Esther Altshul Helfgott
eahelfgott2@comcast.net
www.estherhelfgott.com
EDUCATION
University of Washington
Ph.D. in History, 1994
Doctoral thesis: Irena Klepfisz: A Life in Print - The Early Years, 1975 to 1992
Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study
Intensive in Psychoanalytic Theory, 1992-1993
Western Washington University
M.A. in History, 1981
Masters thesis: Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party, 1900-1921
Western Washington University
B.A. in History, 1973
Senior thesis: Alice Paul and the Equal Rights Amendment, 1900-1920
TEACHING
Esther's Writing Works, 2000 - present
Cancer Lifeline, 2003 - 2005
Lifetime Learning Center, A United Way Agency, 2003
Richard Hugo House, 1999 -2002
North Seattle Community College, 1987 -1994
Council House Retirement Home, 1985 - 1987
University of Washington Women's Studies, 1985
Seattle Central Community College,Women's Programs, 1978
Seattle Central Community College, American Women's History, 1977
Upward Bound, Bellingham, WA., Summers 1974, 1975
Western Washington University, American Women's history
COMMUNITY SERVICE
It's About Time Writers Reading Series, Founder, Curator Emeritus
It's About Time Writers Reading Series, Founding curator, 1990 - 2011
Penny Harvest
826 Seattle Writing Center
Richard Hugo House Teen Mentorship Program
Council House Retirement Home
AWARDS
Jack Straw Productions, Poet, 2010
Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Second Place, Poetry, 1983
American Jewish Historical Association for Local Jewish History essay, "Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Section, 1900-1910," 1982
University of Washington, Teaching Assistantships in History, 1976- 1977
Western Washinton University, Teaching Assistantships in History, 1974-1975
Western Washington University History Department Bookstore Scholarship
P.E.O., Women's Association of Tacoma, 1975
Brandeis Women's Clubs Academic Scholarship, 1973
PUBLICATIONS
Blogs
Chapbook
Websites
Essays, Articles & Reviews
"Diary of My Husband’s Illness: After His Death - Still Witnessing Alzheimer’s,” forthcoming
The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Fall 2011
"Teaching Crysta Casey," Forthcoming, Raven Chronicles, Fall 2011
"Witnessing Alzheimer’s through Diary and Poem - Dear Alzheimer’s: Why Did You Pick Our Sheltered Lives to Visit?" forthcoming, The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Winter 2009
"Engaging Poetry and Jewish history: An Interview with Pesha Joyce Gertler," DRASH: Northwest Mosaic, 2008
"Writing and the Alzheimer's Caregiver," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"Edith Buxbaum, Latency and Me - Between the Oedipus Complex and Adolescence: The Quiet Time - Letter to Edith," The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Volume 19, Number 2 , June 2006, pp. 83-90.
"Irena Klepfisz, Loss and the Poetry of Exile," The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Sept 2005
"There's Tenderness in Bananas: Reflections on A New Year," JT News, September 30, 2005
Review of "Inside the Halo and Beyond: The Anatomy of a Recovery by Maxine Kumin," The Journal of Poetry Therapy, Sept 2005
Review of "Don't Turn Away: Poems About Breast Cancer," by Patricia Wellingham-Jones, All Things Girl, Jan 2005; Museletter: Newsletter of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, 2005
"Pioneers of Child Psychoanalysis: Edith Buxbaum, 1902 - 1982," ACP TODAY: Association for Child Psychoanalysis Newsletter, Winter 2003, pp. 8-9
"The Psychiatrist as Poet: A Review Essay, "Transference. EU & Beyond, Fall 2001; originally publsihed as "The Psychiatrist as Poet: A Book Review Essay," The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 5, no.4., 1994; reprinted in The Write Way, June 2001; The Writers Haven, Fall 2001; The Dakota House Journal, Winter 2001/2002, Issue 4
Buxbaum, Edith (1902-1982), HistoryLink, 2002; reprinted in Moondance: Celebrating Creative Women, Autumn 2002; Women's Intellectual Contributions to the Study of Mind and Society, website Created as an Advanced Seminar by Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Webster University, 2002.
