Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 14

Become Your BRAVE-ish Self!

Are you ready to change your thinking and live Brave-ishly?

SEE YOU SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 at Small World Books, Venice Beach, California
Join Adira Hadassah as we enjoy the evening with the inspiring and motivating award-winning author, Lisa Niver with giveaways worth over $700.

Ready to transform your mindset and embrace a Brave-ish life? Join us for an unforgettable evening with the inspiring and motivating award-winning author Lisa Niver, hosted by Adira Hadassah. We���re celebrating the 1st birthday of her empowering memoir, Brave-ish, on Thursday, September 19, 2024! Don���t miss this opportunity to meet Lisa, hear her incredible journey, and get your very own signed copy of Brave-ish. It���s more than just a book���it���s a guide to courage, growth, and living life to the fullest.Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and come celebrate with us. Let���s make this night one to remember!

DATE: Thursday, September 19, 2024

TIME: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

REGISTER: https://events.hadassah.org/LisaNiverauthorevent

Registration includes a copy of BRAVE-ish which Lisa will sign for you $36 Member ��� $40 Non-Member

LOCATION: Small World Books, 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

QUESTIONS: email gayejacobs@gmail.com

over $700 in GIVEAWAYS: PADI e-Learning scuba class valued at up to $312. I absolutely LOVE scuba diving! Travel Writer 101 class on Udemy valued at $150 Holocaust Museum LA  one year membership valued at $100Ms. Magazine book: 50 years of Ms.Jennifer Lang’s book: Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature –and SAVE THE DATE: Join me to talk about her new book, Landed, at Zibby’s Bookshop March 20, 2024.Books from my publisher, Post Hill Press: Shanda by Letty Cottin Pegrebin, The Upstander by Jori Epstein, The Letters Project by Eleanor Reissa and Surviving the Survivor by Joel Z. Waldman

As seen in the print Jewish Journal for the week of Sept 13

MORE ABOUT BRAVE-ish

Although Lisa Niver has traveled in far-off locales from Vanuatu to Nepal and received numerous accolades for both her writing and her top ranked website, what people don���t realize is that this began from the wreckage of a rotten romance.

Newlywed Niver was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented out her condo, and was traveling around Asia. To the outside world, Niver was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. In private, she was keeping a dark secret. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty-seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.

Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents��� house to start again from scratch, Niver started taking one tiny ���brave-ish��� step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3 Gs, to indulging in wild escapades, Niver found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be ���brave.���

While Brave-ish chronicles Niver���s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya and Mongolia this is more than a travelogue. Niver���s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.

MORE EVENTS: https://lisaniver.com/events/
Sign up for Lisa’s class: TRAVEL WRITER 101 on Udemy

The post Become Your BRAVE-ish Self! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Eight ���Soulful��� Travel Books

Thank you to JourneyWoman and Christine Winebrenner Irick for featuring BRAVE-ish in “ Eight New ���Soulful��� Travel Books by Women to Add to Your Reading List “ Women authors inspire others to embark on their own travel journeys

by���Christine Winebrenner Irick, originally published on SoulofTravel.com

The Soul of Travel Podcast guests have published an incredible lineup of books that will inspire you to travel, heal, and live life to the fullest.���These women continually show up in big ways to shift the narrative around who is travelling. The result: Getting more memoirs and travel stories written by women on bookshelves around the world and inspiring future generations of travellers.

These books cover themes such as solo travel adventures, personal growth, finding joy in everyday experiences, mindful travel, impactful global movements, and self-discovery across different cultures and continents. Grab one or two (or all of them) and toss them in your bag to take on your travels, camping, or sitting poolside this summer.

Travel books by women to inspire new journeys1. Jen Ruiz: 12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Magic

Jen Ruiz, also known as Jen on a Jet Plane, is a lawyer turned travel blogger who decided to send out her twenties with an epic challenge.��� She shares her journey in��12 Trips in 12 Months: Make Your Own Solo Travel Magic. Read more about Jen���s work and listen to her episode���here.

2. Beth Santos: Wander Woman

Beth Santos is the founder of Wanderful, an international community and social network with the active participation of over 40,000 women and gender-diverse people of all ages and backgrounds.

Wander Woman: How to Claim Your Space, Find Your Voice and Travel the World, Solo��is a little bit of a travel guide and a whole lot of soulful advice to inspire your solo travel adventures. Buy Wander Woman here. Read more about Beth���s work and listen to her Soul of Travel episodes���here���and���here.

3. Nikki Vargas: Call You When I Land

Call You When I Land, by Fodor���s editor Nikki Vargas, includes all the makings of a great story: heartbreak, adventure, uncertainty, romance, and even murder. Her journey is relatable, vulnerable, and inspiring. Listen to her recent episode���here and about her book��Wandress��on the��Soul of Travel Podcast���

4. Lisa Niver: Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty

Lisa Niver was nearly fifty when she found herself moving back in with her parents and starting over. She began taking one tiny ���brave-ish��� step at a time which led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. In her memoir,��Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty��she shares these adventures and her growth along the way. Listen to Lisa���s episode���on the��Soul of Travel Podcast here.

