Recommendations from our Volunteers
Recommendations from our Volunteers, collected by JMM Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Davis!
Reading
“It’s the true story about an American spy that helped win WWII, Virginia Hall. Virginia was born and raised in Baltimore. She went to Roland Park Country School and is buried at Druid Ridge Cemetery. Very interesting story of what one woman could accomplish.”
Rita P., docent, shared: “I am working my way through a 700-page biography of Golda Meir titled Lioness: Golda Meir and the Nation of Israel by Francine Klagsbrun.”
Robyn H., docent, shared that she is reading Appalachian Trail hikers’ memoirs, including The Unlikely Thru-Hiker by Derick Lugo. “It’s a great book! And available on Amazon.”
I find it very interesting, because it also tells about the early life of Palestine-Israel.”
Sarah L, docent, shared this book recommendation: “Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. Novel. A story of growing up in post-World War II York, England. Funny and touching.”
Ted C., docent, shared: “A book I read is Running Breathless by Morey Kogul. It is the true story of his father who barely escaped the Holocaust. He was about 18 when he was separated from his family in Poland and fled east into Russia, where he was conscripted into the Russian army. It is an amazing story of survival.”
Sarah L. docent, recommended reading Becoming Eve by Abby Stein. It is about a Hasidic man transitioning to live as a non-Orthodox woman.
The book documents the life of Bill Graham who founded The Filmore concert halls and launched the careers of Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, the Grateful Dead, and more. The book starts with an extensive account of Graham’s survival as an orphaned Jewish holocaust survivor who through intense determination became the quintessential icon of classic rock promotion.”
Laraine F., museum shop volunteer, shared: “One book I actually got from the Jewish Museum when they were giving some things to take – The Song of the Jade Lily by Kirsty Manning. (Amazon describes it as “a lush, provocative, and beautiful story of friendship, motherhood, the price of love, and the power of hardship and courage that can shape us all. A gripping historical novel that tells the little-known story of Jewish refugees who fled to Shanghai during WWII”). Another one I did like was Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (which has been made into a movie).”
Helene G., docent, shared: “I just finished reading The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michigan. It’s nothing earth shattering, but charming, quick and an easy read about Buddhist philosophy. Many chapters can be applied to how to deal with life at this time.”
It covers cultural and political developments from 1492 to the present that have shaped our current environment. Now that we all have a lot of time on our hands, readers will find getting through this 787-page book to be especially worthwhile.”
Sarah L, docent, shared: “A book that is for history enthusiasts (and World War II buffs in particular) is Appeasement by Tim Bouverie. It is an account of the diplomatic path the English took of appeasement, led by their Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Also documented are the struggles of the anti-appeasers in government and Parliament including Winston Churchill.”
Bruce L., docent, shared “I read American Dirt (by Jeanine Cummins) a few weeks ago. It’s about a mother and son escaping from the drug cartels of Mexico. They headed at all costs for the safety of the USA. Very gripping, exciting story. Also reading The Hemingses of Monticello (by Annette Gordon-Reed). Sally was the enslaved woman who bore Thomas Jefferson children. The book is interesting, I would recommend it to anyone with a strong historic interest.”
Lots of interesting characters including the Jewish baseball player Moe Berg. Now reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Leadership In Turbulent Times. Very Needed today and very missed.”
Lola H., archive volunteer shared: “This is truly a fun read if one is interested in the subject: Ruth Reichl’s memoir, Save Me the Plums. The author, a former NY Times restaurant critic took the job and the risk of a lifetime – spending 10 years at Gourmet magazine which had inspired her at a very young age. As a fan of her books and restaurant reviews for many years, I truly enjoy Ruth’s storytelling abilities and how she turned Gourmet around from a stodgy, dying magazine to a more relevant one. She brought in many interesting characters as staff members which contributed to the book being a fun read!”
“It is a work of historical fiction with a Jewish angle. It is based on the story of a Jewish woman from the Virgin Islands who was the mother of the artist, Camille Pissarro. She also shared “We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. It was written by a woman who discovered that she was a descendant of holocaust survivors. The book tells the story of her family’s “escape.””
Helene G., docent shared: “I’m rereading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Actually, I’m listening to it from the library. When I read it the first time, years ago, I loved it so I recommend it to my Hadassah Book Group. Since I’ll be leading the group, I figured I’d better reread it. It’s every bit as good the second time around. The story is based on the imagined events surrounding the protagonist and real historical past of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest surviving Jewish illuminated texts. Fascinating. A real page turner.”
