Deborah J. Levine's Blog

Award-winning author Deborah Levine launches her long-awaited memoir, The Liberator’s Daughter. Rising from their Eastern European Jewish immigrant roots, her family of Swigs, Levines, and Malloys left a legacy of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Estelle and Aaron Levine met as students at Harvard University, fell in love and married during World War II. As a US military intelligence officer, Aaron was deployed to France and Germany. He witnessed the death camps and interrogated Nazi prisoners of war. His letters to Estelle expressed the horrors of the Holocaust while her love letters kept him going. Both were dedicated to Jewish advocacy and education for the rest of their lives. Aaron and Estelle inspired their daughter to dedicate her life to the Jewish community, Holocaust projects, interfaith collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding. 

Today, Deborah Levine is headquartered in Tennessee where she continues her work in the Southern tradition of storytelling. Journey with Deborah from immigrant beginnings to Harvard University, from World War II death camps to the Oklahoma City bombing, from British Bermuda to the American Jewish Archives. Read the original letters and diaries, and see history come alive with photographs.

What people are saying...

The Liberator's Daughter skillfully weaves together the story of Deborah Levine's GI father at the end of WW II, her family's Jewish roots in Bermuda of all places, and a shocking treasure trove of Holocaust reminiscences from a total stranger whose story becomes intimately hers. In a fascinating, multifaceted memoir unlike any that you'll ever read, Levine takes us deep into her family's unusual history to show how it shaped her own growth as a truly inspiring interfaith, social justice activist.  Compelling, uplifting, and unique.”
~ Lev Raphael, author of My Germany: A Jewish Writer Returns to the World His Parents Escaped

“Many liberators such as Levine’s father kept their experience largely secret. So the publication of excerpts from the letters of her father is an important new resource for Holocaust education and research...The Liberator’s Daughter is a very readable introduction to the journey of the Jewish community over the past century. When I worked with Deborah Levine, I found her a person who rarely failed. This volume is no exception to this record of accomplishment.”
~ The Rev. Dr. John T. Pawlikowski, Prof. of Social Ethics at the Catholic Theological Union and a founding member of the US Holocaust Memorial Council

“Deborah is a fabulous writer! She writes with passion and the reader can only walk away, after finishing her work, knowing more, caring more and believing more. The Liberator's Daughter is a tale that beautifully matches its name as it intertwines her life with her father's. It gives everything it promises.”
~ Cathryn Cohen, Former Executive Director of the Foundation for Monterey County (CA) Free Libraries

Teaching Curious Christians about Judaism by Deborah J. Levine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Teaching Curious Christians about Judaism is an easy to read handbook for all ages. The original version won the National Catholic Press Association Award. It was recently taken to the Vatican as a gift for Pope Francis.



View all my reviews

Going Southern is both a personal journey and a guide to navigating the culture of the South. Deborah Levine's stories & strategies give New Southerners a cultural map to the U.S. Southeast while entertaining them in true Southern style. Steer your way through the Old and New South with the Going Southern stories and strategies. In his Forward to Going Southern, Dr. Roger Brown, Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, shares his own story and thoughts on Going Southern.

"Growing up in the Appalachian hills of east Tennessee during the 1940s and 1950s, I did not realize that I was part of a distinct “culture.” My opportunities to travel widely, first in the United States and then around the world, revealed to me the many behaviors, dialects, and artifacts that defined my culture of origin. So, it often takes moving outside of one’s parochial setting to see and be able to describe to others what it is like."

"This fun and highly useful book is the result of Deborah J. Levine’s ability to view aspects of Southern culture through more objective eyes and with the benefit of her keen insights as a relative newcomer. Ms. Levine’s own family history and background prepared her to view her adopted Southern culture with appreciation for its rich idiosyncrasies, its ancient roots, and its importance to the success of travelers and immigrants from other parts of the world. Her insights are warm and vital because she delivers them in an engaging storytelling style that is itself an example of Southern literary culture.

Beate Ziehres, Editor-in-chief of the German magazine, Regjo, shares her perspective from her years in Tennessee associated with Volkswagen Chattanooga, "In the old Southern tradition of telling stories, Deborah shares her magnificent knowledge and experience of the South with the unique kindness of the region. To me as a German part-time Southerner, her advice is worth gold."

Returning to the South from his work as an international procurement consultant and advisor, Mark A. Crowder had this to say, "Going Southern is a delightful blend of history, storytelling, and practical cross-cultural instruction. Ms. Levine's frank discussions on ethnicity, religion, and regional nuances are a must read for newcomers to the South and us old-timers alike. Grab a copy, y'all!"

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The American Diversity Report and its Cross Cultural School of the South are headquartered in Chattanooga TN and reach national and global audiences. The consulting firm specializes in training, speaking, and curriculum design.

DEBORAH LEVINE ENTERPRISES LLC

VISION: Create wise decision makers who successfully shape the global village & economy of the future.

MISSION: Provide creative resources & cross cultural training for our future leaders online globally and onsite locally.

