1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: conversation about fitness, health, and happenings in our community on 3 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: one six point seven Light FM. 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: Welcome to New York's Christmas station, Happy Holidays and Happy Hanukkah. 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: Honkah starts today, so I'm very pleased to be joined 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 2: by writer and former New Yorker Gene Meltzer, also known 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: as the Queen of Jewish Romance, whose books include Kissing Kosher, Magical, 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: Meet Cute, and her newest The Eight Heartbreaks of Honkkah. 9 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: Gen Meltzer is also announcing a groundbreaking, first ever three 10 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: day event called Jewish Joy Con, celebrating the best in 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 2: Jewish pop culture, storytelling, and creativity. That is this coming 12 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 2: March in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Gene Meltzer, Happy Hanukah and 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: thank you for being on Get Connected, Nina. 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me here today. Happy 15 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: happy Honikkah, and happy holidays to all your listeners. 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 2: You can find out more at Genmeltzer dot com and 17 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 2: the Jewish Joycon dot com. Let's start with Honkah since 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: today is the first day, I think, but we're so 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: lucky to have you here. It is December fourteenth to 20 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 2: twenty second this year. For you, what is Honkah about? 21 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: Hanikah is about celebrating with your friends and family, getting 22 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 3: together to eat delicious fried foods, and most importantly, Honkkah 23 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 3: as we light the manora is about spreading light, making 24 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 3: an otherwise dark world just a little bit. 25 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 2: Brighter, which we can all use this year and again, 26 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 2: because you're here on Honkkah, I thought we might also 27 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,279 Speaker 2: ask you a little bit of Honkkah. One oh one. 28 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: So you lived in the city, and you know, we 29 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: have these beautiful manora all over the city. Of course, 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: people have them in their homes and their workplaces. There 31 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: are nine candles on the manora, eight nights of Honkkah. 32 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: What is the significance of lighting each candle as Honkkah continues? 33 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 3: So the story goes that there was a rededication of 34 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: the temple. There was only enough oil for one night, 35 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 3: and it lasted for eight nights instead, and so today 36 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 3: Jews all around the world we commemorate this by lighting 37 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 3: a candle for each night. Zakonika. 38 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: One of the things I'm already enjoying about speaking with 39 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 2: Eugene is you have this amazing, big smile while we're talking. 40 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: You look fantastic. We're on zoom, no one can see, 41 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 2: but Jane looks beautiful and you have this event coming up, 42 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 2: and I can see the joy in your face. So 43 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: let's talk about Jewish JOYCN, the first ever conference for 44 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: everything Jewish. Where did this idea come from? 45 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 3: So it was really simple. Basically, I wanted to take 46 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 3: the idea of a comic con and smush it together 47 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: with the best of Jewish summer camp or summer camp 48 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 3: in general. That was like how it started. But basically, 49 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 3: you know, Jewish creativity has touched every area of our 50 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 3: society in wonderful, beautiful ways, whether that's humor, whether that's 51 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,239 Speaker 3: film and television, books. In fact, here we are celebrating 52 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: the holidays, and many people might know or not know 53 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 3: that our Christmas, some of our favorite Christmas songs, some 54 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 3: of my favorite Christmas songs were actually written by Jews, 55 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 3: such as Irving Berlin, right, And I just wanted to 56 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 3: have this event where we would get together and we 57 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 3: would celebrate all the best that there is to being 58 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 3: Jewish and Jewish creativity. So no barriers, no divisions, just 59 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 3: a beautiful get together celebrating art, and culture and this 60 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 3: small little tribe of people who have done so much 61 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: to better the world. 62 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: It seems like there's going to be a lot of 63 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: people there, though. Can you talk a little bit about 64 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: the guests and the events. 