5. Maria Baltazzi: Take a Shot at Happiness

Maria Baltazzi���s book draws lessons from her life as a television producer, her travels, world events, and media that we all know and love. Each chapter teaches on what Maria calls ���The Happiness Essentials,��� all to help readers discover a life they love. Maria shares that her book is for anyone early in their wellbeing journey, and everyone looking for a new perspective to living a happier, more purposeful life.Find���Take a Shot at Happiness��on Amazon here. Listen to Maria���s episode on the��Soul of Travel Podcast���here.

6. Kat Medina: The Joys of Jetlag

When Kat Medina discovered that she could unlock a life of joy through adopting a traveller���s mindset, she created a guidebook to help travellers do the same. She encourages readers to find the awe and amazement in everyday life from the grocery store to journeys halfway around the world. Find��The Joys of Jet Lag��here on Amazon. Listen to Kat���s episode on the��Soul of Travel Podcast���here.

7. Dr. Anu Taranath: Beyond Guilt Trips

One of the most profound and perspective-shifting texts available regarding mindful travel, Dr. Anu Taranath speaks from her own experiences and expands the journey to unpack thought-provoking questions about who we are when we travel, how we interact with the people and the world around us, and how we navigate our differences with compassion, connection, and grace. Buy��Beyond Guilt Trips��here. Listen to Anu���s episode on the Soul of Travel Podcast��here.

8. Celeste Mergens: The of Power of Days

In The Power of Days, author Celeste Mergens shares the stories of the struggles and triumphs that led her to create Days for Girls. This global movement supports women and girls with menstrual health education and sustainable menstrual solutions You���ll be moved by the power of impact created by individuals and communities aligned by a shared purpose. Find���The Power of Days��on Amazon here. Listen to Celeste���s episode on the��Soul of Travel Podcast here.

Thank you to Christine Winebrenner Irick for including me in her��Soul of Travel series! Find me in Season 2 ~ Voices Of Women Episode 15: January 25, 2021

WATCH HERE: Lisa Niver on Soul of Travel

Soul of Travel interview series features conversations with tourism professionals and travelers sharing their stories; their heart, soul, and passion that drives them to be a part of the travel community.

Show notes: I hope you enjoy this lively conversation with Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education. We discuss her travels, which have taken her to over 100 countries on 6 continents, and how she brings these experiences to the classroom and programs for We Said Do Good. We also dive into her recent article for Teen Vogue, ���How a Swimming Lesson From Olympian Markus Rogan Changed My Life��� and I look forward to diving in (pun is probably intended) to this experience. We also talk about saying ���yes��� to opportunities and asking for what we want!

SPOTIFY:

���You crave to be the person you are when you travel when you come home.��� In this lively episode, ‘Diving Journalist��� Lisa Niver shares tales of her epic moments of travel, including 7 years at sea and a walk across Asia ��� amongst other incredible things. This episode will transport you to Thailand, the Galapagos, and more, and connect you to the question: ���why do I travel?�����

WATCH ON FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=247246466836283

WATCH ON STITCHER
https://www.stitcher.com/show/soul-of-travel/episode/we-said-go-travel-with-lisa-niver-84407742

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Family Travel: What To Do In Orlando If You���re Not Doing Disney

By Holly Cassandra Corbett

Most people equate a family trip to Florida with Disney. Orlando is, after all, known as the Theme Park Capital of the World and is the most visited destination in the United States. Yet Orlando and surrounding Lake County are filled with dining, entertainment, and nature adventures that are worth a trip in their own right. In fact, there are so many family friendly-activities that this part of the Sunshine State tops the list as a fun and convenient destination to take kids. Here is how I spent three days in Orlando and nearby Lake County with my 9-year-old daughter���and made memories that will last a lifetime.

The lobby of hotel Landy. Photo credit: Holly CorbettDay One: Orlando And Wild Florida

We arrived at the new Hotel Landy, short for Orlando of course, which is conveniently located about 20 minutes from the airport and less than 10 minutes from Universal Studios. The kinetic design of the hotel, featuring geometric shapes and curving lines, was inspired by ��milie du Ch��telet, a mathematician whose work led to the development of roller coasters. 

The place had so many kid-friendly amenities that we could have happily spent four days just lounging at this hotel. After dropping off our bags in our king room with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Orlando, we set out to explore, playing air hockey in the game room and doing some exercises together in the light-filled fitness center. My daughter and I then changed into our swimsuits and headed to the hot tub and pool area. In addition to the resort-style pool, we found a beach-style courtyard complete with lawn games (we love a good corn hole competition), seating areas, and a food truck called ���Liquid Sunshine,��� which offers small plates such as fish tacos along with a variety of craft cocktails.

