Very occasionally we hold an event that isn’t part of our regular activities — in 2020 and 2022 our North American members held poetry readings and in July 2026 we held an event to honor our nonogenarians — active members who have reached the age of 90 or more. Starting with the 2022 poetry reading, these events are briefly described on this page, the newest at the top.
Tribute to our Nonogenarians
On Tuesday, 14 July, 2026, we held a special Zoom evening to honour our nonagenarian members – Ada Aharoni, Amiel Schotz, Judy Foner, Miriam Webber, Ricky Friesem, and Stanley Barkan.
Around 50 people registered for the event and 45 attended, make this one of our best-attended events of the past year or two.
Below: Judy Foner and Miriam Webber
The presenter, Naomi Yalin of our Haifa group, interviewed all six of our nonogenarians. Each read one or two of their poems and then answered a few questions about their work and their association with Voices Israel. Here Ricky Friesem, twice first-prize winner of the Reuben Rose competition, reads one of her poems.
Memorial Poetry Reading for Ellen Jaffe
On March 13, 2022, our North American members held a poetry reading, organized by Diane Ray of California, in honor of Ellen Jaffe of Toronto, Canada, a very active member beloved by many, who died tragically of cancer.
Diane, as organizer, told of Ellen’s life and work, and Judy Koren, as Voices Israel President, said a few words about her active participation in Voices Israel. Two of her close friends then gave a featured reading of her poems, and finally eight Voices Israel members each read one poem by Ellen and one or two poems of their own.
Below is one of Ellen’s poems, then recently published, selected to be read.
Voices Israel Group of Poets in English 