65 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 3: Sure, we are doing a slow rollout of guests, but 66 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: we have everything from celebrities like Mark Furstein, to comedians, 67 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: to Jewish ninja warriors, to Jewish psychic mediums, Jewish author 68 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 3: best sellers, New York Times bestsellers, and all of and 69 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 3: it's going to be three floors overlooking the Atlantic Ocean 70 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 3: March thirteenth through fifteenth in Fort Lauderdale. And we're expecting 71 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 3: a marketplace agents Jewish Joy Idle so that even the 72 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: people who are not celebrities can get involved in front 73 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 3: of a panel of judges to show their talents. And 74 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 3: we're just gonna have a lot of fun. We're gonna 75 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 3: showcase art, We're gonna have comedians and musicians, a spot 76 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 3: dinner experience, a Matzi ball party, just so much joy, 77 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 3: and really it's for everybody. It's for everyone to enjoy 78 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 3: this experience of Jewish life. 79 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: You can find out more at the Jewish Joycon dot com. 80 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: That is Gene Meltzer's event, as you mentioned, coming up 81 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: in Fort Lauderdale this coming March thirteenth through fifteenth. Her 82 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: new book is The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah. You're listening 83 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: to get connected on one O six point seven Light FM. 84 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: I'm Mina del Rio and prior to becoming an author, 85 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 2: Gene Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tish. She built 86 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: a successful career in television, earning multiple accolades, including a 87 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,559 Speaker 2: National Daytime Emmy Award. She is the recipient of several 88 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: writing honors. A book List Top Ten Romances for twenty 89 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: twenty three, A starter of you in kirkis a starter 90 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: of you in book List and library reads. So please 91 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 2: tell us about becoming a Jewish romance writer. I assume 92 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 2: there weren't too many people doing that. 93 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it definitely. You know, there's always been sort 94 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 3: of Jewish romance authors, but I think, thankfully in around 95 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 3: twenty twenty there was a push for more diversity within romance. 96 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 3: My background is kind of unique in that I was 97 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: a television producer. I was trained and why U Tish 98 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: to be a screenwriter, and after a few years in entertainment, 99 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 3: I actually did quit my job to go to rabbinical school. 100 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 3: I've been five years in rabbinical school before my chronic 101 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 3: illness forced me to withdraw. But what you see in 102 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: these books is basically my two loves coming together, which 103 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 3: are writing and Jewish joy. So how did I become 104 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: a Jewish romance author? I was writing stories from my heart, 105 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 3: stories of my world. And it was twenty twenty and 106 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 3: timing met I guess the talent which had gotten to 107 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 3: the proper level to be writing books like these, and 108 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: I was offered a book deal and I've never stopped 109 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,720 Speaker 3: from there. I just keep doing what I love, which 110 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 3: is writing these joyful Jewish stories about Jewish life and 111 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 3: especially about Honikah. 112 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, a little bit about the crossover here too. So 113 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: you are a Jewish person who has a love for Christmas, 114 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: a secret love for Christmas. 115 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, not secret anymore? Sorry? 116 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 2: Can you talk a little bit about that and how 117 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: that sort of blends into your writing and how you 118 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: kind of balance them in the stories? 119 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: Sure? 120 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 3: I mean the eight Heartbreaks of Hankkah, for instance, is 121 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: a Honkkah retelling of a Christmas carol, which is a 122 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 3: story my mom actually used her entire life she's a 123 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 3: therapist with her clients. So for me, I grew up 124 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 3: with a Christmas Carol as a sort of message of 125 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:30,679 Speaker 3: learning to see your own experiences through someone else's lens, 126 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 3: and that's really what inspired me to write The Eight 127 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 3: Heartbreaks of Hanukkah. But I am a nice Jewish girl, 128 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: like so many other nice Jewish girls who have a 129 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 3: secret love of Christmas. There's no hiding it anymore, except 130 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: I kind of grew up in a home where we 131 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: weren't allowed to sort of celebrate Christmas in any way, 132 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 3: and so we weren't allowed to have music or tinsel 133 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 3: or anything like that. But I always loved it because 134 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 3: I think because I didn't celebrate it, I just always 135 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 3: assumed it was like Hallmark movies, like Chunky Sweater and 136 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: people walking around, you know, drinking hot chocolate and falling 137 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 3: in love. And so for me, it was almost this idealized, 138 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 3: beautiful expression of good in the world. And that's all 139 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 3: I do now with my Jewish romances. I take that 140 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 3: same sort of vibe, that same sort of feeling, and 141 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 3: I just sort of tell it as a Jewish story 142 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 3: from a Jewish worldview, but it's exactly the same it's 143 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 3: silver tinsel instead of green. 