Adventuring In Wild Florida Giraffe feeding at Wild Florida. Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

Though we didn���t want to leave the oasis of Hotel Landy, we drove about 45 minutes south to Wild Florida for a nature adventure. And we were happy we did: this unique excursion to the headwaters of the Florida Everglades could easily take an entire day. The three main things to do here are taking an airboat tour, walking around Gator Park, and driving through the animal safari. 

Though you can make your way through Wild Florida in any order, I���d recommend starting driving through the 170-acre Safari Park that���s home to exotic animals such as zebras, bison and antelope���and that ends with a pit stop where you come face to face with a giraffe on the feeding platform. 

Next walk around Gator Park, where you can see more than 200 exotic and native animals including sloths, capybaras, and bobcats. Don���t miss the twice-daily feedings of Crusher, an American alligator who is more than 13 feet long. There���s also a covered playground for kids to burn off energy and the Hawk Swamp for bird lovers, where you might spot an owl if you���re lucky. When you work up an appetite, Chomps Grill offers fried gator nuggets as well as more kid-friendly options such as hot dogs and sliders.

Wild Florida airboat tour. Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

The highlight of our adventure was taking an hour-long airboat ride through the Everglades. Rather than merely reading about wildlife such as eagles and alligators in a textbook or watching YouTube videos, my daughter got the thrill of seeing the animals in their natural environment as we skimmed atop the swamp, marshes, and rivers. Our watchful captain spotted a mother and baby alligator near a nest made of mud and plants, and was happy to answer many questions from passengers about the alligators��� habitat and eating habits (apparently father alligators have been known to eat their hatchlings). 

On that note, we wrapped up our adventure and drove back to Hotel Landy for an alligator-free meal at the hotel���s signature restaurant, ��milie Bar & Lounge (also named after the mathematician) to refuel with dishes such as fig and burrata and steak frites.

Day Two: Winter Park And Disney Springs

My daughter and I started out day two by driving north towards Winter Park, one of the 14 districts in Lake County, which is aptly known for its parks and lakes as well as picturesque shopping district, farmer���s market, art festival, and sidewalk cafes.

Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

But first, we grabbed a cheddar biscuit sandwich plate and artisanal doughnut at The Glass Knife, a cafe and cake shop that features a long communal table at its center displaying a collection of colorful glass knives. Those glass knives belonged to the owner���s mother, a local baker, whose memory and recipes inspired the cozy yet elegant cafe.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

Next up we had a relaxing hour learning the history of Winter Park, Central Florida���s oldest community, with a Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour starting on Lake Osceola. We listened to the captain, who was quite entertaining, share some scandalous tales of the wealthy Easterners who founded the community in the 1800s, while he expertly navigated through narrow man-made canals connecting the Winter Park chain of lakes.

The rest of the afternoon was spent doing one of our favorite things, getting lost. Park Avenue is made for wandering, with tree-lined blocks bordered with more than 100 specialty shops, salons, and restaurants. We found gifts for our family at the Rifle Paper Co., tried handmade chocolates at Peterbrooke Chocolatier, and window shopped at the women���s clothing boutique The Impeccable Pig.

Disney Springs

While we didn���t visit Disney World���s theme park, we did continue our wandering streak later that evening at Disney Springs, an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area bordering the theme park. The walkways were buzzing with shoppers, and we ducked into the Summer House on the Lake, a light-filled California-style eatery with a beach house feel and outdoor seating overlooking the lake. You don���t have to sit down to order a homemade cookie from the cookie bar, and you might want to take some home with flavors such as sea salt chocolate chip, fudge bomb, and berry oatmeal.

Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

Later that night we did experience the magic Disney World is so famous for that infuses storytelling with heart, and combined it with thrilling acrobatics, by going to a performance of Drawn To Life By Cirque de Soleil at La Nouba Theater in Disney Springs. As we were waiting for the show to begin, it was clear that the audience were co-creators of the experience along with the actors: My daughter got selected to go onstage with about a dozen other children to draw a piece of art that was projected onto a big screen for the rest of the audience to see. 

Once the lights dimmed, we couldn���t take our eyes off the actors��� sheer physicality as they gracefully danced and performed breath-stopping stunts. But it was the spirit of the story itself that truly drew us in: The plot focuses on a pre-teen girl who finds a half-finished collection of sketches left behind from her deceased father, who was an animator. She embarks on a journey into her imagination, where she is joined by a cast of funny muses and also a dark character who might be described as her inner critic. After trying to run away or battle her inner critic for much of the show, the girl finally decides to face and embrace this dark character. It is only by facing her fear that she is able to overcome her creative block and bring the animation to life���an important lesson for children and adults alike.

After the finale and joining the crowd in a standing ovation, we headed back to our home base at Hotel Landy, ready for bed and sweet (Disney) dreams.

