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Before turning to fiction writing, Lenny Levine enjoyed a successful 20-year career as a recording studio singer and composer of many jingles, such as McDonald’s, Lipton Tea, and Jeep. His stories have been widely published in literary magazines and journals, and he received a Pushcart Prize nomination for short fiction. His mystery novels Diehard Fan and Death in the Jingle Jungle are available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

David Schein was lucky to go to Burlington High School in the mid-60s where he encountered writing teacher Gladys Colburn and theater teacher Margaret O’Brien whom he credits with setting him on his course. He spent many years in the San Francisco, New York and Chicago theater and poetry scenes. David wrote for, and performed and toured with Whoopi Goldberg as her star was rising. He lived in Tijuana, where he wrote and recorded for NPR with performance artist, Guillermo Gomez-Peña. He has worked extensively in Germany and Ethiopia — where, with a troupe of street kids, he founded One Love AIDS/HIV Awareness Theater. David is the author of three books, published by Burlington’s own Fomite Press, with another one, STONES, coming out soon.

About OZ’s Lunch and Learns:

In-Person in the Ohavi Zedek’s Social Hall. No Zoom unless conditions change, but a number of Lunch & Learns will be filmed by CCTV for posting 2 to 3 weeks after the event on the cctv.org web site — when on their site search for “Ohavi Zedek”.

Speakers cover a wide range of topics. A delicious lunch will be offered, which is served promptly at NOON. The talks begin at about 12:15pm and end no later than 1:15pm (including some time for Q&A).

Suggested cash contribution of $10 for food can be paid on the registration form or collected at the event — but feel free to give more or less. Please also consider sponsoring one or more Lunch & Learn to help cover expenses. Information on this is on the registration page.

Please Register Here to Help Us Plan

2024-2025 Series of Lunch and Learn Talks:

• Thursday, September 26, 2024: A Storytelling Lunch Hour. Readings by Lenny Levine & David Schein
• Thursday, November 21, 2024: The Challenges Facing Caregivers. A talk by caregiver and author Alan Rubel.
• Thursday, December 19, 2024: Bridges of Hope: Learning about Mental Health. A presentation by staff & volunteers with NAMI-Vermont
• Thursday, January 16, 2025: Volunteering to Stop Human Trafficking in Vietnam. A talk by OZ member Sue Schein
•  Thursday, February 20, 2025: Jewish Life & Antisemitism in Today’s Germany. A talk by UVM Professor of History & Holocaust Studies Alan Steinweis
•  Thursday, March 20, 2025: Artists & the Holocaust: Documentation, Memory, Elegy. A visual presentation by former UVM Fleming Museum Director Janie Cohen
•  Thursday, April 24, 2025: The Music of Terezin. A talk, with music, by composer Michael Schachter
•  Thursday, May 15, 2025: Last Messages from the Dying. An exploration with End of Life Doula Sarah Villanueva

Download Our Lunch & Learn Brochure with Details on Each Talk