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Hi <<First Name>>

Greetings from Spain, and hope you are gearing up for an exciting summer. Lots of fun stuff to get to in this month’s newsletter, so let’s dive in…

I am not a natural salesman. I am very persuasive (it runs in my family), but I do not like to sell things and in particular I do not like to sell myself. This has been a recurring theme my entire life, and it’s never really caused any problems for me, all things considered, until I started Who Knows One?, which does require that I do a fair bit of selling. I do it because I have to, not because I want to, because in general, I don’t like being sold to and assume others feel similarly.

If I am going to sell myself, I want it to be such a no-brainer for the person doing the buying that it’s worth overcoming the discomfort on both sides. I want everyone to win. 

So, if you’ll allow it, I’m going to sell myself just a little at the top of this month’s newsletter, because I am just back from a big show tour in May and it was an immense success. It was so fun, so engaging, and so DIFFERENT than what people are used to. People really dug it. Here’s a sampling of the feedback we got from some of our clients:

“Thank you so much for coming and bringing some many people smiles and joy!  Even our cranky lay leader thought it was great!”

“The whole room was engaged and laughing from start to finish, and left feeling that much more connected to our community and to the Jewish community at large.”

“Almost every attendee came up to me to thank us for hosting such a fun and unique event!”

“People are saying it was the best spring event program we have done.”

I tend to struggle to internalize compliments and success, but I left this tour feeling like I’m sitting on a winning lottery ticket and now it’s just all about spreading the word so people can share in the fun.

So, if you work for a Jewish organization (and even if you don’t - we are doing corporate gigs now as well!), here’s me selling you - bring our show to your community. You’ll be glad you did. 

Great Jewish Geography Stories

One of my favorite parts of Who Knows One? is the JG stories I hear. I delight in each and every one (okay maybe not quite that much - but most of them!). If you have a great story, reach out to us and share it. We may just feature you in an upcoming newsletter and add it to our burgeoning collection of stories on YouTube!

This month’s Great Jewish Geography Story comes to us from Jodi and Jeff Upin of Minnetonka, MN, who share an incredible connection they made just because they needed some laundry done in Israel. I call it “Of All The Drycleaners In All The World”:

Who Knows One? Mysteries

We famously solved the mystery of the acoustic Humpty Dance (RIP Humpty Hump), and by we, I mean the Who Knows One? detectives out there who did a little digging with the determination of ants building a colony. Each newsletter we’ll try to put things right in the universe - reconnect long-lost friends, return a kiddush cup to its rightful owner, figure out a solution to (almost!) anything that’s been weighing on you. Let us know and we’ll put our sleuths on the hunt.

Friend of the show (and a show in her own right) Rabbi Karen Thomashow writes in looking for help figuring out the people in a photo of her. She knows two of them, one of whom you might recognize. Here’s what she knows:

“I have a photograph that is a picture of my grandfather (z”l), David Ben Gurion (z”l), and a mystery person whom I do not know. I know the state the picture was taken in (Massachusetts), that it was in a hotel ballroom, and that it was likely a photo op for Israel bonds, but not much more than that. I’d love to know who this person was/is!”

Have any leads to help Karen determine this third party? Reach out to her here with any leads you have!

Catching Up With…
Peggy Lohr

From time to time we’ll hear people mention participants (contestants, connectors, Chosen Ones) from previous shows and wonder what they are up to, so every now and then we’ll reach out to them and see what’s what. This month we reached out to musician and author Peggy Lohr, who was a Chosen One for contestant cantors Ellen Dreskin and Katie Oringel on a musician-themed episode in December 2021. Her brief appearance was memorable enough to warrant inclusion in our year-end best of countdown.

What are you working on these days? 

I just launched my new memoir on Amazon on May 4th. It’s called Howdy Hollywood (Music, Movie Stars and Mischief From Texas to Tinseltown). Now I’m trying to market it! I’m also booking music performances for my husband (a fabulous pianist) and me at clubs, bars, restaurants, private parties, retirement homes and beyond! And I’m booking book clubs, garden clubs, media events…anything to get my (fun) book out there in the world!!

What’s one thing you learned from the pandemic?

One thing I learned from the pandemic was…if you’re wanting to do something…do it NOW…tomorrow is not guaranteed! (That’s how I FINALLY got my memoir written!)

Jewish Geography question - where's the most random place you've run into someone you know?

The most random place I’ve run into someone was in a NY City airport around 1977. The person checking my bags had been my tour guide in Romania in 1972! His name was Stefan! Ed. note - that is wild.

What's the best way for people to check out your stuff?

People can read about me and my singing career on www.lohrmusic.com. They can hear me on the Bill Lohr YouTube channel, The Peggy Lohr YouTube channel and the Peggy Lauren YouTube channel. They can contact me at howdyhollywoodbook@gmail.com, and get my new book here!

Is there a person from the show’s past you want to hear from? Let us know and we’ll reach out!

Who Knows One? Job Connections

Each month we’ll try to highlight a job posting, either from an organization we love or for a role that seems like a cool, unique opportunity. Have a job you want to recommend? Email us and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter.

This month’s recommendation is incredibly specific, and therefore I love it! The Riverdale Jewish Project is looking for a tour guide for a one-time only afternoon tour of Washington Heights on the afternoon of Sunday, June 25. Do you like walking and talking? This could be the (very part-time) job for you!

More info here.

Upcoming WKO Shows

We’ve got a hectic summer coming up, but it promises to be a fun one! Catch us in action if you’re a part of any of these communities!

June 7 - B’nai Israel, Little Rock, AR (virtual)

June 29 - Ohef Sholom, Norfolk, VA

July 13 - Jewish Center of the Hamptons

July 18 - Aimbridge Hospitality Convention, Las Vegas, NV

July 19-20 - Ramah in the Berkshires

July 30-Aug 1 - Ramah New England

Aug. 13 - Denver JDS, Denver, CO

Aug. 16 - United Jewish Congregation, Baton Rouge, LA

How can we help build your community? Reach out to us today to inquire about dates.

Give Us All Your Chosen Ones!

As always, we're on the lookout for new and more diverse Chosen Ones! If you are interested or know someone else who would be sign up today!