Photo Credit: Holly CorbettDay Three: Southern Hills Farms And Mount Dora

On day three we left the city behind and drove west to Clermont towards open fields and big blue skies to visit Southern Hill Farms. This is a third-generation family farm that lets visitors pick crops such as blueberries, strawberries, and peaches. The idyllic farm off a dirt road in Lake Country has become a destination for tourists and locals alike, a place for people to be out in the fresh air and sunshine and close to the earth and the crops.

Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

Besides being able to pick fruit, there are also u-pick sunflowers and zinnias. But what makes Southern Hills Farms a popular agritourism hub is that there are dozens of activities to awaken all of your senses, from tasting fresh-baked muffins made with the farm���s own blueberries, to listening to live music under one of the covered pavilions, to smelling the homemade sugar scrubs (my favorite is the lemon lavender) in the onsite market, to touching the sand in the onsite playground’s sandbox, and seeing the view of the farm from above while riding the Berry Trouper in the Kids Zone.

Then it was time for the final leg of our trip and to check into our next hotel, the Key West Resort on Lake Dora in Tavares (known as ���America���s Seaplane City��� because of the number of seaplanes making splash landings) and grab a quick lunch next door at Puddle Jumpers.

Photo Credit: Holly Corbett

Our final activity was heading to the quaint town of Mount Dora, which hosts more than 30 art, music and food festivals a year, to join Premier Boat Tours for a two-hour eco-tour of Lake Dora and Harris Chain of Lakes. The pontoon boat drifted through canals and under hanging cypress trees, where we spotted a rare soft-shelled turtle sunning itself on a fallen limb and an endangered egret standing regally in the mangrove. 

We celebrated a vacation well spent with dinner at my favorite restaurant of the trip, The Goblin Market in historic downtown Mount Dora. The owners named the restaurant and bar after Christina G. Rossetti���s 18th century poem, which they read together in college while they were dating. The walls of the three intimate dining rooms are lined with bookshelves and art, the ceilings are lined with wooden beams, and the feel is that you are in someone���s living room. 

Over my daughter���s favorite drink, a Shirley Temple, we talked about our favorite trip moments because it was too hard to pin it down to just one. There is a reason Central Florida is one of the country���s most popular family-friendly destinations. I hope our vacation in the Sunshine State will be etched into her mind as one of her happy childhood memories, because it will forever live in mine.

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BRAVE-ish on NPR

Thank you to Giovanna Rossi for interviewing me on The Well Woman Show for NPR! 324: How To Be Brave With Lisa Niver – The Well Woman Show

Giovanna Rossi interviewed me to discuss my book ���Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty�����and “The transformative potential of embracing change. The importance of setting bold goals for personal growth. Strategies for overcoming fear and self-doubt, and much more!”

Listen Podcast

324: How to be Brave with Lisa Niver

By��Giovanna Rossi��|��November 30, 2023��|

https://player.captivate.fm/483dd2b1-3063-4607-9816-f9bb72f8e37b

“Hello well women! On the Well Woman Show today I interview Lisa Niver. Lisa is the author of Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty and an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries and six continents. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel. For her print, podcast, digital and broadcast segments, she has been awarded five Southern California Journalism Awards and three National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards. Niver is also the host of the award-winning podcast Make Your Own Map.”

We discuss today:

The transformative potential of embracing change.The importance of setting bold goals for personal growth.Strategies for overcoming fear and self-doubt.

The books she recommended were:

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant��

50 Years of Ms.: The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine That Ignited a Revolution by��Katherine Spillar��

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Giovanna���s episodes about turning fifty: Part 1 Part 2

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The WWS is thankful for support from Collective Action Strategies ��� a consulting firm that supports systemic change so that women and families thrive, and by the Well Woman Life Movement Challenge Quiz at wellwomanlife.com/quiz

If you���re in burn out or major transition, this is YOUR time to figure out what is holding you back from making the changes you need to make in order to live your fullest, most joyful life! The cause of all our challenges (personal or professional) can actually be rooted in the lack of Internal Superpowers and/or External Supports. Our Well Woman Life Framework tells you which stage of the WWL Cycle you���re in and what to do about it so you can truly live your best life.

When women and girls are healthy, successful and thriving, the community as a whole thrives. Well Woman Life supports women to achieve their highest level of fulfillment and well-being. We are women doing something innovative in order to make a difference in our lives or in the lives of others, and maintain a sense of well-being while doing it all! Whether it���s personal, physical or sexual health, juggling life and work, professional development or financial success, emotional or spiritual wellness, a Well Woman is passionate about achieving her highest level of health and well being.

I met Giovanna on Women’s Equality Day 2023 in Los Angeles at the Take the Lead Conference when she was presenting “Be SELF-ish: How to set boundaries without sacrificing your career.” Kathy Spillar of Ms. Magazine accepted the Leading Media award at the conference and was also a guest on Giovanna’s NPR show.

