Shush! Growing Up Jewish Under Stalin October 30, 2009

Las Cruces, NM – “Shush! Growing Up Jewish Under Stalin” is the title of Emil Draitser’s newest work. Draitser will speak at the Branigan Cultural Center on Friday October 30, 2009 at 7:00 pm. In the book, Draitser recalls his post-WWII Odessa youth blighted by a pernicious and pervasive anti-Semitism that made him ashamed of being Jewish—so ashamed that decades after arriving in America, he still whispered references to things Jewish. It is a testimony to, and reminder of, the lasting impact of Stalinism.

Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Emil Draitser has published both fiction and nonfiction since 1964. His work appeared in leading Soviet journals (Youth, Literary Gazette, and Crocodile) under his pen name "Emil Abramov." He began his writing career as a freelancer contributing satirical articles for Soviet newspapers and magazines. Eventually, he was blacklisted for criticizing an important official, prompting him to leave for the United States. He immigrated to Los Angeles, where he earned a Ph.D. in Russian literature from UCLA. In 1986, he took a job at Hunter College in New York City, where he continues to teach.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase from the author. The program is free and open to the public.

The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Main Street, is located at the north end of the Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. Galleries are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about programs and exhibits, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at las-cruces.org/museums.