GOALS: INSPIRE * INSTRUCT * INNOVATE

Diversity & Inclusion: Wisdom for diverse teams & leadership
Global Leadership: Wisdom for international leadership & cross cultural communication
Acculturation: Wisdom for New Southerners and those who work with them

WHO BENEFITS:

Entrepreneurs
Healthcare Professionals
Interns & Students
Sales & Customer Service Personnel
Human Resource Directors
Civic leaders

WHY: The future is NOW!

HOW: Training & Resources:

Resources: Books, e-books, CDs, DVDs, videos;
Workshops/online courses;
Train-the-Trainer seminars.

 

GOING SOUTHERN: The No-Mess Guide to Success in the South

PART I: WHERE & WHEN Now AVAILABLE Click Here
1. The Introductions: Why Take This Journey?
2. The Decision: Going Southern, Y’all
3. The Intersection: Where Geography & History Connect
4. The Names: Why Native American History Is Relevant Today
5. The Myths: How to Navigate the Old South and Avoid Missteps
6. The Choo Choo Factor: How Terminals Were Born, Terminated & Reborn-ish

PART II: WHO & WHAT
1. The Race Issue: What an Outsider Should Know
2. The Traditionalists: Who Are the Real Southerners?
3. The Faithful: How Religion & Southerners Are Woven Together
4. The Icons: Who’s Trending & Why You Should Follow
5. The Big Picture: What the New & Returning Southerners bring to the Table

PART III: WHY & HOW
1. The Social Scene: How to Be Sociable No Matter What
2. The Southernisms: Why Pay Attention to Those Catchy Southern Sayings
3. The Body Language: How to Say It All without Saying a Word
4. The Context: Are You Fixin’ to Get to It Anytime Soon?
5. The Controversies: What are the Hot Topics in the Southern Global Village?

One of the most difficult and increasingly frequent areas of workplace compliance issues is religious expression and religious diversity.  Conflicts over religion can escalate quickly and the cost in time, productivity and reputation can be painful.  Companies and service organizations needing this course will increase exponentially in the future.  Let us help you address the challenges of religious diversity in your organization sooner rather than later.

The learning objectives include:

•  Anticipating the religious differences challenges
•  Acquiring cultural competence in diverse religious traditions
•  Avoiding conflict over religious values

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY Course Outline
Part 1
•  Why is religion the most challenging area of diversity?

•  What should healthcare professionals know about the diversity of religious values in illness & dying?

Part 2
• What are the common conflicts involving religious diversity?

•  How can religious conflicts be minimized and what can be done when conflicts are in process?

TESTIMONIALS

"I surprisingly enjoyed Deborah Levine's lecture.  She has a great speaking voice and also because she had a lot of interesting information and put things into a non conventional format that was easy listening. Being Jewish, she was able to inform us of specific situations she had been in and how Jewish people react to certain situations such as company Christmas parties. At first, I felt religion was something that wasn't that big of an issue in the workplace and also that I'd be uncomfortable addressing to peers and coworkers simply because it's sacred and personal. However, listening to the speaker proudly acknowledge that she was Jewish and that she could be a comfortable "ambassador" of the religion, I got a little more comfortable. 

I realized that most people's values, morals and beliefs are based on their religion. Ethics & beliefs about how to treat others, how to handle delicate situations in the workplace are based on people's religion and what we believe is right." 

--UTC Business College student

One of the most difficult and increasingly frequent areas of workplace compliance issues is religious expression and religious diversity. Conflicts over religion can escalate quickly and the cost in time, productivity and reputation can be painful. Companies and service organizations needing this course will increase exponentially in the future. Let us help you address the challenges of religious diversity in your organization sooner rather than later.

The learning objectives include:

• Anticipating the religious differences challenges
• Acquiring cultural competence in diverse religious traditions
• Avoiding conflict over religious values

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY Course Outline
Part 1
• Why is religion the most challenging area of diversity?

• What should diversity professionals know about the religious values attached to life cycle events?  For example: healthcare professionals dealing with illness & dying?

Part 2
• What are the common conflicts involving religious diversity?

• How can religious conflicts be minimized and what can be done when conflicts are in process?

TESTIMONIALS

"I surprisingly enjoyed Deborah Levine's lecture. She has a great speaking voice and also because she had a lot of interesting information and put things into a non conventional format that was easy listening. Being Jewish, she was able to inform us of specific situations she had been in and how Jewish people react to certain situations such as company Christmas parties. At first, I felt religion was something that wasn't that big of an issue in the workplace and also that I'd be uncomfortable addressing to peers and coworkers simply because it's sacred and personal. However, listening to the speaker proudly acknowledge that she was Jewish and that she could be a comfortable "ambassador" of the religion, I got a little more comfortable.

I realized that most people's values, morals and beliefs are based on their religion. Ethics & beliefs about how to treat others, how to handle delicate situations in the workplace are based on people's religion and what we believe is right."

--UTC Business College student

Not from around here? Want to put your best foot forward? This course will guide you through the unique culture of the American Southeast, one of the fastest growing Global Villages in the US.  Ideal for New Southerners and those who work with them:  healthcare professionals, international interns & educators, sales specialists and HR directors.  

