5:45 - 6:45
Rabbi Irwin Keller, former lawyer and drag queen, will discuss his long-awaited volume of essays, memoir, and poetry, entitled Shechinah at the Art Institute: Words, Worry, Wonder. He will be in conversation with writer and historian Jim Van Buskirk.
In his book, Keller, most recently known for his viral protest poem, “Taking Sides,” leads us on dazzling journeys into Jewish mysticism, love, loss, memory, gender, AIDS and the Milky Way itself.
Keller has served as spiritual leader of Congregation Ner Shalom in Sonoma County since 2008,a post he took while still writing and performing with the San Francisco-based Kinsey Sicks, known as America’s Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet. His legal advocacy work included authoring the City of Chicago's first comprehensive human rights law, in effect since 1989, and serving as the Executive Director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel of the San Francisco Bay Area.
A book sale will follow the discussion.
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