Nope! The fact that I've stopped listing events doesn't mean that I've vanished off the face of the earth or that I've stopped doing talks...things have been getting too hectic... or maybe I've just gotten too lazy... Coming up - talks in April, May and June, 2017. I am now booking talks for after April, 2017 and for the 2018 literary year. To get in touch, please email: faranjit@yahoo.com and write 'book talk' in the subject line. For notices about upcoming talks, please check out the Facebook page for Judie Oron or for the 'Cry of the Giraffe' Facebook page. Hope to see you at one of my talks!
2015 Literary Season: In February, 2015, I was in Israel to celebrate with Wuditu our 23rd anniversary of the day I found her and released her from slavery. Now, thankfully, March is finally coming in warm-ish! Lots happening for 'Cry of the Giraffe' in March: at the Voices of Power silent auction, my offer of a free book talk was bought by an unknown bidder - it'll be interesting to see where and for whom that talk will be held; I'll be doing a private book club talk in Toronto later in the month; then, a presentation at the UN-affiliated organization, 'Women's Federation for World Peace' on March 21st. On the 28th, a talk at the First Narayever Synagogue; and finally, a book talk on the 29th at Temple Sinai. On April 24, 2015, I gave a workshop at York University's Harriet Tubman Institute, at their Monthly Workshop on African, Caribbean and Latin American Spiritual Belief Systems. My topic: the Ethiopian Jewish community's religious and spiritual beliefs. On April 26, 2015 I spoke at Heschel School's Table Talk fundraiser. On May 12, 2015, I published an article in the CJN in response to the demonstrations of Ethiopian Jews in Israel. To read the article, click on: http://www.cjnews.com/columnists/most-ethiopian-jews-life-israel-frustrating-and-dangerous. On May 13, 2015, I was interviewed by Peruvian journalist, Gisella Lopez Lenci for El Comercio newspaper in Lima. On May 14, 2015, I spoke at a fundraiser for the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers group, to benefit grandmothers in Africa who are raising their orphaned grandchildren after losing their children to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Coming up on May 28, 2015, a talk to the Golda Meir chapter of 'Ending Violence against Women.' Finally, my summer starts off early this year with a visit and some talks in Nova Scotia. Can't wait! As always, I'll be speaking about Wuditu's journey as a child slave in Ethiopia and about our campaign to get the issue of child slavery there into the public forum.
The 2013/2014 literary season began with my first Hebrew book club talk on October 3, 2013. I was interviewed that same month for Hebrew journalist Shosh Kabessa for Shalom Toronto newspaper and then on Toronto’s Israeli TV network by journalist Gila Yefet on October 8, 2013. Still in a Hebrew mode, journalist Yael Sherer interviewed me for the ONLIFE magazine for Israeli women. Back to English on October 23, 2013 for a book talk at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Toronto and on the 24th at another UNACTO event at Queen’s Park, Ontario seat of government. On November 17, 2013, I spoke at the Schwartz-Reisman Centre at the Chanukah Book Festival. On December 11, 2013, I spoke at a panel discussion for CANSCAIP. Renowned authors Kathy Kacer and MarshaForshuk Skrypuch shared the podium with me on the topic of social justice writing. On January 8, 2014, I kicked off the New Year with a book talk at Baycrest’s Terrace/Wagman Centre for seniors, followed on the 22nd with a talk at the National Council of Jewish Women and on the 26th on a panel at the joint Women’s Federation for World Peace-Universal Peace Federation event, with eminent scholar, Dr. Mordechai Kedar. Still in January, on the 29th, I spoke to students at the Unionville Montessori School in Vaughan.
I was in Israel in February 2014, to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of my finding Wuditu and freeing her from slavery. A celebration was held in Tel Aviv by family and friends to mark the day. Back in Toronto, I spoke at the Israel Truth Week conference on March 23, 2014 and in April I spoke in Hebrew again at a private book club. On April 29, 2014, I was back for a return visit at Quest Alternative School, speaking to their grade 7 classes. On Sunday, May 18, 2014, I spoke at the Ulyssean Society at Knox College, on the University of Toronto campus. Recently, there's been a huge step forward in Wuditu's and my work to bring the story of child slavery in Ethiopia to light. In June 2014, I spoke in Ottawa at a joint conference of two organizations that are in consultative status with the United Nations – the Women's Federation for World Peace and the Universal Peace Federation. There, I was awarded an Ambassador for Peace Award, an honor that I hope will help us to bring Wuditu’s story of child slavery in Ethiopia into the public forum.
