News & Announcements
Upcoming Events
Ian James (also known as William Electric Black), a Kinderland parent, is the author and director of a new play, My Boyfriend is a Zombie. It will run from June 3 - June 27 at the Theater for the new city. For more information, please visit www.boyfriendzombieonstage.com.
Eliot Kenin, a camper and staff member in the 50s, will be doing a program of labor songs for a labor related art opening Sat Eve. June 12 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. at Shattuck St., Berkeley, Ca. Come and sing.
Call for a cease fire in Israel and Gaza
Many people have asked about demonstrations calling for peace in Israel and Palestine. Here are links for organizations with information about the situation and other actions:
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
New Kinderland Family Members
Jeremy Borenstein let us know the following: “a new daughter (our second) was born on September 14, 2009. Her name is Sarah Asari Borenstein. Regards, Jeremy.”
We heard from our old friend, Hannah Swacker—a camper for 8 years—now Hanna Kurnit. She writes:”I wanted to announce the birth of my son, Oliver Shane Kurnit on December 18th, 2009, at 9:13pm, 6lbs 5oz and 20 inches. Congratulations and love to Hannah and family!
From Bob Heisler CIT '62; Bunk 20 (?) counselor '63:
“Hello Camp Kinderland:
Josh and Abe (my older kids) loved Kinderland so much I decided to have two more to spread the wealth so Jonathan (almost four) and Juliette (17 months) are boning up on their schmoozing skills in preparation for the main Kinderland pastime.
"Zachary Heisler (3 mos.) Josh's new baby is getting ready too with "schmooze cooing" practice.
Abe is sowing Kinderland karma throughout the Far East at the moment and we hope to make a siting of the world traveling videographer sometime this year." - Bob Heisler
Elizabeth (Coone) Graden, husband Alan and big sister Lilli (aged 2) welcomed Alyiah Graden on September 27th 2009. When Alyiah and Lilli become campers they will be the 5th generation in the Kinderland family. This April Elizabeth graduated from the music program of Brigham Young University where she organized a Klezmer band.
Shelley Kitses Tenzer writes: I would like to add to the future Kinderlanders, my sixth great-grandchild Jonah, son of my grandson Java and his wife Michelle, nephew to Levi Tardio, brother to Shay and Asher, and grandson to my daughter Marcy.
Joe and Eileen Dorinson wrote to let us know they just became the proud grandparents of Leila Farrah Dorinson, born to Robert and Valerie Dorinson. She’s 19 inches long, weighed in at 6 lbs. 4oz., complete with beautiful nose, chubby cheeks and a winning burp!
News
Peter Auerbach from the 57 CITs let us know that he spent his 68th birthday in Pompeii, on an Elderhostel/Exploritas trip.
Helene Masslo Anderson writes: “Hi Camp Kinderlanders: A bit of news from Helene Masslo Anderson, former 2nd group counsellor and leader of second group many years ago- my last year working in Camp was 1948. Went to graduate school after that, got my PhD and have been a Professor of Latin American literature and NYU for the last 43 years. So the big news is my retirement, just this past September, at a very ripe old age. Over the years I have been at various Camp Kinderland reunions and Yackle reunions (my dearest friends from my camp days), and have lost too many of those friends over the last few years. But, no matter where I have travelled and lived, Camp Kinderland is the place that has shaped me most and that lives in my heart forever.”
From Susan Moss: “Linda Feldman Siegel visited Sue Possoff Moss in Tucson, Az this past week. They had not seen each other in over 45 years. It was a wonderful reunion.”
Reminder from Barry Fireman:
I wrote a book entitled "From The Broken Windows". It chronicles the story about how my father's family lived through the Russian Revolution, the ensuing Russian civil war... several pogroms and a harrowing escape through Ukraine and Romania and then on to Germany and a lengthy Atlantic crossing on a rusty old ship to Ellis Island and a new life in America.
I have found through my research that most of us who have parents or grandparents who arrived in America this way were very reluctant to talk about their experiences in the "Old country". I was lucky. My father often regaled me with his stories with a sense of bravado. It's all in my book. It is our story. The book is available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Borders. - Barry Fireman
From Saul Elkin:
Hi my friends,
Saul Elkin, camper and counselor in the 40's and early 50's, retired from teaching Theatre at the University of Buffalo for 40years. Still working as Founder and Artistic Director of Buffalo's "Shakespeare in the Park," in its' 35th season, and co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Jewish Repertory Theatre of Western New York. Happy New year everyone. -Saul
From Hershl Hartman
“Okay, here's my three cents (sales tax, y'know):Hershl Hartman (C, S 40s) is marking the start of his eighties by collaborating with famed historian of the Left, Paul Buhle, in a forthcoming book tentatively titled "Yiddish in Comics," which may also include some biographical notes (and comix) about Hershl, including his 1944 stint as Kinderland's office boy (aka "shik yingl" i.e., gofer) and his '46-'47 career as casino stage manager (aka folding-chair pusher/stacker). It probably won't include his pratfall on the other side of Sylvan Lake in Oct. '09 when, attending a meeting of the Arbeter Ring/Workmen's Circle, he slipped and suffered a minor ankle fracture, which healed by his December big 8-0.”
