Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

This book follows the journey of a Jew who fled Nazi Germany but could not exorcise its evils from his theological and literary imagination. Having spent his early years trying to escape from his encounters with Nazism, Rolf Gompertz spent his later years trying to interpret the contours of evil that he had experienced in Hitler's Germany. The spiritual journey of Rolf Gompertz offers intrigue, instruction, and challenge. It is the story of how a small Jewish boy, cowering under the talons of prejudice and protected only by the love of his parents, emerged to craft a life that directly refuted the ideology that propped up the power structures of Nazi Germany. Along the way, Gompertz came to recognize in the folds of the Christian Gospels the story of another Jew who had stood in opposition to a similar configuration of ideology and power. In retelling that story as a committed Jew, Gompertz offered a robust "response to Hitler"--a refutation of the malevolent forces that seek to dismantle "our common humanity"

LBN Publisher Note: Rolf Gompertz was my publicity writing Professor at UCLA, a mentor and great friend for many years. He has published five wonderful books that inspire and make people think, as well as many helpful books on publicity and writing. I hope you will take the time to read this story of an amazing American who escaped the Nazi's to become a stellar American. BC

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The city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa has been designated one of the newest members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its accomplishments in, and development of, the category of "Media Arts."

Tel Aviv-Jaffa is one of 28 cities from 19 countries accepted by the network within one of its seven thematic areas: "Craft and Folk Arts," "Design," "Film," "Gastronomy," "Literature," "Media Arts" and "Music." The now 69 member cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network work together to promote creativity and cultural diversity, to share best practices, to strengthen participation in cultural life and to integrate culture in sustainable urban development. Launched in 2004, the network aims to foster international cooperation between cities dedicated to investing in creativity and enhancing the economy through creative tourism.

Tel Aviv-Jaffa joins the network as a newly designated UNESCO "City of Media Arts" - along with Dakar, Senegal; Gwangju, South Korea; Linz, Austria; and York, England - based on its dedication to developing cultural and creative industries using digital technology, integrating media arts as a means to improving urban life, increasing access to culture through digital technology development and providing residency programs and studio space for media artists.

Israel has also been honored by UNESCO by being recognized as the home of nine World Heritage Sites, including Masada; the Old City of Jerusalem; the Old City of Acre; Tel Aviv's "White City;" the biblical tels of Megiddo, Hazor and Beersheba; the Incense Route - desert cities in the Negev (Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta); Baha'i Holy Places in Haifa and the western Galilee; the sites of human evolution at Mount Carmel (Nahal Me'arot and Wadi-el-Mughara caves) and the Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin in the Judean Lowlands.