A Marathon series reading featuring Soltes, Ebenbach, Simon, and Bettmann

Join Jewish poets Ori Soltes, David Ebenbach, Jessica Simon, and Robert Bettmann for an online poetry reading Thursday November 20 from 7-8pm to support Day Eight’s Literary Marathon for DC Youth.

Day Eight’s Literary Marathon for DC Youth is a durational online fundraising campaign. Each poet featured in the Marathon Reading series is a “runner” in the campaign who has made a donation and committed to raising matching funds. Tune in to hear them read their poetry and to learn more about the programs supported by the Literary Marathon and benefits for donors.

Dr. Ori Z Soltes teaches theology, art history, philosophy, and political history at Georgetown University. Ori has authored or edited scores of books, articles, exhibit catalogues, and essays and three collections of poetry. Dr. Soltes serves on the Board of Directors for Day Eight and was co-editor of the Jewish Experience section of poems recently published by the Mid-Atlantic Review.

David Ebenbach is the author of numerous books of fiction (How to Mars, Miss Portland, The Guy We Didn't Invite to the Orgy, Into the Wilderness, Between Camelots), poetry (Some Unimaginable Animal, We Were the People Who Moved), and essays (The Artist's Torah). He lives very happily with his family in Washington, DC, where he teaches creative writing at Georgetown University.

Jessica Genia Simon has had poems published in journals including the Atlanta Review, the Mid-Atlantic Review, and Super Stoked: An Anthology of Queer Poetry. She works at a gun violence prevention nonprofit in D.C. and lives with her wife and daughter in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her first poetry collection, Built of All I Shape and Name, was released in 2023 from Kelsay Books.

Robert Bettmann is founder and managing editor of Day Eight’s literary magazine, the Mid-Atlantic Review (formerly called Bourgeon.) He serves as director/publisher of Day Eight’s book publishing arm and editor for the majority of books acquired and published. Robert is the author of the book, Somatic Ecology: Somatics, Nature, Humanity, and the Human Body and co-editor with Susan Meehan of Falling Leaves: an interfaith poetry anthology on the topic of consolation and loss.