Later, I met with Conservative MP Joy Smith, a determined campaigner against slavery and human trafficking. Mrs. Smith issued a press release commending Wuditu and I for our work: http://www.joysmith.ca/news.asp?newsID=821. Last Saturday, I spoke at the Alliance against Modern Slavery's 4th annual conference. The event was attended by UNICEF's International Programming Director, speakers from the police, survivors of human trafficking and representatives of organizations concerned about child slavery, human trafficking and child pornography. It was wonderful to be in a room filled with so many people determined not only to exchange information but also to DO SOMETHING about these tragic conditions.
September 2014's literary season began with a book signing at Word on the Street and another at Inspire! The First Toronto International Book Fair at Accents Bookstore's very elegant booth. In November, I spoke at Holy Blossom Temple about a holiday that is unique to Ethiopian Jewry, the SIGD festival. For more about the holiday, please see my cover story in the Canadian Jewish News: http://www.cjnews.com/news/uniting-ethiopian-jewry-sigd-holiday.
February 21, 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of my finding and freeing Wuditu from slavery. We marked the occasion quietly, with a lovely, long conversation on Skype. March 8, 2012 marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day and I had the honor of addressing a distinguished gathering held by the Women's Federation for World Peace, an NGO in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the UN Department of Public Information. The subject of my address was the story behind 'Cry of the Giraffe' and the issue of child slavery in the Horn of Africa. To view the array of distinguished speakers, click on: http://www.wfwp.ca/current.html. I'm excited to tell you that at Chukyo University in Nagoya, Japan, lecturer Sophie Muller has been teaching Cry of the Giraffe to her Japanese students. In addition, a tight roster of TV appearances and future events is taking place this spring, 2012. On February 27, 2012, I appeared on RogersTV's Mississauga Daytime program and on RogersTV's Daytime Toronto. I had the opportunity to appear for the second time on the Anna Aidoo Show, on allTalkTV. On March 10th I spoke at a conference for International Women’s Day organized by The Women’s Federation for World Peace Canada, an NGO in General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN.
On March 22, 2012, I was interviewed on Rogers Channel 10’s daytime Toronto show. On the 27th, I gave a book talk at Living Life on the Avenue Retirement Residence in Toronto. On April 14, 2012, I was at a book signing in Wychwood Barns’ author’s market, together with authors Theo Heras and Susan Glickman. The month was highly notable for my talk at Library of Congress in Washington, on April 23, 2012. While in Washington I also spoke at Magen David Congregation in Rockville, Maryland, at Congregation Beth El’s school in Bethesda, Maryland, and at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland. Still in April – whew, that was a busy month - on the 19th, I gave a book talk at a private book group and followed that up on the 27th with a book talk at Quest Alternative Senior School in Toronto.
From there I was off to Montreal, Quebec. On May 12, 2012 at Congregation Beth Ora and on May 29, 2012 at Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s Reuven Feurstein Chapter. Back in Toronto, I welcomed my new grandson, Zev, who was born while I was in Montreal, and on May 29, I gave a book talk at the International Branch of the National Council of Jewish Women. On June 6, 2012, I spoke at another private book club and on August 17, 2012, I spoke at Investing in Children’s kids writer’s camp in London, Ontario. Then it was back in Toronto on October 15, 2012 for a chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, followed on October 24 for a talk at UNACTO, on United Nations Day, at the University of Toronto’s OISE faculty. On November 2, 2012, I spoke to a group of grade 8 students at the Toronto Public Library’s Mt. Pleasant branch. The kids were from Market Lane School in Toronto. In December, my article appeared in Weekly Press Pakistan (http://weeklypresspakistan.com/2012/12/6235) as well as an interview on Simone da Costa’s blog (http://www.simonesblog.net/index.php/judie-oron). . In February 2013, I had the great honor of speaking in Israel at the 26th Jerusalem International Book Fair, see separate folder for interviews and events’s ‘Literary Café.’ The event marked the launch of Cry of the Giraffe’sHebrew edition, titled, Bechi HaGiraffa. While in Israel, I spoke at the Jerusalem Democratic School to students and parents. In Toronto, I was interviewed on March 4, 2013 by Gail Vaz-Oxlade on radio Newstalk 1010. On April 4, 2013, I spoke at the Jewish Family and Child Service about the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. On April 22, 2013, I was interviewed for Canadian-Russian TV by journalist, Judy Joseph. After that, it was off to London, England for a book talk to five London synagogues at the Wembly Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue and for a meeting with Chinese-British writer Xinran. To see my article on her website, please click on: http://www.mothersbridge.org/project-updates/who-am-i/who-am-i-from-judie-oron/.