144 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 2: You also have a knack or an interest in telling 145 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 2: Jewish stories that, as you would say, don't feature trauma 146 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 2: at the forefront of them. Right. So many stories and 147 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 2: we talk about religion and ethnic groups, They talk about 148 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 2: all the stuff that's deep and unhappy, which is really important. 149 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 2: But you're really focused on humor in your books. 150 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 3: Absolutely. You know, growing up I only kind of had 151 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 3: one type of story, and that was a Holocaust story. 152 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 3: There's nothing wrong with Holocaust stories. They need to be told. 153 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: But people and groups are so much more than their trauma. 154 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: There's so much more than their worst experiences. The Jewish 155 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 3: people are living and thriving, creating beautiful art. And for me, 156 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 3: I like not that my books don't deal with deep issues. 157 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 3: All my books actually do deal with deep issues. But 158 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 3: the action plot, the overarching plot, is a joyful story. 159 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 3: And why I started writing romance and why I love 160 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 3: romance is the promise of a happy ending, because every 161 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 3: single person out there deserves a happy ending. 162 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: You've also been I have to say, it looks like 163 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 2: very prolific. You've published five books in the last four years, 164 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 2: so it seems like there is a huge audience. People 165 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 2: are looking for these stories. 166 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 3: People absolutely are. And I always get asked, is it 167 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 3: just Jews reading your book? No, absolutely not. It's not 168 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 3: just Jews who are reading my book. Everybody is welcome 169 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 3: to experience a little taste of Jewish culture through these stories. 170 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 3: I've always been a big believer in creating access points. 171 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 3: I write for Jews the same way I write for 172 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 3: non Jews because Jews and non Jews often look very alike. 173 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 3: And yeah, there is a huge market and hunger for 174 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,439 Speaker 3: people to learn about other cultures. Why do we read, right? 175 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 3: We read to experience a little taste of someone else's life. 176 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 3: So I invite everyone who wants to learn more about 177 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 3: like Jewish culture and Jewish people and Jewish families and 178 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 3: Jewish art, to pick up one of my books or 179 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 3: any Jewish romance out there and immerse yourself in a 180 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 3: new type of story. And I hope you love it 181 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 3: just as much as I loved writing it. 182 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 2: Because you also live with the chronic illness, you also 183 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: weave that into your books. 184 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: Sure, so, I've been chronically disabled since about eighteen nineteen 185 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 3: years old. You would never know it by looking at me, 186 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: but I've been homebound most of my life, and before 187 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 3: I was an author, I actually was my husband's disabled wife. 188 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 3: I spent about ten years not working, two years really 189 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 3: really sick, pretty much bed bound. And so for me, 190 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 3: especially having been diagnosed in the late nineties, it's really 191 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 3: important to model representation. I didn't have those models growing up, 192 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: and so I didn't know that you could be chronically 193 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 3: ill and chronically disabled and still fall in love. I 194 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 3: didn't know you could be chronically ill and chronically disabled 195 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 3: and have a career. I didn't know you could be 196 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 3: chronically ill and chronically disabled and actually help a lot 197 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 3: of other people and have meaning in this world even 198 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 3: on your worst days. And so for me, it's really 199 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 3: important to write stories where there are women like me, 200 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 3: men like me, because what I learned in sort of 201 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: coming out of the chronic illness closet was that countless 202 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 3: people would lead and saying me too, and no one 203 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 3: should have to feel quiet about the things they're experiencing, 204 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 3: for good or bad. And so there's power in standing 205 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 3: up and saying I'm sick and it's going to be okay. 206 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 3: And that's why I write these books, so that not 207 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 3: just Jews, but chronically ill and disabled people know that 208 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 3: they're deserving a good, safe and healthy love to. 209 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: Those are responses from readers who feel like they've found 210 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 2: companionship and being seen in your books. You know that's 211 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: important to them. What does that mean to you everything. 