Harvey K., docent shared: “I highly recommend a book titled Father, Son, Stone by a local author named Allan H. Goodman. It is historical fiction but tells a very good story based on very real events and years of research by the author.”
Watching
Sarah L., docent, shared: “Right now, I’m into Anne with an E on Netflix. Very good, sensitive; a solid period drama with several seasons available.”
Maxine G, front desk volunteer, shared the Kominsky Method. “Very cute and really hits home for us of a certain age!”
Sarah L, docent, shared: “I want to recommend Fauda … basically is about an Israeli undercover unit operating against terrorists. There’s a lot of personal stuff going on, including romantic interests.”
Laraine F., gift shop volunteer, shared: “Just finished watching Black Money Love – 164 episodes!!!! I persevered. My son recommended Kim’s Convenience, a funny show about a Korean man who owns a convenience store and his family.”
Karen R., docent shared: “Steve and I have been watching The Crown. We are really enjoying it and I would highly recommend it if there is anyone who hasn’t seen it yet (we are a little behind). It makes you almost feel like you “know” the British royal family.”
Roberta describes it as “watching the young adult Orthodox version of Friends without the comedy” and Harvey says it’s “very entertaining and presents some interesting questions at the same time.”
Laraine F., gift shop volunteer, recommended The Last Word, a “really cute movie on HULU with Shirley McLaine.”
The film “Molly’s Game,” based on an autobiographical novel by Molly Bloom who was arrested for running high stakes poker games, which she found “entertaining and far different from the who-dun-it and war movies that seem to be proliferating” and ESPN’s The Last Dance series, a 2020 American sports documentary miniseries about the career of Michael Jordan, with particular focus on the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls season.
Ted C., docent, recommend “The Plot Against America” on HBO, an alternative history series that asks what might have happened if Charles Lindbergh, an anti-Semite and admirer of the Nazis, had defeated Franklin Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election. He found it “very disturbing and thought provoking.”
Local
I love that some of our volunteers have shared a variety of local online arts and culture experiences!
Shelly M., front desk volunteer, shared Chesapeake Shakespeare’s new video series PAST IS PROLOGUE, where each week their Founding Artistic Director Ian Gallanar highlights stories and reflections from some of the world’s leading Shakespeare artists, educators, and fans, which they are sharing on their YouTube channel.
Shelly M., along with Roberta G. (both front desk volunteers), shared that all three of Baltimore’s independent movie theaters, The Charles, The Senator, and The Parkway, are offering streaming movies!
Wendy D., volunteer coordinator, shared the Baltimore Heritage “Five Minute Histories” series. Her favorites thus far have been on the Hebrew Orphan Asylum and the McKim Free School & Old Town Friends’ Meeting House.
You might also want to check out the virtual offerings from our fellow Baltimore museums like the Baltimore Museum of Industry, The Walters Art Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. (After you’ve explored all of JMM’s virtual offerings, of course!)
Shorties: Beautiful, Funny, and (mostly) Fast
Vera K, archive volunteer, shared this delightful video of birds performing Mozart. Don’t miss looking at the credits!
Maxine G., front desk volunteer, shared this giggle-worthy “Baltimore Hon” video:
David S., docent, shared that his wife Judith recently retired after a 30-year career of social work with Baltimore County Department of Social Services and that the Baltimore Sun recently published her op-ed thanking child welfare workers stepping up and taking risks during these difficult times.
We’ve got a number of recommendations for Musical-related videos, including two different Fiddler on the Roof parodies!
From Roberta G, front desk volunteer, we get this clever take on “Tradition:”
And from Howard D. docent, we get a parody on “Matchmaker, Matchmaker:”
Howard also shared this clever musical video variation on Les Misérables:
This one is more of a full-length feature; Phil S., docent, shared this tribute to the works of Sondheim:
Nancy K., docent sent this link for Hativah being song around the world. And a bonus read from Bruce L., docent, about a young violinist playing Hatikvah.
Howard D., docent, shared a sweet video called The Great Realization, a “bedtime story of how it started, and why hindsight’s 2020”:
Lola H., archive volunteer and board member, shared this wonderful video from the Juilliard School:
And from Wendy herself, give yourself a good belly laugh with this comedian talking about his Bubbe’s speeding experience.