Class Correspondent

Alison Brager Bass published her second nonfiction book, “Getting Screwed: Sex Workers and the Law.” The book takes a wide-ranging look at prostitution in the United States and abroad, and weaves together true stories of sex workers’ experiences with the latest research to make the case for decriminalizing adult sex work. Alison is an assistant professor of journalism at West Virginia University. The Davis Companies, Jonathan Davis’ integrated real-estate investment, development and management firm, bought 29 historic residential apartment buildings in the Fan and Museum districts of Richmond, Va. The purchase marks the firm’s first entry into the Richmond market. The company, which owns other commercial properties in the East, has a long history of community involvement, both civically and philanthropically. David Glasser has been busy at Airshow Mastering, the Boulder, Colo., recording studio he founded. He spent six months in 2015 mastering the Grateful Dead’s “30 Trips Around the Sun,” a career-spanning 80-CD set. In June, David traveled to Santa Clara, Calif., with Arnie Freedman ’74 and two high-school buddies for the Dead’s Fare Thee Well concerts. When not working in the studio, he is a volunteer firefighter. Michael Kaiser, former president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C., was selected to draw up plans for a new performing-arts center at Yale University. The new center will be financed by a $150 million gift from financier Stephen Schwarzman. Roberta Bell Kligler was appointed head of the International School at Israel’s Oranim Academic College of Education. She writes that her task “is to create something that does not yet exist. We believe that Oranim, located in the beautiful Galilee and home to Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze and Circassian students, has a lot to offer students and professors from abroad.” She welcomes inquiries from alumni working at colleges who are interested in checking out possible collaborations. On a personal note, three of her four kids have returned home to pastoral Moshav Zippori. Gail Lopata Lennon has lived and performed in Branson, Mo., since 1994, when more than 30 members of the Lennon family moved from Los Angeles to perform at the Welk Theatre, including her sisters-in-law, the Lennon Sisters. They first performed a swing-music show, specializing in four-part vocal arrangements. With changing demographics, the group has moved on to the music of the 1960s and early ’70s, still focusing on vocal harmonies. Mindy Littman has been traveling around North America visiting Brandeis friends and business associates. She lives in Santa Fe, N.M. Check out her observations on life (yes, they are mostly comedic) at goo.gl/X6564B. Rabbi Peretz Rodman, MA’83, and Miriam Laufer ’79 welcomed their first grandchild in mid-July. Like her father, Shira Yona Rodman was born in Jerusalem — and lives near her paternal grandparents (and a slew of their respective classmates) in the southern end of the city. Jonathan Sarna, MA’75, presented the address at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s New York graduation at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York. Jonathan was also awarded a doctor of humane letters by the institution. In April, he celebrated the publication of “Lincoln and the Jews: A History,” a book he co-wrote, which sheds light on the 16th president’s relationship with the Jewish people. Debbi Dunn Solomon serves as director of marketing and communications at the National Council of Jewish Women. She was hired by CEO Nancy Kaufman ’72. In June, Rabbi Simkha Weintraub and her wife, Simha (Sharon) Rosenberg ’76, shared the birth of their first grandchild, Serena, to their daughter, Meirav. Donna Whitney retired from her neurology practice in 1998 to tend to her own health. After retiring, she used her newfound energy to teach in various capacities, including seven years at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, in Nashville, Tenn., where she developed a curriculum for math and science, and served for two years as the quality-enhancement plan coordinator. She is now a second-year student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Donna has two adult daughters and became a grandmother this summer. Her husband, who was an independent filmmaker when they met, is now a financial adviser.

Sarna event
Sarna event

A NEW LOOK AT AN ICON: More than 400 alumni and friends gathered on campus to celebrate the publication of “Lincoln and the Jews: A History,” co-authored by Jonathan D. Sarna ’75, MA’75, the Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History (top), which examines the 16th president’s relationship with the Jewish people. Attendees included (above, from left) Sherri Geller ’92; her parents, Marilyn and Joel Geller, P’92, P’95; and Steve Whitfield, PhD’72, the Max Richter Professor of American Civilization. The event was sponsored by the Brandeis Alumni Association and the Shapell Manuscript Foundation.

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