The wonderful partnership between the 6th & I Synagogue and Politics & Prose witnessed the celebration of Joshua Foer's Moonwalking with Einstein and two weeks earlier experienced a rich discussion of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish's I Shall Not Hate.
These two events caused me to recollect how it was largely Esther Foer and Carla Cohen who forged that relationship between 6th & I and Politics & Prose. Over time, we witnessed two community builders, public space creators, and passionate devotees to the dissemination of ideas creating a relationship that has strengthened Washington's cultural and intellectual life. This partnership has been solidified by the excellent work of the staff of each institution.
Joshua Foer, and his older brothers Franklin and Jonathan Safran, browsed the shelves of P&P regularly as children, teenagers and young adults. Carla loved talking with them as they discussed books and their ideas, and saw how they were encouraged by their parents Esther and Bert Foer. Each brother is now an author whose books are read and discussed widely. Joshua's book links memory with identity, provides us with a history of memorization, and demystifies the workings of the brain. Joshua makes a difficult subject accessible to laypeople. We come away from reading Moonwalking with Einstein smarter than we were.
The horrible killings in Itamar cause us to reflect that Dr.Abuelaish chose to respond to the killing of his own daughters and niece by believing, writing, and acting in ways that make I Shall Not Hate real. Unlike the settlers and politicians who demand reprisals, he refused to endorse acts of retribution. Dr. Abuelaish, by honestly recounting history, moves beyond mere rhetorical and aspirational goals. He reminds us that we must match the desire to end hatred and violence with both our thoughts and actions.
Carla would have loved these two events--a young author returning with a book that has us buzzing about memory and a father who has faced tragedy, refuses to be vengeful, and works to educate the young women in Palestine.
- David Cohen