"The Psychoanalytic Experience: Analysands Speak - Editor's Report," The Drunken Boat, Fall 2001, Vol.2, Issue III
"On Poets, Writing & Alcoholism: A Review of Joan Fiset's Now the Day is Over," Transference. EU & Beyond, Fall 2001; reprinted as "On Poets and Writing: Joan Fiset's Now the Day is Over," Y.I.P.E. Washington Poets Association Newsletter, Winter 2001
"Journal Entry: Spring 1992," Moondance:Celebrating Creative Women, Autumn 2001
"I Don't Remember Why I Hated Him," Transference.EU & Beyond, Summer 2001
"If All of Seattle Read the Same Book," in Y.I.P.E. Washington Poet's Association Newsletter, Spring, 2001; re-printed in Seattle Stories, March 2001
"Still (Quaking) in Seattle," Seattle Stories, March 2001
"Dreaming Out Loud: Creative Writing for Kids at Hugo House," ReWrite: A Quarterly Publication of Richard Hugo House, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 2000
"Diary of An Analysis: Hermeneutically Yours - Musings on the Dyad as Text,"The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, Winter 1992
"Eating Pavlova by D.M. Thomas: A Book Review," Transference. EU & Beyond, Fall 2001; originally published in The American Psychoanalyst, Vol. 30, No. 4., 1996
"The Psychoanalyst as Mentor," Upstream: A Magazine for Northwest Readers
and Writers, Winter 1992
"Jewish Feminism and Identity Politics," Off Our Backs: A Women's News Journal, May 1990
"Lovesong: Becoming a Jew, by Julius Lester, "Religious Studies Review, April 1990
"Beth Shalom's Encounter with the Woman Question," Conservative Judaism, Spring 1986
"On Writing," Introduction to Life Cycles: Stories and Poems by Seniors, Adult Education Program Writers North Seattle Community College (editor), North Seattle Community College, 1990
Introduction, Uphill Battle: From Autobiography to Poetry, Hale S.P.I.C.E. Writers (Seattle Program in Service for the Elderly), October 1988
"After the Conference; The Struggles between Us,"(co-authored with Pat Hurshell) Genesis 2: An Independent Voice for Jewish Renewal, Autumn 1988
"Judaism is Unique: Needs No Christian Symbols," Seattle Times, December 1984
"Edythe Weinstein interview transcript," Edythe Weinstein Papers, Jewish History Archives, Special Collections, University of Washington,1984
Poems
"I Dream of Uncle Benny and Strawberries," DRASH: Northwest Mosaic, 2009
"Mother Wears A Shroud of Pure Linen," DRASH: Northwest Mosaic, 2008
"from An Alzheimer Marriage," Northwest Prime Time, Alzheimer issue, Nov 2007
"Age Eleven, On the Way to the Mail Box," DRASH, May 2007; West Coast Women's Jewish Poetry Anthology
"Resiliency," All Things Girl, Looking Glass Issue, Jan-Feb 2007; reprinted in Layers of Possibility:
Healing Poetry from Members of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, Margot Van Sluytman, ed. Palabras Press, Calgary, Alberta, 2007
"Alzheimer Couple," Northwest Prime Time, Alzheimer issue, Nov. 2006
"My Sister's Death: Brother," Pontoon 9, Sept. 2006; reprinted Pontoon 10, Retrospective Issue, June 2008
"Anna's Last January, " in In Pieces: An Anthology of Fragmentary Writing edited by Olivia Dresher, Impassio Press, 2006
"No Pits," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"Leash Law," Centrifugal Eye, Summer 2006
"Voice of the Child: I Want to Be Someone," All Things Girl, Mirror Mirror issue, July 2006
"Suzzallo," Seattle Writergrrls Uncapped, Spring 2006
"Bird," Seattle Writergrrls Uncapped, Spring 2006
"Sam's Garden," Seattle Writergrrls Uncapped, Spring 2006; Forum: Newsletter of the Northwest Alliance for Psychoanalytic Study, Winter 2005
"Spring," Seattle Writergrrls Uncapped, Spring 2006; Tree Walk Book, Summer 2005
"The Old Pathologist," Chrysanthemum, 2006
"Laboratory Visit," Chrysanthemum, 2006
"Iser, 1899-1994," Maggid: A Journal of Jewish Literature, vol. 2 (2005)
"Ellen's Good Day," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, 2005
"At the Back of the Laundromat," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, Dec. 16, 2004; forthcoming in Anthology of Laundromat Literature, Wilda Morris and Cathy Conger, eds, 2009.
