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A really well told quest of a great granddaughter‘s determination to reunite her great grandfather‘s paintings that were separated & scattered during WWII. Moshe Rynecki vividly & painstakingly painted Jewish daily life in Poland from the early 1900‘s until his deportation to the Warsaw Ghetto in 1940. A truly heart filled memoir. #Pop21 #AboutArt #Nonfiction21 #AboutFamily #Booked21 #ContainsPhotographs

“We are the shoes, we are the last witness”
Last year I had the privilege of seeing the room of shoes at Majdanek Death Camp and like @Erynecki it left me haunted. Each shoe once belonged to a living person whose life was extinguished there. It was the most humbling and emotionally exhausting experience. To know that such a gifted artist last stood there makes this book feel very personal to me as well.

“I know I‘m not talented like James Michener...but I have stories to tell. And I must, because I am a survivor, and if I do not write them, who will?” 💔#Truth #WeRemember #NeverAgain This book is so good. Thanks for putting it back on my #ReadersRadar @tpixie Fits multiple challenges too!!!

Thanks SO MUCH for the reminder @tpixie ♥️look what else besides the book I pulled out of my carry on 😂😂 SO excited to find my wireless air buds 😜I thought I lost them 🙈

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Check out https://www.ushmm.org/online/ihrd/2021/
This is the US Holocaust Museum.

June 2021 in Kansas City : Auschwitz Exhibit

https://www.unionstation.org/auschwitz-not-long-ago-not-far-away

My next plane read, {potentially} and it‘s #WrittenByALitten 🙌🏻 @Erynecki ❤️✈️

A friend recommended this book to me, & I‘m glad I got the print version because I enjoyed the art. The book tells the story of the author‘s family during WW2 but focuses on the quest to locate her great-gfa‘s paintings. He had bundled his paintings, hid them w/ friends, & was later killed in a camp. I learned a lot about Jewish history & culture. Moshe Rynecki painted everyday Jewish life between the Wars. Very interesting artwork.

1. Tagged On audio, I‘ve been listening to The Sun is Also a Star but haven‘t listened today.
2. Bridget Jones, Lady Sherlock series, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda
3. Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Ky is my favorite local place.
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Thanks to the list from @LibrarianRyan I discovered that a book on my TBR is #WrittenByALitten 🙌🏻which I plan to read during March #ReadWithMrBook for his monthly bookclub 📚💚😁 check out Jason and Ryan‘s feeds for the full list of authorized Litsy authors.

You can now stream the Chasing Portraits documentary film on iTunes for just $2.99

If you have not yet had a chance to catch a screening of the Chasing Portraits documentary, I'm excited to share that you can now pre-order the documentary from Amazon! Of course don‘t forget to read the book before you catch the film. The two are companion pieces. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y97FK4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WUHVDbV5BZB6Y

The Chasing Portraits docfilm screens for FREE at Bates College on 6 November. I will be there for a Q&A after the film. If you live near Lewiston (ME) come check out the festival. It‘s open to the general public and they‘re screening some amazing films! Event details: http://www.chasingportraits.org/events/

Good book further telling about lost and looted artworks during WW2. This book focuses on the author‘s search for her great grandfather‘s art. Very detailed - I felt as if I was sitting with Ms. Rynecki and hearing the story.

Looking forward to this book! I‘ve always been interested in the art and monuments that were destroyed or stolen by Nazis and opportunists. This book is written by a Litten, and tells how one determined woman works to get her great-great grandfather‘s art back.

It‘s true, Chasing Portraits screens at the Washington (DC) JCC in October and I will be there for some of the screenings! Running October 25-31. Full Schedule to be announced.

Chasing Portraits screens in St. Louis, MO next month! I am doing a Skype Q and A with the audience after the showing. https://jccstl.com/arts-ideas/st-louis-jewish-film-festival/events-film-schedule...

"This moving portrait of one woman's effort to connect with her family history and particularly with a man she never knew had me tearing up...magical." -Steve Kopian, Unseen Films

Elizabeth Rynecki's Chasing Portraits is NOW PLAYING in LA at Laemmle Music Hall!

**Filmmaker Q&As following the 7:30pm show Friday-Sunday and after the 3:10pm show on Sunday**

Tickets & showtimes available now: bit.ly/2VqTR0G

I‘m in Toronto for the Jewish Film Festival (that‘s me at the mic). One more screening tomorrow at 3:30. Next up...Los Angeles!
www.ChasingPortraits.org/events

It‘s been so GREAT to connect with audiences at the Cinema Village (NYC) screenings of Chasing Portraits. I‘m headed back to California tomorrow, but you can still catch the documentary everyday at 1:15, 3, 5:15, 7, and 9:15 until 5/2. Next up...5/10 and 5/12 in Canada at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival and then for a week in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Music Hall opening the weekend of 5/17

‪Do you love to plan ahead? Chasing Portraits opens in NY at Cinema Village on 4/26 and you can buy your tickets now! I‘ll be there opening weekend for QandA sessions after several of the screenings. Bring your copy of the book and I‘ll sign it! Visit https://www.cinemavillage.com/Now-Playing/chasing-portraits.html for ticket information.