212 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 3: I had a realization recently, this is very deep, that 213 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 3: the reason I truly write is because I want to 214 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 3: be seen. Right, But when a reader connects to your story, 215 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 3: they're also being seen and it's so it's like a 216 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 3: book is two people reaching out across the void and 217 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 3: seeing each other. And so that's what it means to 218 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 3: me when people write me and say I had the 219 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: courage to use a wheelchair. This was the first time 220 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: I saw someone sick falling in love. It made me 221 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 3: re envision my future. It feels like reaching out and 222 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 3: taking each other's hand. And so there's no greater honor. 223 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 3: I always say, there's no greater honor and no greater privilege, 224 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: and I take it very seriously to be a voice 225 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 3: for the voiceless. 226 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: Geene Melcher's most recent book is The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah. 227 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: She's also planning the first ever three day event called 228 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: Jewish Joy Con in Fort Lauderdale. Let's go back and 229 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 2: talk about that again. So putting this event together, what 230 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 2: kind of response have you received from all these small 231 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: businesses and artists. And there's going to be the history 232 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:44,719 Speaker 2: of Jewish comics. It's quite an event coming up. 233 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 3: It has actually been amazing. I thought it sounds crazy 234 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: to say, and I don't want to jinx anything, but 235 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 3: I really felt like the Jewish world responded to this 236 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 3: so positively, had so much love and support. We've had 237 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 3: so many amazing artists coming in. People who haven't been 238 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 3: able to come in have been like, let me open 239 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 3: my rolodex for you. And I think it's because the 240 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 3: mission is so beautiful and people relate to it. You know, 241 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 3: we are creating spaces to celebrate being Jewish. We are 242 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 3: creating spaces where people can find Jewish artists and creatives 243 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 3: to support, and we are creating spaces where Jews and 244 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 3: allies can get together and just have a big, wonderful party. 245 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 3: And that's a great, wonderful thing to celebrate. And the 246 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 3: whole world, Jews and non Jews, have been just lovely 247 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,239 Speaker 3: about it. We're really excited. 248 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: I think it's a really easy message, right It just 249 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 2: and everybody needs a little Joy right now and everybody 250 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 2: and anyone is welcome at this event, the Jewish Joycon 251 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: dot Com March in Fort Lauderdale. You can find out 252 00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: more about it on the website. And again, it is 253 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 2: is also the first day of Hanukkah, so happy Hanukah 254 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 2: to you. And what are you looking forward to most 255 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 2: this year this Honkah? 256 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 3: I am looking forward to eating some delicious lackas with 257 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 3: my hobby. And also it's my baby husky one year old. 258 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 3: It's her first Honkah with us, so she's going to 259 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 3: be getting very spoiled this year. So family, friends, It 260 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 3: made me a little bit of rest too. 261 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 2: That sounds fantastic. Gene Meltzer is an author. Again she's 262 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 2: planning the Jewish Joycon this March in Fort Lauderdale. You 263 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: can find out more about geneat Genemeltzer dot com. The 264 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: event is the Jewish Joycon dot com and her new 265 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: book is The Eight Heartbreaks of Honkkah. You've been very busy. 266 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 2: Thank you for making time and thank you for being 267 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: on to get connected. 268 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me here, and I 269 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 3: really hope to see you all at Jewish JOYCN March 270 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 3: thirteenth to fifteenth in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 271 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: This has been get connected with Nina del Rio on 272 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: one O six point seven light Out. The views and 273 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views 274 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: of the station. If you missed any part of our 275 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: show or want to share it, visit our website for 276 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: downloads and podcasts at one O six seven lightfm dot com. 277 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.