Beginning mid-February, we're hosting what we're calling a mini-version of our annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts. For the duration of the "mini festival", there is an event every Thursday for four weeks, Feb 13-Mar 5. (Special thanks to Schahet Hotels for hosting our visitors.)

Thu, Feb 13 at 7 pm: E.J. Dionne (bestselling author, Washington Post columnist and NPR politics commentator) will be at the J in conjunction with the release of his eighth book, Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite to Save Our Country (comes out one week before his visit). Code Red provides a blueprint for uniting progressives and moderates through shared goals of social tolerance, economic justice and democratic values. $10.

Thu, Feb 20 at 5:30 pm: Religion, Spirituality and the Arts: The Story of Jonah gallery reception and performances (reception 5:30 pm, performances 6:45 pm). Religion, Spirituality, and the Arts (RSA) is a program of the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute directed by Rabbi Sandy Sasso that brings together artists, religious leaders and more for discussions of religious texts that inspire new works of visual and performance art. This year, the group will be exploring the contemporary and psychological implications of the story of Jonah, who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of the city of Nineveh but runs away from his responsibility, and in doing so winds up in the belly of a whale. Art exhibit runs Feb 14-Mar 29. FREE.

Thu, Feb 27 at 7 pm: Joy Ladin (also part of the Gender Journeys series). A nationally recognized speaker on gender and Jewish identity, Ladin is the first openly transgender professor at an Orthodox Jewish institution. She is the author of The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective, which helps readers see some of the best-known Biblical stories through the lens of the transgender experience. $10.

Thu, Mar 5 at 7 pm: Comedy writer Alan Zweibel. After a scheduling conflict with his upcoming film Here Today (starring Tiffany Haddish and co-written/co-directed with Billy Crystal) called him away last fall, Alan Zweibel's visit to the J has been rescheduled! Zweibel, one of the authors of A Field Guide to the Jewish People, is an original Saturday Night Live writer (he helped create iconic Gilda Radner characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella) and has won five Emmys for his work on The Late Show with David Letterman and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Sponsored by The National Bank of Indianapolis and Congregation Beth Shalom. $10.

And finally, Wed, Mar 18 at 7 pm: Emmet Cohen, the latest in our Jazz at the J series. Emmet Cohen is one of jazz's new superstars. From his European tour to his five-day gig at the legendary jazz club Birdland, Cohen proves why he won the 2019 American Pianist Awards/Cole Porter Fellowship. His accessible music swings with a unique creativity, lyricism and just a touch of humor. Join Cohen and his trio as they explore the intersection of Jews and jazz, leading us into the life and work of some of the most important composers and, of course, playing their music. Followed by a free after-party with the musicians, provided by Gadi Boukai , Realtor/Broker - F.C. Tucker Company. This is a Unity Project program, sponsored by the Efroymson Family Fund and Leslie M. Jackson, in partnership with the American Pianists Association and the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation. $20.