NST’s Migdal Chapter of Hadassah Presents
Lunch with Jamie Bernstein
BY JILL DAVIS
North Shore Towers’ Migdal
Chapter of Hadassah held
its annual Book & Author
Luncheon on Monday, April 29,
at the Inn at New Hyde Park. The
featured guest speaker was Jamie
Bernstein, author of “Famous Father
Girl: A Memoir of Growing
Up Bernstein,” and whose famous
father just happened to be the legendary
conductor and composer,
Leonard Bernstein.
The event, which had a sold out
audience of nearly 145 people, was
a fundraiser for the critically important
medical research Hadassah
conducts, including groundbreaking
work in diabetes. Book Club
co-chairs Bern Rosenthal and
Arlene Augenbraun introduced
Judy Paris, a nurse, who explained
the medical center’s global reach
and emphasized that all money
raised “goes right into research.”
(See sidebar to learn more about
Hadassah Medical Center’s extraordinary
work.)
Attendees enjoyed a lovely lunch
and had the opportunity to purchase
Jamie’s book personally autographed
by the author. But first, it
was time to hear from Jamie. “This
is my first book,” she said as she
took the microphone, “and to this
day when I see my books in a pile
I have to pinch myself.” Embarking
on this new venture “was the right
moment for me,” as her goal was to
share with readers what it was like
to grow up with Leonard Bernstein
as a father. “It wasn’t boring,” she
smiled.
Jamie, who’s a natural, energetic
speaker, peppered her talk with
anecdotes and experiences us
regular folks wouldn’t even think
of. Who grew up in a house where
it was pretty ordinary to have the
likes of Stephen Sondheim, Aaron
Copland or Lauren “Betty” Bacall
stop by? Not many, but when
young Jamie would eavesdrop from
her bedroom, and all she knew was
that there was a “mad racket of
grownups having fun.”
And she shared a Leonard
Bernstein fun fact: He liked pop
music! Yes, the illustrious Leonard
Bernstein and his daughter would
listen to pop music while they
tooled around in the family car.
Upon hearing the song “You Really
Got Me” by The Kinks, he informed
Jamie that it was composed in “mixolydian
mode” (you musicians out
there know what that is), which he
subsequently used in his famous
Young People’s Concerts. Note to
those with young children in the
family: Jamie announced that the
Young People’s Concerts, which
many of you may remember from
TV years ago, will be reissued on
DVD soon. They’re worth the wait!
Jamie explained more about her
personal career which, no surprise,
has been centered around music.
She and her younger siblings took
piano lessons (of course), “but we
had bad attitudes and didn’t practice.”
So Jamie took up the guitar,
moved to L.A. to be a singer-songwriter
and got a record deal which
didn’t pan out. She soon found
herself narrating concerts and films
and hasn’t looked back.
“I’ve spent most of my career in
music—not like my father--but by
talking about music and narrating
concerts, I’m still in it,” she said.
“And my father’s educational legacy
is still enhancing the world.”
Jamie’s book, which has received
critical acclaim, is certainly helping
to keep that legacy alive. Bravo to
the Bernsteins!
About Hadassah’s Medical Research
The Hadassah Medical
Center conducts ongoing
research into life-saving
treatments and cures for people
around the world. Fundraisers
support these vitally important
initiatives, including diabetes
research.
Did you know there are approximately
420 million diabetics
worldwide, that this number has
quadrupled in just the past 40
years, and Type 2 diabetes is the
most common non-communicable
disease in the world? Hadassah’s
research on disease includes
partnering with other countries
to introduce new techniques for
treatment: For example, work is
currently underway to develop an
insulin pill that could replace the
need for insulin shots.
It’s no wonder that the
Hadassah Medical Center
includes in its mission statement:
“Excellence in research by which
the frontiers of medicine are
advanced and mankind benefits.”
But a member of Hadassah
who was a donor perhaps put it
best: “I felt I did a Mitzvah when
I donated to Migdal Hadassah.”
Thanks go out to all who donated
so generously at this important
fundraiser for such a meaningful
cause.
Author Jamie Bernstein
Photo by Nurit Israeli
Jamie addresses a rapt audience
Photo by Jill Davis
Book Club Co-chairs Bern Rosenthal & Arlene Augenbraun
Photo by Jill Davis
A sold out event! Photo by Jill Davis
32 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ June 2019