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On Being Jewish NOW

On Being Jewish Now: Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates

An intimate and hopeful collection of meaningful, smart, funny, sad, emotional, and inspiring essays from today���s authors and advocates about what it means to be Jewish, how life has changed since the attacks on October 7th, 2023, and the unique culture that brings this group together.

On October 7th, 2023, Jews in Israel were attacked in the largest pogrom since the Holocaust. It was a day felt by Jews everywhere who came together to process and speak out in ways some never had before. In this collection, 75 contributors speak to Jewish joy, celebration, laughter, food, trauma, loss, love, and family, and the common threads that course through the Jewish people: resilience and humor. Contributors include Mark Feuerstein, Jill Zarin, Steve Leder, Joanna Rakoff, Amy Ephron, Lisa Barr, Annabelle Gurwitch, Daphne Merkin, Bradley Tusk, Sharon Brous, Jenny Mollen, Nicola Kraus, Caroline Leavitt, and many others. On Being Jewish Now is edited by Zibby Owens, bestselling author, podcaster, bookstore owner, and CEO of Zibby Media.

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A Mother���s Fight by Shirin Yadegar

Fleeing Iran with my family was a decision born out of desperation, a leap into the unknown, grasping for safety amidst the rising tide of antisemitism. As a Jewish Iranian woman, my mother sought sanctuary for my brother and me in the United States. Becoming  a mother of four daughters, I always thought my girls would grow up free from the shadows of hatred that had darkened my homeland. Yet, the events since October 7 have stirred the embers of old fears, igniting a flame of sorrow and anxiety that wakes me at night. 

My eldest daughter, Eden Yadegar, a junior at Columbia University, stood before Congress with a resolve that left me breathless. Her voice, strong and unwavering, testified to the surge of Jewish hate on college campuses. Watching her, my heart swelled with pride and trembled with fear. Pride in her bravery, her ability to stand tall against a wave of darkness. Fear for the dangers she faces in her unyielding quest for justice. Should we bring her home for her safety? Hire security to shadow her? Transfer her to another school? Her voice was and continues to be a beacon, illuminating the terrifying reality that Jewish students face daily���a reality that my other daughters know all too well.

Bella, my freshman at USC, had her mezuzah torn off her dorm door. She was jolted from sleep by the haunting chants of ���Intifada revolution��� outside her window. These acts of hatred are not mere vandalism; they are wounds inflicted upon her soul, attempts to erase her identity and silence her spirit. Each incident echoes with the same venomous intent that drove us from Iran, reminding us that no place is immune to the scourge of antisemitism.

My middle schooler, Lily, came home one day with tears in her eyes, the image of swastikas graffitied on her school walls etched into her mind. For a child her age, these images are a brutal assault on her innocence. Seeing her struggle to understand why such malice exists in the world breaks my heart and stirs a deep-seated rage within me. It is a stark reminder that the hatred we fled from can rear its ugly head anywhere, even in the supposed safety of American schools and culture.

Camille, my 11-year-old, saw and heard the atrocities of October 7th: babies burned alive, women raped and killed in front of their families. These horrors are too monstrous for any child to comprehend. She wrestles with nightmares about a world that seems both cruel and incomprehensible, while I grapple with shielding her from this harsh reality without hiding the truth. Her questions pierce my heart, each one a reminder of the innocence shattered by a world filled with hatred.

As a mother, my instinct is to shield my daughters, to envelop them in a cocoon of safety and love. Yet, as a journalist, I am driven to speak out, to shine a light on the darkness and give voice to those who are silenced. This balance has never been more precarious. The pain of seeing my children face the same hatred my family once fled is indescribable, but it fuels my resolve. I must be their pillar of strength, showing them that fear may grip us, but it cannot silence us.

Night after night, I wake in sweats, my mind plagued by the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring. The fear and uncertainty for Jews in America gnaws at my peace, leaving me restless. In these dark hours, I find strength in my daughters’ resilience and in my own voice. I stand on my platforms, not just as a mother, but as a warrior of words, amplifying the cries of our community, sharing the struggles of my daughters, and calling for justice and understanding. This is my daughters��� generation���s fight and I will be here to support and encourage their voices. We will not be silenced. 

My journey is one of pain and fear, but also of courage and hope. As a mother, I strive to protect my children from the world’s hatred while empowering them to stand tall and proud of their Jewish identity. Our story is a testament to the enduring spirit of those who, despite facing relentless adversity, continue to fight for their right to exist and thrive in peace. We are the voices that will not be silenced, the lights that refuse to dim.

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Shirin Yadegar is a mother, journalist, publisher and TV host. Her magazine, L.A. Mom Magazine and talk show ���Moms Matter��� have turned into a war room since October 7th in order to amplify the truth. Before becoming a mother, Shirin received her M.A. from USC’s Annenberg School of Journalism and worked as a researcher and writer at the Los Angeles Times and Managing Editor of the Beverly Hills Weekly. Shirin currently serves on the board of WIZO, Shero���s Rise and Visionary Women. 