"Ellen: When Schizophrenia Visits," Real Change: Seattle's Progressive Weekly Community Newspaper, July 8, 2004
"The Daughters of Dementia," Poetry Bay, Summer 2004; re-printed in Museletter: Newsletter of the National Association of Poetry Therapy , Fall 2004
"Face Food Hunger Color Skin;" in Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"A Poem," Kota Press Poetry Journal, November 2001
"Transference, Or My Analyst Has Curly Brown Hair;" Transference.EU and Beyond, Summer 2001
"Dream," Dakota House Journal, Issue #2, Roots, May-June 2001; reprinted in The Writer's Block, Summer 2001
"Third Wife," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 4, Summer 2000; reprinted inThe Writer's Haven, Fall 2001
"My Analyst Has Curly Brown Hair;" Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 3, Summer 2000
"Father's Skull," Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 3, Summer 2000; reprinted in 9 11 01 (Winter 2002); authorsden.com, May 2001; Transference.EU and Beyond, Summer 2001; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001
"The Old Woman," Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; reprinted in Poets for Peace Anthology, Seattle, 2001
"Erev Yom Kipper, 1999," Chrysanthemum, Vol. IV, No. 2, Winter 1999-2000
"Mouth," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 3, Spring 1999
"Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup," KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999
"Sister;" PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; reprinted in Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; Clariti Magazine, 2000; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001; Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"Che," PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; reprinted in Mentress Moon: A Quarterly Online Journal of Writing and Art by Women, April 2000; authorsden.com, May 2001; The Dakota House Journal Issue #3, Fall 2001; Under a Silver Sky, Vol. 1, The Evergreen State College, 2003
"Voice Mail" in Writing Personal Poetry: How to Write Strong Poetry from Personal Experience (Sheila Bender, ed. Writers Digest Books, 1998); reprinted in Day Old Love, 1998
"The Starlings," in Writing Personal Poetry: How to Write Strong Poetry from Personal Experience (Sheila Bender, ed. Writers Digest Books, 1998)
At the Hospital, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review (Vancouver Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Society), vol 4, no 1, winter 1993
"Driving Home from Mother's House," originally published in The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review Vol. 4, no.3, 1993 (Vancouver Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Society, Vancouver, BC, Katalina Bartok, editor); re-printed in Switched-on-Gutenberg: A Global Poetry Journal, Vol. 1, No.2, (March 1996); KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999; PoetsWest Literary Journal, vol. II, No. 1, Spring 1999; Identity Theory, Fall 2001
"Guarding Mother," Spindrift, 1996; reprinted in KotaPress Poetry Journal, Vol.1, Issue 2, Winter 1999; amomslove.com, May 2001; The Writer's Haven, Fall 2001
"Miriam," Genesis 2: An Independent Voice for Jewish Renewal, Spring 1988
"Dear Pat," Midway Review 5, 1984; reprinted in She Speaks: Publication of the Seattle Women's Caucus for Art, Autumn 1996; amomslove.com, May 2001
"When I Am Old," Midway Review, No.3, 1982; reprinted in Poetry Seattle, Pacific Magazine, Seattle Times/Post-Intelligencer, 12/7/86; The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review, Vol. 5, No. 2-3, 1994
Papers, Talks, Workshops, and Panels
Workshop: "Witnessing Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s View - The Pantoum as Healing Tool," National Association for Poetry Therapy, "Writing the Winds of Change" Conference, Chicago, April 27, 2012
Workshop: "Poeming the Silence - A Women's Writing Workshop," Greenwood Senior Center, March 1, 2012, 10:00 am - noon
"Dr. Edith Buxbaum and the Development of Seattle Psychoanalytic History," University of Washington, May 19, 2011
Panel Moderator: "Writing Women's Biography" with Dorothy Cordova, Mildred Andrews, Susan Starbuck - PEN Washington, Seattle chapter of PEN International Richard Hugo House, Seattle, Tues. November 16, 2004
"Writing Edith Buxbaum" ProseWest Reading Series, Wit's End Bookstore, Seattle Wed. May 19, 2004
Poetry Panel: "Process and Product" Redmond Association of Spokenword, "Poets in the Park" Weekend, Clise Mansion in Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA., Sun. April 4, 2004
"Dr. Edith Buxbaum and the Application of Psychoanalytic Pedagogy in Post-World War II Seattle" Pacific Northwest Historian's Guild Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, Sat, Mar. 6, 2004
Talk on The Homeless One: A Poem in Many Voices, Abnormal Psychology class,
Cascadia Community College, November 3, 2003
Northwest Bookfest, Spoken Word Panel, October 18, 2003
Reading Shirley Kaufman with Linda Clifton, Emily Warn, Ken Shiovitz
& Pesha Gertler, Temple Beth Am, June 15, 2003
Censorship and the Development of A Writing Self, Censorship and the Right to Dissent Panel, PEN Washington, April 15, 2003
Red-Diaper Baby, The Writer and Politics Panel, PEN Washington, Aug. 20, 2002
The Poet's Words. Dialogue Among Civilizations Through Poetry Peace
Reading Seattle Public Library, March 2002
Irena Klepfisz and the Poetry of Exile. North Seattle Community College, 1999
Edith Buxbaum, Women's Biography and the Writing Process, University of Washington, Independent Women's Scholar's Group, 1995
Edith Buxbaum, Ph.D., Child Psychoanalyst - The Seattle Years: 1947 - 1982, Oral History Workshop #41: Women in the Early History of American Psychoanalysis, American Psychoanalytic Association, 12/94
Irena Klepfisz's Keeper of Accounts and Cynthia Ozik's `The Shawl,' University of Washington, Women's Studies, 1993
Themes of Home, Exile, Self and Other in Irena Klepfisz's Early 1970's poem, `Death Camp,' University of Washington, Women's Studies, Oct. 1992
Irene Kelpfisz, Jewish Feminism and the Construction of a Social Self: A Psychoanalytic-Feminist Perspective, Judaism, Feminism and Psychology Conference: Creating a Shelter in the Wilderness, Nov. 1, 1992.
