Jews and Comics : People of the Book - Toronto panel discussion - Sat., Feb. 23rd

On the forthcoming Motzei Shabbos (approximately 8:30 PM EST), the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue will be hosting a panel discussion titled "Jews and Comics : People of the Book", moderated by Rabbi Daniel Korobkin.

Location :  Rebbetzin Judy Taub Hall
                  Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto
                  613 Clark Ave. W.
                  Thornhill, ON
                   L4J 5V3

Sponsor : Gerald & Sheryl Hartman

Refreshments donated by The Association of Jewish Libraries (Ontario chapter)

The panelists are :

* Jordan B. Gorfinkel is a veteran comic book editor and writer, newspaper cartoonist, and music and video producer. As a DC comic editor for nearly a decade, Gorf was front and center in a 400% growth of the Batman franchise. Gorf writes and illustrates Everything's Relative, a weekly newspaper comic strip published internationally. Through Koren Publishers, he recently published the world's first Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel, written by Gorf, and illustrated by Israeli artist Erez Zadok.

Jordan will offer insight into his creative process.

* Steven M. Bergson is a data processing specialist at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. He discovered comics at age 4 and has been reading them ever since. He set up his own free website, the Jewish comics bibliography while still in library school. It grew over the years until it encompassed hundreds of entries. Over time, Steve was able to network with enough Jewish comics professionals to publish a Jewish comics anthology. To date, 2 volumes have been published.

Steven will be discussing Orthodox comics, Orthodox fans, and Orthodox comic creators. 

* Gerald Hartman is President of True North Imaging, a medical imaging organization based in Toronto. As well, he serves as President of the IDCA, the provincial industry association for this healthcare sector. He and his wife Sheryl spent the majority of their time working on community activities and chesed initiatives on behalf of klal yisroel. Gerald is the child of Hungarian and Slovak Holocaust survivors. He has been a collector of World War II era comics for 25 years.

Gerald will be discussing World War 2 era comics (focusing on Jewish artists) and the use of propaganda.

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Copies of Jewish Comics Anthology (both volumes) and Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel will be on sale (and may be signed) following the panel.