News from the Honig family: Naftali Honig is still working and living in West Africa: in the Republic of Congo. He is researching and protecting chimpanzees and gorillas. Ben Honig will graduate Cornell University this year and Ofira Honig is accepted early at Cornell. Thanks, Eveline Honig
A speedy recovery to Mike Katz who broke his ankle while snowboarding for the first time. Mike's ankle is now adorned with a plate and eight screws, making it even more likely that he may have a screw loose.....
From Nina Sokol: Exciting news! Nominations for the 25th annual Independent Spirit Awards were announced on December 1, 2009, and Dia Sokol, a second-generation Kinderlander from the 80’s & 90’s was nominated for the prestigious Piaget Producer’s Award for her work on Beeswax and Nights and Weekends! The Spirit Awards will take place Friday, March 5th! It will be broadcast live on IFC that night, so tune in! Dia has been enjoying success as the co-executive producer of the reality MTV show "16 and Pregnant," which is slated to begin its second season in January 2010. Also, her first feature length independent film "SORRY, THANKS," Dia's directorial debut (she also co-wrote the script) is being screened at film festivals all over the world Check out the link to the film, sorrythanksfilm.com. Finally: Dia just got engaged to Garret Savage! Congrats!
From Alix Dobkin:
My memoir was published in October & there's quite a bit about Camp in 1952, '53, & '56.
MY RED BLOOD: A Memoir of Growing Up Communist, Coming Onto the Greenwich Village Folk Scene, and Coming Out in the Feminist Movement
In her pre-Lesbian memoir, Alix Dobkin writes of the 1940s when she watches Jane Powell at Radio City Music Hall, Jackie Robinson at Ebbets Field, and meets Paul Robeson in her Communist parent's kitchen. As a teenager, Alix responds to the anti-communism of the 1950s by going to Camp Kinderland, joining the Party and touring the Soviet Union. She sees Rock 'n' Roll co-opt Rhythm & Blues and lands in Greenwich Village just in time to be part of the folk music scene…. And much much more! For ordering & info: http://www.alyson.com/9781593501075.html www.ladyslipper.org alixdobkin.com
From Buddy Gottlieb: My spouse, Marcy Winograd, is running for Congress in the Democratic primary in the 36th Congressional District of California, against wealthy Blue Dog incumbent Jane Harman. The District consists of LA-area cities along the coast, including Venice, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, San Pedro and Wilmington. If any former or current Kinderlanders and/or relatives are in the district, or even if not, please check out winograd4congress.com, and her Facebook campaign page.
James Langford/Marcia Eggers let us know that longtime camper and staff member Johanna Langford is now at J.Crew, doing their website & catalog.
Sam Harmet, a former camper and counselor is now playing in a klezmer electronic funk band called The Shtetlblasters. They use the lyrics to the Kinderland Hymn in their song "The Hole at the Center (of Your Everything Bagel)." You can listen to it on their MySpace page.
Renee Shulman is thrilled and delighted about the recent marriage of her son Dan Shulman to Sara Barthol. The happy couple reside in Venice, Ca.
On Jan. 17, 2010, former Kinderland camper ('60s, '70s), counselor ('70s) and folk dance instructor ('70s), Amy Ruth Tobol married Kinderland fellow traveler Etan Ben-Ami in a small ceremony at her brother and former camper ('60s) Mitch's house. Amy is currently Associate Dean at the Hudson Valley Center of Empire State College. Etan, is a psychotherapist specializing in anxiety disorders with a practice in Lynbrook (www.etanbenami.com) and a soon to be second office opening in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Evenings and weekends, Etan doubles as a banjo player (Pete Seeger-style), serenading his Kinderland-socialized and much beloved bride.
Books
Leonard Goodisman (CIT class of ’57) has a children’s book just out, and he has very generously offered to use the sales of this book to raise money for Camp Kinderland. The book is called Detective A: The Case of the Missing Silver Spoon. You can order the book at the web site goodisman.com with free shipping or at the usual book outlets. When ordering at goodisman.com, click on Special Instructions on the shipping page and type “KINDERLAND” in the box and a $1 contribution will be made to Kinderland for each book you order there. Below is a description of the book:
Educational, entertaining, and engaging, Detective A: The Case of the Missing Silver Spoon will delight young readers as they subtly learn a scientific concept. Author Leonard Goodisman presents an eight-year-old investigator who sees the world as only a child can – full of mysteries to solve. Curious, clever, and tenacious, Detective A solves his case by seeing the situation from another point of view and learning to control his emotions as he handles a difficult witness – his little sister. Curious himself, Goodisman masterfully weaves science through stories to open new worlds of wonder to young and old alike.
