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Author of Decker/Lazarus mystery series is speaker
Sleuths are Orthodox Jews
By Shari Kaplan
Author Faye Kellerman is the second guest speaker of the 2001 season of the Distinguished Lecture Series of the South Bay Institute for Jewish Living and Learning. Her presentation takes place on Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road in Saratoga.
Kellerman is known in literary circles throughout the world for her Decker/Lazarus mystery series, which feature the fictional lives of Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus, detectives who also happen to be Orthodox Jews.
In 1986, the first Decker/Lazarus mystery, The Ritual Bath, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel. Kellerman followed this success with Sacred and Profane, Milk and Honey, Day of Atonement and other novels. She has also written The Quality of Mercy, a historical novel, and is working on a new thriller series based in Las Vegas.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Kellerman grew up in Sherman Oaks. Although she holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a doctorate degree in dentistry, she decided to become a full-time writer after being inspired by the success of her author husband. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Mystery Writers of America.
Next in the lecture series is "Too Jewish? Challenging Traditional Identities" on March 14; the program is hosted by artist and curator Ken Aptekar, who also offers a slide show. The current series closes on April 15, with "Can Israel Be Both Jewish and Democratic?" by Rabbi Uri Regev of Israel's Religious Action Center.
Lecture tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for those ages 30 or younger. An additional $5 fee will be charged for tickets purchased at the door. Babysitting is available with advance reservation. Tickets are available by calling 408.358.5918.
This is the seventh year the Distinguished Lecture Series is being presented by the South Bay Institute for Jewish Living and Learning, with support from the Hebrew Free Loan Association and Metro Newspapers. Operating under the auspices of the Addison Penzac Jewish Community Center, the Institute is a committee representing San Jose-area Jewish organizations that provides a community structure for adult Jewish education. It also publishes a semi-annual catalog of adult education opportunities. For more information about the Institute, call the number above, or email SBI@sanjosejcc.org.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
