Poet—nominated for Pushcart Prize—rabbi, teacher, attorney, vocalist.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

This was something a woman said to her two companions before my first big service as rabbi of my own congregation in 1976. They saw me running around in my dress, putting books out, and one said, “Is that the rabbi? Her cleavage is showing!” I ran into the robing room and put on my robe although it was ninety degrees and, other than the three women, the place was empty!

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Great—I finally was ready and able to tell what I have been holding in for years. Good thing I made lots of notes!

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

No—just the popularity of memoir as a genre.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Ex-go-go dancer; deliverer of funny singing telegrams; sold encyclopedias door-to-door; (one day) off-off Broadway performer; and singer in cafés in Greenwich Village in the late ’60s! Cafe Wha and the Levantine.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Doing some book talks for Jewish Book Council and some book stores.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Many Hebrew songs—Jerusalem of Gold, etc.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Persistence and believing in yourself when no one else does. The more you tell me I can’t do something, the more I’ll do it if it is something I want.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

A second book of poetry and completion of my murder-mystery (female rabbi as sleuth).

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