Jewish Feminism and Identity Politics, National Women's Studies Association, Towson University, Towson, Md., Nov. 1989
Women and Creativity, Panel on Women's Creativity, Women's Studies, University of Washington, 1989
"Midrash on Ruth and Naomi," Torah and Blintzes: Tikun Lail Shavuot Study Vigil, Congregation Beth Shalom, June 8, 1989
Jewish Women's Spirituality, Edmonds Community College, 1980s
Women's Clubs, YWCA, 1980s
National Council of Jewish Women, Seattle Section, Women's History Conference, University of Washington, 1980s
Jewish Women's Spirituality, Conference on Women's Spirituality, Antioch University, Seattle, 1981
Origins of the Seattle Council of Jewish Women: 1900-1910, Early Seattle Panel, Seattle Women's History Week, University of Washington, March 12, 1981
Women's Role at Congregation Beth Shalom, Seattle, Museum of History and Industry, Washington State Women's History Panel, 1980
National Women's Party and the Equal Rights Amendment, Western Washington University, 1972
Selected Poetry Readings
"Poetry Against Hunger," Roy St. Coffee and Tea, Sponsored by Broken Circles Poetry Journal for Northwest Harvest, Nov. 19, 2011
"An Evening of Jewish Literature," Congregation Beth Shalom, Sat. Nov. 12, 2011
"Floating Bridge Review Number 4, Contributors," July 29, 2011, Jack Straw Studios, Fri July 29, 2011
RASP (Redmond Association of the Spoken Word) with Ann Teplick, Jan 28, 2011
Seattle Public Library, Central Branch, final Jack Straw reading with all 2010 Jack Straw writers, Nov. 13, 2010
Elliott Bay Book Co. with Brian James Barr, Bill Carty & Tara Roth, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
Richard Hugo House with Ann Teplick, Richard Gold & Courtney Putnam, Nov. 3, 2010
Seattle Art Museum with Denise Calvetti Michaels, Louise Spiegl & Tara Roth for the Picasso exhibit, October 21, 2010
Jack Straw Studios with Martha Clarkson, Michael Dylan Welch & Marjorie Manwaring, May 14, 2010,
Ravenna Third Place Books, with DRASH contributors, May 31, 2009
Frye Art Museum, with Beyond Forgetting contributors, May 3, 2009
Red Sky Memorial for Irene Drennan, Richard Hugo House, March 1, 2009
Seattle Public Library, Nov. 2007
Prose West at Epilogue Books, August 9, 2006
Poet's West at Epilogue Books, July 2006
Elliott Bay Books, with Olivia Dresher and Friends, reading from In Pieces: Anthology of
Fragmentary Writing, June 17, 2006, 4:30 pm
Older Women's League (OWL) with Irene Drennan & Diane Westergaard, University House,
Sat. Sept 11, 2004
Ravenna Third Place Books, with Diane Westergaard, Irene Drennan, Pesha Gertler & Denise
Calvetti Michaels, Sunday, May 2, 2004
Barnes & Noble's Lynnwood, with Gloria Burgess, Michael Dylan Welch & Irene Drennan
Friday April 23, 2004
Poets in the Park, Sun. April 4, 2004
Temple Beth Am, January 10, 2004
Lottie Motts, Oct 24, 2003
Ravenna Third Place Books, Aug 21, 2003
Ravenna Third Place Books, , Feb. 25, 2003
Learning Through the Arts: Holocaust Experience Shared, North Seattle Community College, April 18, 2000
Richard Hugo House Faculty Reading, Elliot Bay Book Store, April 8, 2000
Elliot Bay Chamber of Commerce, 2000
After Long Silence Reading Series for Women Poets and Writers, 11/19/99
Hospice of Seattle: A Celebration of Remembrance, Frye Art Museum, Spring 1999
Poets West, Barnes and Noble, Issaquah, Fall 1999
Poets West, Frye Museum, Spring 1999
Wit's End Book Store, Nov. 13, 1999
Seattle Love of Life Poets, Barnes and Noble, U. Village, 1996-1998
It's About time Writers Reading Series, 1989 - 1997
"Ernesto Cardinal," Silenced at the Borders: Banned Books Week, Seattle Public Library, Sept. 25, 1997
"Readings on Themes of Freedom and Light," Tree of Life Judaica & Books, Dec. 3, 1997
