other literary magazines. He serves as Professor of English at the University of Rochester.
Festival Bookstore
The Book Shuk is Back!
November 2–15
Browse and buy over 100 new titles available in Jewish literature including fiction, non-fiction, coffee table, children’s, and more! Your purchase of books at the book shuk directly supports the JCC Authors + Innovators Festival.
Location: JCC Yiddish Center
Open 1 hour before and after all scheduled festival events.
Additional daytime hours at jccrochester.org/authors
Past Events
Stories bring us together, illuminate our shared humanity, and keep vibrant cultural traditions alive. The Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival celebrates the power of storytelling by engaging acclaimed authors and speakers to spark curious minds with unforgettable events. The 2026 Festival will be held October 29 – November 16 and feature nationally recognized presenters alongside emerging literary voices.
We are asking for your support to help spotlight Jewish heritage, strengthen our community, and keep our programming affordable and open to all ages.
To help ensure the festival remains a welcoming hub for vibrant ideas, please consider making a tax-deductible gift of $180, $360, $540, or an amount meaningful to you by clicking the “Donate Online” button below and selecting Authors and Innovators Festival. For information on author sponsorships ($1,000+), please contact Marci Wiseman at 585.461.2000 x237 or mwiseman@jccrochester.org,
Thank you for your generosity, your love for the arts, and your commitment to our community. See you between the pages!
About the Festival
The JCC Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival exists to create a showcase for Jewish authors and innovators, and/or books of Jewish content. In so doing, the festival promotes awareness, appreciation, and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people; strengthens community consciousness of Jewish identity, history, and culture; and provides a community forum to stimulate dynamic and provocative dialogue.
WITH FOND MEMORIES OF SHELDON A. LANE
The JCC Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival is presented in memory of Sheldon A. Lane. His vision for the Festival continues through the support of his loving family.
JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL
The Jewish Book Council is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1943 to promote the publishing, writing and reading of books of Jewish interest. Visit jewishbookcouncil.org for more information.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Marci Wiseman
FESTIVAL CHAIR
Wendy Howitt
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Justin Blue
Ellen Comisar
Nikki Druckman
David Dworkin
Wendy Dworkin
Linda Epstein
Adina Feldman
Stacey Freed
Hannah Harnest
Sharon Kovalsky
Jacqui Lipschitz
Ron Newman
Liza Robbins Theuman
Lisa Waltzer
Festival Bookstore
Location: JCC Yiddish Center
Open 1 hour before and after all
scheduled festival events at the JCC.
Festival books provided by:
View past festival brochures:
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 2013 |  2012 |  2011 |  2010 |