Lane Dworkin Rochester Jewish Book Festival

Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival

Family Day With Ryan Lavarnway

A full day of fun!

Schedule:

9:30AM - Hall of Fame Brunch
11AM - Headline Event: Ryan Lavarnway, Baseball and Belonging
12PM - Book signing with Ryan; photo ops with Spikes from the Red Wings
12PM-2PM: Lunch, games and photo ops with Ryan
2PM - Film screening: Israel Swings for Gold

9:30AM: JCC Hall of Fame Brunch

Kick off the day with the JCC Hall of Fame’s annual brunch. Each year we honor Jewish athletes and this year we will induct distinguished golfer, Judy Seppen, a 1976 graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School. We’ll aslo honor local highschool students with the Les Harrison award.

Location: Erdle Lounge

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11AM: Main Event: Storytime with Ryan Lavarnway

Join Ryan Lavarnway as he reads his book, Baseball and Belonging, and answers audience questions. Ryan’s unique speaking style will leave you inspired to embrace your own journey toward faith and self-discovery.

As a child, Ryan’s confidence soared when he had a glove and a ball in his hand. Off the field, he struggled to find where he belonged. Playing in the Word Baseball Classic and Olympics with his teammates changed his life. By embracing his Jewish identity, Ryan found where he belonged.

Ryan Lavarnway is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Over his fifteen-year career, Ryan represented eight different teams in the Major Leagues, including the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. He also proudly represented Israel internationally in both the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics, which earned him recognition in the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Recently, Ryan was named at the 11th most influential Jewish athlete of all time.

After story time, Ryan will autograph his book. Stay longer and you will have the opportunity to take photos of Ryan with your child.

Make sure to stop at the Festival Bookstore and purchase the book prior to the event!

Baseball and Belonging
JCC Hart Theater
JCC Member: $10
Non-member: $12
Children $5 Recommended for ages 5 and up

12PM: Baseball and Belonging

Book signing with Ryan Lavarnway
Photo ops with Spikes, the Redwings mascot!

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12PM-2PM: Family Day Activites

Join us for activities and games in the gym (free)
Kosher snacks provided
Photo ops with Ryan (free)

2PM - Bonus Event: Film screening of Israel Swings for Gold

JCC Hart Theater
Bundled with Ryan’s talk: $3
Movie only: $8
Some language and themes may not be appropriate for younger children.

In 2021, Israel’s baseball team competed in the Olympics for the first time. With no media allowed in Tokyo’s Olympic Village, the players record their own experiences. Mostly newly minted Israelis, they log unexpected battles against anti – Semitism and anti – Zionism . Victory for Israel comes on the playing field, even if not on the podium. Israel Swings for Gold follows the 2018 hit Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel, about Israel’s Cinderella run at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

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