Tampa Native Appearing at Jewish Book Festival

Submitted:

Author Jay Michaelson who was raised in Tampa, attended what is now Hillel Academy and graduated from Chamberlain High School, is returning to Tampa to discuss his fourth book, “God vs. Gay? – The Religious Case for Equality.” 

 He will be appearing at the Kol Ami Synagogue, 3919 Moran Rd., Tampa, on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. as part of the 2011 Jewish Book Festival, hosted by the Tampa Jewish Community Center. The Festival will feature numerous prominent authors presenting throughout the Tampa Bay area.   

The event is open to the entire Tampa community.  A book signing and dessert reception will follow his book discussion.  Tickets are $5 at the door or can be pre-purchased at jewishtampa.com. Michaelson’s book can be purchased at Inkwood Books, 216 S. Armenia Ave.

Michaelson is a leading activist on behalf of gay and lesbian Jews.  The author of four books and over 200 articles, he has been featured in The New York Times, NPR and CNN and has taught at Yale and Boston University.  Founder of Zeek and Nehirim, columnist for the Huffington Post, he was included on the “Forward 50” list of the most influential Jewish leaders in America.

Michaelson presents in his book that not only does the Bible not prohibit same-sex intimacy but it honors the values of love, justice, diversity and compassion that equality for sexual minorities brings about.  Michaelson makes the case that sexual diversity is part of the beauty of nature and that same-sex families will strengthen the values religious people hold dear. 

The Jewish Book Festival opens on Saturday with Greg Dawson’s “Hiding In The Spotlight-A Musical Prodigy’s Story of Survival,” and includes:  children’s author Laurel Snyder; Ted Gup’s “A Secret Gift,” which is this year’s Community Choice Read; local author Elaine Shimberg with her memoir, “Growing Up Jewish in Small Town America;” Thanassis Cambanis and his book, “A Privilege to Die-Inside Hezbollah’s Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel;” Novelist Pam Jenoff’s latest, “The Things We Cherished;” and Alicia Oltuski will present her story, “Precious Objects-A Story of Diamonds, Family and a Way of Life.”

For more information about the Michaelson event or Tampa’s 2011 Jewish Book Festival, please go to jewishtampa.com or contact Brandy Gold at the Jewish Community Center at (813) 769-4725 or brandygold@jewishtampa.com.