Meet the author series kicks off

The Rabbi Simon Hevesi Library of the Central Queens YM & YWHA kicked off its Meet the Author Series on Thursday, November 1 with the 12th Annual Author’s Luncheon and the discussion “Israel in the News: How Fair is the Media?”
The discussion, which was attended by about 200 people, was moderated by Queens College professor Mark Rosenblum, who is the director of the Jewish Studies Program. The panelists were The Forward Editor-in-Chief J.J. Goldberg, The Jewish Week Editor and Publisher Gary Rosenblatt, and Bret Stephens, an editorial board member and foreign affairs columnist with the Wall Street Journal and a panelist for Fox News.
“We know that our audience cares passionately about Israel and follows news about Israel very closely,” said Peggy Kurtz of the Rabbi Simon Hevesi Jewish Heritage Library and Central Queens YM & YWHA. “Most of our audience assumes that there is a strong bias against Israel in the press. We thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at the coverage, from a range of perspectives - and to try to understand better what shapes the coverage of Israel.”
During the luncheon, panelists talked about the sources they use to find out what’s going on in Israel, journalistic standards that they follow and how they would address a two-state solution, among other issues. Audience members were also given the opportunity to submit questions for the panel.
The Meet the Author Series will conclude on Tuesday, November 27 at 1:30 p.m. as the lives, background and history of the Ethiopian Jews is explored. It will feature Len Lyons, who wrote a book entitled The Ethiopian Jews, and will take place at the Central Queens YM & YWHA, located at 67-09 108th Street in Forest Hills. A $4 donation to attend the event is requested.
“We aim to bring the best and most exciting authors of Jewish interest to the public. We try to present programs that are thought provoking, stimulate discussion, bring new ideas to the public, and get people engaged with the world of Jewish culture,” Kurtz said. “We hope that our programs lead people to new discoveries and a fresh appreciation of the very vibrant world of Jewish culture today.”
For more information, visit www.cqyjcc.org or call 718-268-5011.