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Contributors

Abby Stern
Ali Rosen
Alison Hammer
Alison Rose Greenberg
Alix Strauss
Aliza Licht
Alli Frank
Alyssa Rosenheck
Amy Blumenfeld
Amy Ephron
Amy Klein
Anna Ephron Harari
Annabelle Gurwitch
Barri Leiner Grant
Bess Kalb
Beth Ricanati
Bradley Tusk

Brenda Janowitz
Cara Mentzel
Caroline Leavitt
Corie Adjmi
Courtney Sheinmel
Danny Grossman
Daphne Merkin
Dara Kurtz
Dara Levan
David K. Israel
David Christopher Kaufman
Debbie Reed Fischer
Diana Fersko
Eleanor Reissa
Elizabeth Cohen Hausman
Elizabeth L. Silver
Elyssa Friedland
Emily Tisch Sussman
Harper Kincaid
Heidi Shertok
Ilana Kurshan
Jacqueline Friedland

Jamie Brenner
Jane L. Rosen
Jeanne Blasberg
Jennifer S. Brown
Jenny Mollen
Jeremy Garelick
Jill Zarin
Joanna Rakoff
Jonathan Santlofer
Judy Batalion
Julia Devillers
Keren Blankfeld
Lihi Lapid
Lisa Barr
Lisa Kogan
Lynda Loigman
Mark Feuerstein
Nicola Kraus
Noa Yedlin
Rebecca Keren Jablonski
Rachel Barenbaum
Rachel Levy Lesser

Rachelle Unreich
Rebecca Minkoff
Rebecca Raphael
Renee Rosen
Rochelle B. Weinstein
Samantha Ettus
Samantha Greene Woodruff
Sharon Brous
Shirin Yadegar
Stacy Igel
Steve Leder
Talia Carner
Toby Rose
Zibby Owens

ABOUT ARTISTS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

Artists Against Antisemitism is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by a group of leaders who
believe in spreading light to offset hate. The Founding Author team is made up of contemporary
Jewish women writers from the U.S. but their extended community is for everyone: artists,
creators, and supporters of all types both Jewish and non-Jewish.

Their mission is to raise awareness of antisemitism, promote education about Jewish history and
culture, and work to help build a kinder, brighter, more understanding future.

Anyone who wants to stop the rise in hate crimes, prevent more antisemitic attacks, and help the
Jewish people through this wave of hatred are welcome.

On Being Jewish Now: Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates

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BRAVE-ish Nearly ONE! Niver’s August News 2024

August News 2024 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:Thank you for all of your support! I am now writing for both Booking.com and Reader’s Digest. My first Reader’s Digest article had over one million views in four days. I went on a magical adventure to walk with Polar Bears and watch 1000s of Beluga Whales with Churchill Wild. I have a brand new class, TRAVEL WRITER 101 so you can start to travel like me. See below for links for all of that as well as my new podcast episodes and videos. I appreciate that so many people have showed up for my events, watched my videos, been excited for my awards and of course read and reviewed BRAVE-ish! NOW IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE! Ready to transform your mindset and embrace a Brave-ish life? “Join us for an unforgettable evening with the inspiring and motivating award-winning author Lisa Niver, hosted by Adira Hadassah. We���re celebrating the 1st birthday of her empowering memoir, Brave-ish, on Thursday, September 19, 2024! Don���t miss this opportunity to meet Lisa, hear her incredible journey, and get your very own signed copy of Brave-ish. It���s more than just a book���it���s a guide to courage, growth, and living life to the fullest.Mark your calendar, bring a friend, and come celebrate with us. Let���s make this night one to remember! My new class: Travel Writer 101 on Udemy. Read my interview about my journey back to teaching. I now write for Booking.com. Read my article: How Early Should I Arrive at the Airport? Navigating airport arrival times for seamless domestic and international travel. Booking.com: Wheelchair Assistance at Airports: How Does It Work, and How Do You Arrange It? I now write for Reader’s Digest. If You Fly Through This Airport, Be Prepared to Walk 2+ Miles to Your Gate Reader’s Digest: What Are the White Trails Behind Planes? I loved being at the GRAND OPENING of the Barnes & Noble in Santa Monica. Buy a copy of Brave-ish there or any bookstore near you! For Women’s Equality Day 2024, I shared my Ms. Magazine article about BRAVE-ish! Thank you to THE FEMALE QUOTIENT for bringing BRAVE-ish to AdWeek NYC on your book-SHE-lf! Thank you to all of the TV shows, podcasts and people who have interviewed me. Did you know I have over 75 links on my press page about my BOOK!! Check them all out HERE!

Do you LOVE my book BRAVE-ish? PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW!! Click here to go directly to rate or review BRAVE-ish on Amazon–but you can do anywhere you bought your book! THANK YOU!!