Seattle Public Library, Banned Books Reading for Poetry Month, April 1998
Castalia Reading Series, University of Washington, various readings, 1982 - 1990
Women and Judaism Newspaper Column
The Road to Judaism: A Convert Speaks Out, Washington Jewish Week, 3/19/87
The Baalat Teshuva, Baltimore Jewish Times, 11/87
The Meaning of the Mikvah, Baltimore Jewish Times, 1/26/87
Rosh Hodesh - The New Moon, 1/30/87
Invoking Female as Well as Male Images of God, New York Jewish Week, 1/2/87
Women in Judaism: God as`She', Baltimore Jewish Times, 2/2/87
Women in Judaism: God as a Female Image, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1/2/87
The Mikvah's Mystery, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 12/86
God as `She', Washington Jewish Week, 12/3/86
Ima on the Bima: A Refreshing Children's Story, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 11/20/86
The Rebbetzin as Role Model, Baltimore Jewish Times, 9/5/86
My `Gottseelige' Bubbe, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 7/86
Educating Women, Baltimore Jewish Times, 5/2/86
Marta Kosaly, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 4/86
This Purim, Watch Out, Reader!, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 3/20/86
Women in Judaism: Education, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 3/7/86
A Purim Phantasmagoria, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 3/86
Feminist Finds Mikvah Spritually Rewarding, The Arizona Post, 2/14/86
The Mikvah, Detroit News, 1986
Educating Women, London Jewish Chronicle, 1986
Women in Judaism: Ima on the Bima, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1986
God As a Female Image, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 1986
Tapping the Wellsprings of Purity, London Jewish Chronicle, 1/86
Women in Judaism: Education, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 1/86
Women in Judaism: The Rebbetzin, Syracuse Jewish Observer, 11/29/85
The Rebbetzin, Seattle Jewish Transcript, 9/85
A Few Earlier Articles
Budget Cuts: A Plea for Chore Services, Elder Affairs, 3/81
Fremont Chore Services Needs Help, The Source, 2/81
The Journal's the Thing, Fremont Forum, 1/81
In Their Nineties: Couple Helps Each Other Day By Day, Ballard News-Tribune, 11/80
What I Am witnessing is an Interaction Between Friends, Fremont Forum, 9/80
At Home With Chaos, Fremont Forum, 8/80
What Does Spanking Teach Children?, Fremont Forum, 6/79
Peck's Bad Boy or Teacher's Bad Day?, Fremont Forum, 5/79
Gwinyai Tells A Tale: Rabbit Absconds with Child, Seattle Sun, 5/79
Fremont Community Council Urges Citizen Input, Fremont Forum, 4/79
Janice Painter: Murderess or Martyr, Seattle Sun, 3/14/79
Feminist Art: Blatantly Sexual Even With Flab, Seattle Sun, 2/29/79
Factionalization and Feminism: Flappers to `Freedom', Northwest Passage, June 1971
Oral History Television Interviews: Exploring Jewish Feminism, Jewish Studies Program,
Jackson School of International Studies, Cable Learn Channel 27, University of Washington, 1988 - 1992
Blu Greenberg, author, 2/11/88
Rabbi Vicki Hollander, 4/88
Cantor Mailyn Ladin, 5/9/88
Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz, 9/16/88
Pat Cullen Hurshell, Holocaust Scholar, 6/2/88
Rabbi Ira Stone, 6/14/88
Blu Greenberg and Rabbi Irving Greenberg, 6/20/88
Dr. Kayla Weiner, Feminist Therapist, 7/6/88
Gail Simon, Lesbian Feminist Activist, 9/1/88
Cantor Celia Gartenberg, 10/4/88
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, 12/15/88
Pesha Gertler, poet, & Esther Little Dove, peace activist, 2/10/89
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, 8/13/89
Irena Klepfisz, Holocaust Poet, lesbian feminist activist, 11/16/90
Paula Hyman, Historian, Yale University, 1992
Work in Progress