Nora Eisenberg, a second-generation Kinderlander, Kinderland parent,
and long-time Camp supporter, has just published her third novel, When
You Come Home (Curbstone) tells the story of young veterans returning
from the 1991 Gulf War, eager for love and happiness....,
"Eisenberg bravely sheds light on the resultant devastation suffered
by one small group of friends and their families...In a story that is,
sadly, as pertinent as it is ageless, Eisenberg poignantly
demonstrates that casualties of war occur both on and off the
battlefield." --Booklist
More information available at noraeisenberg.com
Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof, known in his years as a camper and counselor at Kinderland simply as Jesse Garskof, has recently published a book called A Tale of Two Cities: Santo Domingo and New York after 1950. The book is about the migration from Latin America and particulary about the connection between Dominicans in Santo Domingo and New York City.
Michael and Susan Klonsky have a new book about the small schools movement and how it has been affected by the No Child Left Behind Act and the political push to privatize public education. The book is called Small Schools: Public School Reform Meets the Ownership Society. Michael Klonsky was a camper in the 50s and Michael and Susan's daughter, Jojo, was a camper and staff member in the 90s-00s. For more information, visit the website.
Julie Salamon , a Kinderland parent and supporter, has recently published a book about Maimonides Medical Center. The book is called Hospital: Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity, Plus, Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God and Diversity on Steriods. Read reviews or buy the book at www.juliesalamon.com.
What Are Kinderlanders Doing?
Builder Levy, a former Camp Kinderland camper, has spent many years photographing political demonstrations. Now, the New York Times has honored his work by puting up a slideshow of his photographs at protests in New York City. Please go to www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/31/nyregion/110208-Prot_index.html?ref=thecity to see it. You can see more of Builder's work at www.builderlevy.com.
James Bradley, a current Kinderland parent, and WebServesUs, the developers of the Camp Kinderland website, have launched the alpha version of Accomplish.com and you are invited to become one of the early users of this website.
Accomplish.com was created with you in mind:
Your school programs, Your sport teams, Your community projects, Your religious groups, Your needs and desires - translated into action.
Please visit www.Accomplish.com
Register as a User. Create a profile. Decide your Role (Goal Owner or Goal Resource). Define a goal. Suppport a Goal.
We depend on your responses to Accomplish.com to build it further, improve, correct it where necessary. We have created a brief online user survey: http://www.accomplish.com/welcome/survey. Your feedback will help us make a better Accomplish.com.
Thank you very much, The Accomplish Team
Katie Halper, a former Kinderland camper and staff member, writer, comedian and filmmaker who is currently working on a documentary about Camp Kinderland, has created some YouTube videos including a most recent one about Sarah Palin and why she is not a feminist. Please check it, and the others, out at www.youtube.com/user/katiehalper. They're great!
For anyone who is interested in Jules Dassin's film The Naked City, an interesting note about the DVD. In one of the extras, Dassin is interviewed at the age of 92 and he discusses his time at Camp Kinderland in the 1930's. It is an interesting piece.
Mona Reeva, once a camper at Camp Kinderland, and a waitress at Camp Lakeland has a web site www.greenmountainartistry.com Mona offers her photography and handmade one of a kind jewelry including necklaces, earrings and bracelets, and one of a kind hand knit scarves for sale. Her photography includes images from her many travels, and from local areas. She is a member of the Berkeley Camera Club in Berkeley, CA, and of the Photography Society of America. She has received numerous awards for her photography. For more information and her bio, please visit her website.
Steffi Stein is a former Kinderlander and an artist. She silk-screens anti-war t-shirts, many of which feature the names of people who have died in Iraq, both American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. They are available at www.unionmaide.etsy.com.
ZINGT! A CELEBRATION OF YIDDISH CHORAL MUSIC the CD released in 2006 by the JEWISH PEOPLE'S PHILHARMONIC CHORUS conducted by BINYUMEN SCHAECHTER is now available on CD BABY!
If you have the CD, get it for a friend or relative. If you don't have the CD yet, get it now!
The 32-page booklet that comes with the CD has the complete texts in Yiddish, in transliteration, and in English translation!
Go to http://www.cdbaby.com and click on new arrivals / world / Yiddish or click on http://cdbaby.com/cd/jppchorus
The CD is also featured in two different places in the STYLE/GENRE GALLERIES:
http://cdbaby.com/style/460 and http://cdbaby.com/style/169
Enjoy!
How to Help Camp Kinderland
We all want to help Kinderland continue to provide the amazing experience our campers have enjoyed for 85 years. But, it isn't always easy. Here are a few ways to help that you may not know about:
Make a contribution to Camp Kinderland every time you search the internet or shop online! Go to www.goodsearch.com and they will make a donation to Camp Kinderland every time you do a web search. They will also make a donation when you buy something online through GoodShop. Check it out!
Looking for a new cell phone? You can make a donation to Camp Kinderland while you get one! Go to http://www.phonesforgood.com/pfg/go/144 and shop for a phone through any of their many carriers and they will make a $40 - $50 donation to Camp Kinderland when you buy one.
Looking to go to the theater? Go to www.givenik.com and select Camp Kinderland as the charity you want to support. Then you can buy discount tickets to broadway shows, and 5% of the price of the tickets is donated to Camp Kinderland.
If you have any news about anything that is happening in the Kinderland community that you would like to post here, please call or email us to let us know. All submissions need to be reviewed before posting.