You can find my book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Simon & Schuster, Post Hill Press, Target, Walmart, BookShop, BAM! and wherever you get your audiobooks! People always ask me where is it best to buy my book. I recommend you go into or call your favorite local book store and ask them to order it for you and pick it up IN THE STORE! You never know what other treasures you will find. Any bookstore can order my book because my publisher is Post Hill Press and it is distributed by Simon and Schuster. My friend in New Zealand just ordered my book to her local store! Brave-ish is available all over the globe!

Learn more about my events: click here and my articles here Recent PODCAST episode: Navigating the Freelance Writing World THANK YOU for watching my podcast! It has now been seen and heard in 49 countries on 6 continents!

WATCH my podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast,  Google Podcasts, Audacy, Audible, Anchor, Pandora & iHeart Radio

THANK YOU to Goodpods for recommending my podcast!! WOW! I absolutely LOVED walking with Polar Bears with Churchill Wild. See my videos here and more photos coming soonest! WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to��my video channel on��YouTube where I have over TWO MILLION views on YouTube! (now at: 2,193,000).

Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 4,370 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE

Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow  on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.

My Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”

Inspired by Fortune Cookies:

Embrace your inner courage���small steps toward bravery lead to extraordinary journeys.

For nearly a year, I have been hoping and praying for the hostages from Oct 7 to come home. Both the DNC and RNC have had speakers focused on the tragedy that happened in Israel and is ongoing. #BRINGTHEMHOME Read this article from my Rabbi 321 Nights of Suffering.

Do you love audiobooks? My memoir, Brave-ish, is available on all audio platforms! Did you know that authors have to audition to narrate their books?

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The Importance of Feminist Mentors and Representation & BRAVE-ish

Today is Women’s Equality Day. The History of Women���s Equality Day

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 and passed in 1973,  the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as ���Women���s Equality Day.��� The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world���s first women���s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women���s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women���s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women���s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971 Designating August 26 of each year as Women���s Equality Day

WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights;

and WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women���s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women���s rights took place. 

Thank you Ms. Magazine for publishing my article, “���Brave-ish��� Shows the Importance of Feminist Mentors and Representation“

As a high school student in Los Angeles, I took a women���s studies elective with Joannie Parker. She was a teacher at Westlake School for Girls, and wrote a grant to start this program���the first of its kind in a California high school. She held major leadership positions at the California Abortion Rights Action League, the National Women���s Political Caucus and the National Organization for Women.

She also played a prominent role as the writer and facilitator of California���s state-level Title IX, and as a board member in the Council of Women in Independent Schools. She brought incredible speakers to our Women���s History Week���including Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Maya Angelou. She read to us from Ms. magazine and made us believe that we could be the president���of a company, or even a country.

Some years later, Ms. Parker and I went to lunch, where I told her I had written my first article for Ms. magazine. She was so proud. 

I also called her in 2016 when I was invited to the United Nations for a project called Champions of Humanity. She always believed in each of us as her students and the future. Parker not only believed that I could be a writer, but that I was always a writer; I just needed to believe it myself.

In September 2019, it was my honor to attend the United Nations General Assembly 74 as media on behalf of Ms. As I sat in the meeting for ���Gender Equality: From the Biarritz Partnership to the Beijing+25 Generation Equality Forum��� with U.N. Women, I kept thinking about the impact that Joannie Parker had on my life.

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This year, she would have turned 90. Her teaching inspires me every day to do more and to do better. I wish I could call her to tell her that my memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, will be published on Sept. 19, 2023.

Please enjoy this except from Brave-ish about my first visit to the United Nations.

The next time I was in New York, I stopped by the office of the Ogilvy PR team to thank them for sending me to Dublin. While I was there, I met the account director for the United Nations project called Champions for Humanity. They were looking for influencers to help them raise awareness for the first ever World Humanitarian Summit, which was designed to address how humanitarian assistance is given to refugees around the globe. They invited 20 of us to the U.N. to learn more about their project, and they wanted us to use our social media feeds to raise awareness and promote humanitarian action.

That was how, a few weeks later, I walked into the lobby of the New York Headquarters of the United Nations, and heard an overhead announcement say, ���The Security Council is now in session.��� 

After years of participating in Model United Nations in high school, I could not believe that I was at the actual U.N. I felt a bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, as though I had simply clicked my heels and magically wound up somewhere that I had always wanted to be. 

I entered a conference room that had been set aside for our group and was delighted to see my name in lights on a little screen in front of my microphone, just like the ones used by the diplomats. I felt honored to be included and recognized as an expert.

When you go to medical school, you get a diploma and a license, and you do a residency, and there are all sorts of steps to be credentialed as an expert along the way. But for a travel blogger, how do you know you���re doing well? How do people differentiate you from someone else? At the United Nations, countries come together to solve the problems of the world. It seemed like confirmation that I had reached a new level of visibility and expertise.