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Understand the Southern mindset and its interface with the global mindset
Bridge cultural differences with a minimum of stress
Develop cross-cultural communication skills with Southern flair
Avoid culture clashes where Southern & Global connect

COURSE OUTLINE

Topic I: What is Southern Culture?

Where is the South: How geography, demographics & history connect
Who is Southern: Identifying cultural patterns & demographics
What is the Southern mindset:

Topic II:  Learn Cultural Short Hand

How we can quickly absorb Southern culture: Arts, Symbols & other Cultural Expressions

Topic III: Intercultural Communication

What is verbal communication Southern-style: Why are they saying that?
What is or non-verbal communication Southern-style: Why are they doing that?
What are the common communication challenges for newcomers: Learn, adapt or change

Topic IV: Culture Clash - Flash Points

Why are culture clashes happening at work? Tips for a newly diverse workforce
What are the most frequent questions non-Southerners ask about the South?
What are the most difficult questions nonSoutherners ask? Advanced Q & A

Contact us to arrange your group's workshop/course

DEBORAH J. LEVINE trains international executives to acculturate to the South. Her intercultural training with major manufacturing companies in the Southeast now includes online training for internationals and non-Southern Americans.  A pioneer in the field of Global Leadership training for teens, her book, Inspire Your Inner Global Leader, was field tested in Youth Global Leadership Classes co-taught with Volkswagen executives and is now available on Amazon.  

A Diversity Trainer & Educator:  Deborah provides diversity training to nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies and corporations.  Her creative diversity training materials are used by companies and universities across the US.  She served as consultant to Southern Adventist University and is on the Advisory Board of Women’s Studies at UTC.  She has lectured at Elmhurst College, University of Tulsa, Hebrew Union College and University of TN at Chattanooga and public school districts in OK, IL, and TN.  A product of Harvard and New York University (NYU - BS, Cultural Anthropology), University of Illinois at Chicago (MA, Urban Planning & Policy) and Spertus Institute (MA, Jewish Studies), Deborah received research fellowships from UCLA and the American Jewish Archives.  She currently serves on the Diversity Advisory Board of Volkswagen Chattanooga.

An Award-winning Author:  Deborah’s writing spans decades of published articles appearing in The American Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Public Management & Social Policy, Harvard Divinity School Bulletin, The Bermudian Magazine and The Christian Century.  She has a blog on The Huffington Post, had a weekly column as a community correspondent for The Chattanooga Times Free Press and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report.  Her book, Teaching Christian Children about Judaism, received the education award from the Catholic National Press Association award in 1997. Her new 3-part series, Going Southern: The No-Mess Guide to Success in the South, will be out soon.

An Urban Cultural Planner:  Deborah specializes in creating organizations with local & global impact.  She founded the DuPage Interfaith Resource Network and the Women's Council on Diversity.  Having designed her Masters degree in Urban Planning to focus on Arts & Culture, she has consulted with government agencies at the municipal, county, state and federal levels. Deborah recently created the Youth Multicultural Video Contest judged by national & international judges from Hollywood to Australia.  The project is now sponsored by the City of Chattanooga Dept. of Education, Arts & Culture and its TN Film commission.  Deborah oversaw the research for a multi-million dollar cultural center for the North River Commission/City of Chicago and as a Jewish Federation executive director; Deborah oversaw the building of the Chattanooga area Jewish Cultural Center. 

Articles about Deborah’s community initiatives appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Online Wall Street Journal, The Bermuda Royal Gazette, Hadassah Magazine and The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Deborah received the 'Excellence' award from the Tennessee Economic Council on Women and the ‘Unbought & Unbossed’ Award from Girls Inc./Chattanooga.

  MATRIX MODEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:

            Guide to Cross Cultural Wisdom

Copyrighted system of cross-cultural communication, conflict management and decision-making skills.  This is the textbook for our cross cultural courses. 

COMMENTS by WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

“I can use this information in particular, the Matrix Model, in my everyday routine, not just with co-workers but with family and friends.”

“The opening statement about diversity is something I’ll take with me always.”

Very helpful as tools and can be tailored to suit your own style.  Lighthearted learning!”

“Gives plenty of material with which to have a conversation with people, get to know them, appreciate differences, practice compromising.”

“I liked that the wisdom constructs laid out a helpful guide to get beyond impasse.”

“The framework for the Matrix and Comfort Zones provides insight into how we can deal with differences more effectively.  Having a tool to think through managing the conflict of difference is very valuable.”

“Deborah Levine runs the quintessential diversity workshop, whether you are a neophyte or a workshop groupie!”

“Viewing each situation using the Matrix Model themes allow one to do more analysis before trying to come to conclusions.”

“I feel I gained some tools to use in dealing with disagreements between people and between myself and others.”

“This was one of the most thought-provoking workshops I have ever attended.”

THE 10 BENEFITS of the Matrix Model:

Facilitate knowledge management
Enhance cultural awareness
Provide cross-cultural communication expertise
Defuse potential conflicts over religion, race & ethnicity
Maximize diversity & inclusion strategies
Add to global mindset
Create new avenues for problem solving
Promote innovation
Build diverse teams
Develop wise decision makers

CLICK HERE for paperback & workbook

 CLICK HERE for E-book