2011 Season Events: The 2011/2012 season kicked off on September 10, 2011, with an interview about Cry of the Giraffe on the Anna Aidoo Show: http://menschlife.typepad.com/all_talk_tv/the-anna-aidoo-show/#tp. On September 12th, there was a book talk at Holy Blossom Temple Seniors Group, followed on September 13th by a talk at the UJA Israeli Division's Annual Telethon and on September 16th at Beth Sholom Synagogue. On Sunday, October 23, 2011, I attended a meet-and-greet/book signing with the other winners of the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards, at the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) at Toronto's Harbourfront, hosted by the Koffler Centre for the Arts. Hear that whistle blowing!!! I set off by train to London and Windsor, Ontario – love that VIARail, don’t you? This min-book tour was a blast - met some amazing people and got to know this beautiful part of Canada! http://www.searchwindsoressex.com/JudieOron.pdf ; ttps://www.google.com/calendar/event?eid=NTBpaGdiczA0M2wydDEycnJoZmNzODV2czAgMDdlaWkxamY1cjN1OTlnMzZ2dXZpNnFoaGtAZw
2010/2011 Season EVENTS: 'Cry of the Giraffe' was officially launched by Annick Press on October 15th at the ultra posh Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. Since then, we've been off and running - On December 9th, 2010, I spoke to Free the Children staff at a Lunch and Learn. To read about it, check out this link: http://annickpressblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/guest-post-from-author-judie-oron.html. At 'WE DAY in Toronto:' An unforgettable experience -- a day-long inspirational conference hosted by Craig and Marc Kielburger's organization, Free the Children. Read about it: http://annickpressblog.blogspot.com/. Then, on October 28th, 2010, I spoke at The Toronto Jewish Book Fair, with Wuditu joining me for an emotional question and answer period. Na'amat Toronto put on a 'Breakfast with Author Judie Oron' fundraising event on Sunday, October 17th, 2010. Close to a hundred women gathered to listen to us speak about our experience and about the ravages of slavery. On January 11th, 2011, I was a guest on Menschlife TV. You can tune in to the show at: http://www.menschlife.tv.
Halifax treats its writer guests like rock stars! Thanks everyone! I spoke at Beth Israel Synagogue, was interviewed on Atlantic Breakfast Television (do you have any idea how EARLY you have to get up for it?), i spoke at three separate book clubs, was interviewed not once but twice for the Halifax Herald/Chronicle and topped it off with a book signing during a raging storm (does Halifax have any other kind of weather?) at Dartmouth Chapters/Indigo.
Whew! Back in Toronto just in time for a talk with a group of 150 grade seven students at Associated Hebrew Day Schools, a book signing at the OLA Superconference at the Toronto Metro Convention Center and a presentation at the annual CANSCAIP OLA Mass Book Launch. On February 6th, I spoke to a brave crowd who came out in a storm and in spite of the event being held on the same night as the Super Bowl game - is that loyalty? This was at the Kehillat Shaarei Torah cultural group. Two days later, I spoke to the Adath Israel Sisterhood Study Group - thanks, everyone for a terrific breakfast!
On February 22, 2011, during Black History Month, I spoke at the Judith Nyman Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario. On February 24th, I spoke at the Harold Green Jewish Theatre, after a viewing of the play, 'One of a Kind,' performed by a troup of Ethiopian-Israeli actors. My talk was about Israel's rescue of Ethiopian Jewry during Operation Moses and about Wuditu, the heroine of Cry of the Giraffe. On March 10th, I was the guest author at Canadian Hadassah-WIZO's annual 'Literary Levee.' On March 12th, I signed books at the Bayview Village branch of Chapters/Indigo Bookstore. On March 15th, I spoke in Hebrew at the Israeli Artists Group of the Greater Toronto Area, a group that I attend as a tapestry weaver. For a look at one of my weavings and at the work of our artists, go to: http://www.israeliartistsgroup.com/. On Sunday, March 27th, I spoke to students, parents and alumni at Heschel School's 'Table Talk 2011' event in Toronto. On April 2nd, I led a creative writing workshop, 'Your life is a book - literally!' at the Fairview branch of the Toronto Public Library. The event was in conjunction with the Keep Toronto Reading Festival 2011. On May 1st, I addressed a private Chavura (Jewish friends) Group in North York. A memorial for the late Ethiopian Israeli activist/hero Baruch Tegegne was held at the event. On May 19th, I spoke at a private book club in Toronto and on June 5th, I spoke at the inauguration of the Sha'ar Shalom Synagogue's newly revamped library. Then, on June 15th I spoke about Wuditu's experience at a chapter of Jewish Women International.
MAY 24TH 2011 marked 20 YEARS SINCE 'OPERATION SOLOMON.' I WAS PRIVILEGED TO PLAY A SMALL PART IN THAT DARING RESCUE MISSION SO, OF COURSE, WE HELD A CELEBRATION! TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERATION AND TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE EVENT HELD TO COMMEMORATE IT, CLICK ON: http://annickpressblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/twenty-year-anniversary-of-operation.html Also in May,2011, Cry of the Giraffe won the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Award in the category of Youth Literature. The award ceremony was held on May 30, 2011 in the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library.