Excerpt from Post Hill Press

It was my honor to be part of the Ms. Magazine book event at Vroman’s Bookstore Ms. Magazine at the Skirball Cultural CenterMs. Magazine honored at Take The Lead Conference Ms. Magazine at the Global Women’s Rights Gala

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321 Nights of Suffering: Bring Them Home

Shabbat Shalom. Please read these words from my Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Stephen Wise Temple:

If you saw it you would understand. The heartbreak. The utter heartbreak.

Right before she begins her speech at the DNC with her husband, Jon, at her side, she hears tens of thousands of people chanting ���Bring Them Home.��� Rachel Goldberg puts her hand on her forehead and then collapses on the lectern, her body convulsing as she begins to cry. Jon gently helps her stand and says to her gently, ���You���ve got this.��� And then, ���let���s go.���

She starts to speak: ���At this moment, 109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one year old, red-headed baby boy. And the oldest is an 86 year old mustachioed grandpa. Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh. He���s twenty-three years old.���

She tells us that��Hersh��is a happy-go-lucky young man who loves soccer and music and is obsessed with travel; his room at home filled with atlases and travel books.

If this impassioned��plea��by Jon and Rachel on behalf of their child, and the rest of the hostages, doesn���t open your heart, I can���t imagine what would.��

Bringing our hostages home is an issue that, no matter our politics, every American should be fighting for, along with every person of conscience in the world.

Jon referenced this directly when he said, ���We are heartened that both democratic and republican leaders demonstrate their bipartisan support for our hostages being released.���

At last month���s RNC gathering, Orna and Ronen Neutra, the parents of��Omer, age 22, another Israeli-American being held hostage in Gaza, spoke. There as well we heard the convention participants chanting in one voice, ���Bring Them Home.���

Empathy should be bipartisan and, yes, empathy should extend to the innocents in Gaza who suffer mostly because of the intentional cruelty of the Hamas regime. 

Jon and Rachel powerfully demonstrated  their own empathy by acknowledging that the agony they feel is not unique. It is shared, of course, by the families of the other hostages. This agony is also experienced by millions of others in the region, Israeli and Palestinian alike, who are affected by the awful war initiated by the terror attacks of October 7. The tens of thousands of Israelis who have had to evacuate their homes. Gazan families who desperately seek safety in the middle of a war zone. Survivors of the Nova music festival who struggle with the horrific trauma they witnessed. Soldiers who are asked to do hard things so that terrorists might be brought to justice, hostages might be rescued, and whole communities might be kept safe.

So much agony on every side. As Jon put it: ���There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners. In an inflamed Middle East, we know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: a deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza.���

We need to bring Hersh and Omer home, now, along with��Kfir��and��Ariel,��Carmel��and��Liri����� every last one of them. This includes the dead so that we may bury them properly.

An exhibit to raise awareness for the hostages being held in Gaza on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 20, 2024. (Jacob Magid/Times of Israel)

It���s been far, far too long. 

The masking tape on Jon and Rachel���s shirts made this clear; noting exactly how many days have passed since the hostages were taken: 320.

Almost a year since these sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and grandparents were stolen from their lives and their families. Almost a year of unimaginable agony.

Our broken hearts must remain open. We must hold on to our capacity for empathy. 

This week���s Torah portion, Eikev, points the way:

���Cut away the thickening about your hearts and stiffen your necks no more. For the ETERNAL your God is God supreme and Sovereign supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who shows no favor and takes no bribe, but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, providing food and clothing. You too must love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.��� (Deuteronomy 10:16-19)

Our Torah calls us to stop being hard-hearted, stubborn, and stiff-necked; to see the pain of the orphan and the widow, the agony of the stranger, of the other. 

These verses remind us that empathy is divine; a Godly attribute which, as God���s creations, we can actually hope to attain.

We can do this. We are capable of seeing the agony of the other. We can cut away the ���thickening of our hearts��� and love even the stranger. 

And then, regardless of race or religion, political affiliation or ethnic background, we will someday experience justice, liberty, and peace together.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Yoshi  

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova music festival, spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Rachel Goldberg-Polin talks with CNN’s Jim Acosta about an emotional moment on stage.

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THE JERUSALEM POST: “DNC stands in support as parents of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin plead for deal“

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: “Chanting ���Bring them home,��� tens of thousands applaud Goldberg-Polins��� speech at DNC” ���We���re also profoundly thankful to you ��� the millions of people in the United States and all over the world who have been sending love, support and strength to the hostage families. You���ve kept us breathing in a world without air,��� said Jon, who, like his wife, wore ���320��� written in black marker on a piece of white masking tape stuck to his shirt, a number they have painfully updated each new day that their son has spent in captivity. With the gratitude came a stern message: ���This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,��� Jon said to further applause from the crowd. There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners,��� he continued. ���In our Jewish tradition, we say��� Every person is an entire universe. We must save all these universes.”

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