Community

Book Brunch: Hyphen: Jewish Stories in Our Own Words

Name: Book Brunch: Hyphen: Jewish Stories in Our Own Words
Start: 2026-02-01T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-01T12:30:00-05:00
Location: Edlavitch DCJCC

Date : Sunday, Feb 01

Time : 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Location : Edlavitch DCJCC
1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC

Join us for mimosas and rich conversation with the creators and storytellers of Hyphen, a powerful new graphic novel that celebrates diverse Jewish voices.

Join the EDCJCC for a light brunch (mimosas included!) in celebration of the new graphic novel Hyphen: Jewish Stories in our Own Words, which celebrates what it means to be Jewish in a moment when the Jewish community is more diverse than ever in our history. Meet the book’s creators and two featured storytellers as they share their unique journeys, engage in rich conversation, and take a sneak peek into the pages of Hyphen.

We are pleased to offer free babysitting for children ages 18 months-10 years. Limited space available.
If you have any questions or if the price of this program poses a barrier to your participation, please reach out to Sonya at sweisburd@edcjcc.org.

Meet Our Speakers

Haftam Yizhak Heathwood is an educator, community leader, and advocate. Born in 1987 to a Jewish family in Ethiopia during a period of civil war and famine, Haftam immigrated to Israel at the age of three. She moved to the United States after serving in the Israeli military.

Fabrice Sapolsky is a unicorn – a versatile creator who writes, draws, designs, edits, publishes and sometimes sleeps. He released five creator-owned graphic novels in the last five years through his inclusive publishing venture FairSquare Comics. He’s also known to general audiences as the co-creator/co-writer of SPIDER-MAN NOIR for Marvel Comics (with David Hine) and contributed to DC Comics, Heavy Metal, Soleil, and more.

Natan Badalov is a Bukharian comedian and writer from New York City who emigrated from Uzbekistan in the early 90s. Natan created and wrote Park West, an animated web series based on his yeshiva experiences, and his projects have been featured on Adult Swim and at the New York Comedy Festival, American Jewish Film Festival, the Polish International Film Festival, and more.

Julian Voloj is an award-winning writer and photographer. Born to Colombian parents in Germany, where he studied literature and linguistics, Julian moved to New York in 2004. His work has been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, and many other national and international publications. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Be’chol Lashon.

Moderator Chess Jakobs is a writer, creative producer, and scientist, and has served on the Voting Committee of the DC Environmental Film Festival since 2022. Chess’s debut play The American Five received the Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commission and is set to have its world premiere at Ford’s Theatre.

Introducing the event with some Torah will be Rabbi Kelly Whitehead (she/they), DC Ambassador for Ammud: The Jews of Color Torah Academy and the Assistant Director of Engagement and Learning at the Union for Reform Judaism. She was ordained from HUC-JIR in New York where she received her MA in Hebrew Literature and Jewish Nonprofit Management. Rabbi Kelly is the creator and lead organizer of NFTY’s Teen Jews of Color Fellowship.

This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC’s Capital J and GLOE program in partnership with Be’chol Lashon and Ammud: The Jews of Color Torah Academy. This event was made possible by the generosity of Jordan Bookey and Felix Lloyd, Linda Adams, Joshua Maxey, and Heather Bramble, with thanks to our promotional partners, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, Sixth & I, and Bet Mishpachah.