Today is International Holocaust Memorial Day. Every time I share my great-grandfather's art with others I feel a measure of hope that his art legacy will not be forgotten. My great grandfather painted the Polish-Jewish community in the interwar years. This photo was taken at Majdanek, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp where we believe he perished. http://rynecki.org/majdanek-the-cruelty-of-it/

Chasing Portraits screens in two locations in January...
NY Jewish Film festival at Lincoln Center 1/14 at 6pm and 1/16 at 1pm
Miami Jewish Film Festival 1/16 at 7pm
www.ChasingPortraits.org/events for details

I‘m in Jerusalem for two screenings of CHASING PORTRAITS at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival.

There are now signed copies at the Athens, GA Barnes and Noble.

“Elizabeth Rynecki‘s bookshelves may be stacked with Holocaust memoirs but her father thinks there are two ways of dealing with what he and his parents survived: “You either reconcile or forget it.” He chose the latter. Yet his silence only enlarges his daughter‘s yearning to know more, especially about her artist great-grandfather Moshe Rynecki, who died at Majdanek concentration camp.” www.ChasingPortraits.org/events

The Chasing Portraits documentary film screens in TN, GA, and SC next month as part of the Southern Circuit. Bring your copy of the book to the screening and I‘ll sign it! 📚🎥📚🎥

Upcoming CHASING PORTRAITS docfilm screenings (that I‘m allowed to tell you about) include:
Oct 8 Buffalo Film Festival
Nov 5,6,7,8,11,12 Southern Circuit
Nov 9 St Louis InternationalFilm Festival
Nov 18 Boston Jewish Film Festival
Nov 27 Special screening w/Oregon Jewish Museum
Details: ChasingPortraits.org/Events

Chasing Portraits screens in Buffalo, NY next month and their International Film Festival.

The author recounts the life of her great-grandfather, how the family was separated in WWII and her dad along with his parents ended up in the USA. But really the book starts here by following the author's quest for her great-grandfathers pictures, not to claim them, but to experience them. The reader sees Rynecki following the rollercoaster of such a task. The book is written in an informal way and for me as a reader it made it more relatable.

I will be in St. George (Utah) next week for three CHASING PORTRAITS events:

Sept. 4: NOON for a talk and book reading at the Affogato Love Cafe
Sept. 4: 5 pm at The Electric Theater
Sept. 6: 10 am at Red Cliffs 4

Link for podcast: https//deerfieldlibrary.org/2017/11/elizabeth-Rynecki-chasing-portraits-author-sits-down-with-us-in-the-podcast-studio

Discussion Question Number Four.

Discussion Question Number Three.

Discussion Question Number Two.

Thank you @litsybookclub for such a great CHASING PORTRAITS book club discussion. I really enjoyed meeting you and answering your kind and thoughtful questions!

Many museums were involved in this epic search to track down her special heirlooms.
#augustisatrip photo challenge #museum
Thanks @vkois88 and @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😊

Discussion Question Number One.

Thank you to Elizabeth Rynecki for joining us today to discuss Chasing Portraits. A huge thank you to Sonia, Daisy, Teri, Theresa and Kathryn for joining us. You make this book club wonderful and we enjoy learning more each month with you on our reading journey!

Our discussion of Chasing Portraits by Elizabeth Rynecki will begin in 30 minutes. Here is the link to join in 👇🏻

https://zoom.us/j/983665268

We hope to see you tomorrow at 2pm ET for our live discussion of Chasing Portraits! Author @Erynecki will be joining us to discuss her book. A link to the discussion will be posted 15 minutes before.

https://zoom.us

This story tells a different side of the Holocaust in that it focuses on the after instead of events during WWII. It asks questions while sharing the story of 1 family. What happened to the art hidden and who does it belong now? How does a family reclaim their heritage but still respect the journey of each painting when it cannot be proven how it arrived where it did? Looking forward to Sunday's discussion!

#LitsyBookClub #nonfiction #audiobook

This popped up in my Facebook memories today. I can‘t believe it‘s been two years! A huge thank you to my cohost, Erin along with all the wonderful readers who join us faithfully every month! You make me smile, help me grow as a reader and person and I love you all dearly!

Starting this today for the @litsybookclub next Sunday. Who‘s joining us next week to discuss this fabulous story!

I‘m switching up my audiobook for this week to listen to this nonfiction book for #LitsyBookClub.

#nonfiction #audiobook

Moshe & his family‘s struggles during WWII are heart wrenching. His paintings are so moving, depicting everyday life. His great granddaughter‘s search for his artwork is just amazing! @litsybookclub

Reading this engrossing account of @Erynecki ‘s search for her great grandfather‘s paintings that he hid in Poland during WWII. What an inspiring memoir. Join our discussion 8/19 on Zoom! @litsybookclub

What an incredible book. I learned so much and fell in love with the art work. I really admire the strength and sport that brought this book into being. Great pick!

Enjoying an incredible lunch and reading the @litsybookclub pick. So far I‘m really enjoying it. Great pick!

Hey, did you hear...? @litsybookclub is reading CHASING PORTRAITS this month and I‘ll be at their online discussion on 8/19. Join us for a chat about my great grandfather‘s art, Holocaust era art restitution, family legacies, memoirs, and docfilm behind the scenes details. Plus, all your questions!!!

Beautiful example of how far one will go to ensure a family legacy. The writer triumphs in her battle to bring Moshe's work to the world so we can know him. Losing her mother during the journey was just one hardship of many Rynecki overcame. Can't wait for the discussion. @litsybookclub