By Diana Brement ,
JTNews Columnist
Last we heard from nationally known women’s health educator Toni Weschler, almost four years ago, she was writing another book.
Cycle Savvy, her book for teen girls, is now available. It grew out of one of the most common responses to Toni’s first book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which teaches women and couples to use the body’s multiple signs of ovulation to prevent or enhance pregnancy.
“I can’t even tell you how many letters I’ve gotten from women — I have a huge file — and every one of them wonders why we didn’t learn this fundamental knowledge as teenagers,” she says.
So, now the knowledge is available for the younger set, without any emphasis on pregnancy or birth control.
“Girls learn about brushing their teeth, flossing, the most fundamental things, but not a word about this most basic and empowering information,” continues Toni. “There are a zillion practical reasons,” for girls to have this knowledge. “Knowing when they are going to get their period, why they experience certain signs…how to tell the difference between [normal] cervical fluid and infection.”
She’s seen that “girls giggle a lot when they read it,” Toni says, “but they really love it.”
Over 600,000 copies of Toni’s first book have sold in 12 years, almost entirely because of word-of-mouth. She’s hoping word will spread about Cycle Savvy, too. She recently flew to New York for an appearance on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s Sirius radio show. (That’s Oprah’s doctor.)
In addition to her daily three-mile walks, Toni still consults privately with couples, but says she can’t face the stress of writing more books. Though fans beg for one on menopause, “[it’s] not going to be happening,” she says.
There’s more on the book at www.cyclesavvy.com.
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The individual’s story, Jewish institutions and charity are all part of Esther Helfgott’s new class, “Writing the Jewish Self.”
“I’m interested in how people’s life stories create their interactions with each other in public spaces,” the Seattle author and writing teacher wrote me in an e-mail, adding, “I’m especially interested in how synagogue life develops as it does.”
Esther has taught writing for 25 years, but recently she had cut back on both writing and teaching as her husband became more and more ill with Alzheimer’s disease. But these High Holidays she heard her rabbi say something to the effect of: “Life never turns out as you plan,” and decided it was time to try teaching again.
She’s also pledged the proceeds from the class to H2R, the Homeless to Renter program. Temple Beth Am and Congregation Beth Shalom jointly raise funds for this homeless relief program which Jewish Family Service administers.
Esther believes everyone has a story to tell and wants to help students find their voice and their vehicle. Her own emphasis is on poetry, which provides “that essential space we need to think about ourselves in relation to language,” she writes, but, “I encourage people to write in whatever form they feel comfortable — diaries, fragments, stories, memoirs, dreams, recipes, lists.”
Six Wednesday evening sessions will be held at Seattle’s Congregation Beth Shalom, three each in November and December, for a cost of $162 for members or $180 for non-members. Please contact Beth Shalom for more information at 206-524-0075.
Meanwhile, Esther’s trying to keep up with her own projects. A book on the late Seattle psychoanalyst Edith Buxbaum is coming along slowly, but Esther’s created a website of material at www.edithbuxbaum.com/HelfgottLatencyBuxbaum.html. She has also been chronicling her life with an Alzheimer’s patient and is editing that material for publication in an academic journal.
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Three generations of the Bridge family will be among seven individuals and groups honored at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon on Nov. 20 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle.
Herb and the late Shirley Bridge, Jon and Justice Bobbe Bridge, Dan and Simcha Bridge, the late Ben and Sally Bridge, Bob and Bobbi Bridge, Ed and Pam Bridge, and Ted and Marilyn Bridge, all have left and continue to leave a mark on numerous Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, including the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Wing Luke Museum, The Seattle Foundation, Hillel Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Building Changes, YMCA, and many more.
Ten different organizations nominated the family, and all wrote of the caring and personal dedication of the Bridge family to the endeavors they support.
Stanley Diddams, chair of North Seattle Community College’s education fund, noted that “Ben and Sally Bridge, their sons Herb and Bob, and their families, have set examples grounded in the Jewish tradition of gemilut chassidim or “˜acts of loving kindness’ through altruism and a continuum of giving money and time while bringing other donors and volunteers into meaningful engagement with the non-profit sector.”
According to Cynthia Flash, the luncheon’s organizer, over 1,200 people are expected to attend the Seattle event. Some seats may still be available. If you’re interested, visit www.AFPwashington.org.
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Finally, a correction: In my last column I wrote that Joanne Schwartz moved to Chehalis in 1993, but it was actually 1963!