A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka,  

by Lev Golinkin 

Facilitated by Sari Marmur

NON-FICTION

320 pages

Available in Hardcopy, Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook

A compelling story of two intertwined journeys: a Jewish refugee family fleeing persecution and a young man seeking to reclaim a shattered past.

In the twilight of the Cold War, nine-year-old Lev Golinkin and his family cross the Soviet border with only ten suitcases, $600, and the vague promise of help awaiting in Vienna. Years later, Lev, now an American adult, sets out to retrace his family's long trek, locate the strangers who fought for his freedom, and in the process, gain a future by understanding his past.

This is a thrilling tale of escape and survival, a deeply personal look at the life of a Jewish child caught in the last gasp of the Soviet Union, and a provocative investigation into the power of hatred and the search for belonging. Lev Golinkin achieves an amazing feat - and it marks the debut of a fiercely intelligent, defiant, and unforgettable new voice.

   Please RSVP for dinner. There is NO cost to attend.  Dinner begins at 6:30pm. Program begins at 7:00pm