The Jewish Federation Connecting with Community continues its series of author programs as Hugh Black speaks on the important writings of Jewish authors.

Primo Levi, an Italian born chemist and author, profoundly influenced the work of Phillip Roth.  Levi's work, If This is a Man is an account of his capture in Turino, Italy while working as a Jewish partisan and his survival in Auschwitz.

The Drowned and the Saved is his work of "survivor's guilt."  As his most acclaimed book, The Periodic Table, he wrote a collection of autobiographical episodes as a Jewish-Italian doctoral level chemist under the Fascist regime and afterwards.

*Please note that a film screening on the life of Primo Levi is being held on Monday, July 2, prior to this program.

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.