The Jewish Federation Connecting with Community presents "Contemporary Fiction: Illuminating our World, Exploring our Roles, Offering Hope" with Ellen Meeropol, author of three novels, taking on challenging issues in our world; environmental chaos, racism, unlawful detention, enhanced interrogation, and medical ethics.

Ellen will explain why fiction matters in our fact-driven world and how novels can illuminate the nuances and humanity behind the headlines of the 21st century. She will discuss how stories grow from fertile ground of memories, imagination, and the daily news.  Her books will be on hand.

Ellen is a frequent presenter at conferences and book festivals. She has taught fiction workshops at Writers in Progress in Florence, MA, Grub Street in Boston, and World Fellowship Center in New Hampshire. She is a Founding Member of the Straw Dog Writers Guild and its current board president. She is married to Robert Meeropol, the younger son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Ellen is a founding board member of the Rosenberg Fund for Children, which was started by Robert in 1990 in honor of his parents’ refusal to “name names.” Ellen’s dramatic script telling the story of the foundation has been produced five times, most recently in Manhattan in June 2013, featuring Eve Ensler, Angela Davis, and Cotter Smith.

This free program is part of the Federation’s Connecting With Community Series and will be followed by a kosher hot lunch. Lunch is a $2 suggested donation for adults over 60 years of age or $7 for all others. Advance reservations are required for lunch and can be made by calling (413) 442-2200 before 9 a.m. on the day of the program.