Photo: Isaac Bashevis Singer receives a Proclamation from Former Surfside Mayor Mitchell Kinzer. Courtesy of Mitchell Kinzer
On Sunday, Nov. 16, the Surfside Community Center will host Singerfest, a special event celebrating the life and literary legacy of Nobel Laureate and former Surfside resident Isaac Bashevis Singer. The gathering will bring together readers, scholars, and community members during his birth month to reflect on the remarkable career of one of the 20th century’s most influential voices in literature, while also highlighting his enduring connection to the Town of Surfside.
Singer was born in 1903 in Poland and emigrated to the United States in 1935, escaping the growing tide of antisemitism in Europe. Writing in Yiddish, his works captured the richness of Jewish folklore, tradition, and mysticism, while grappling with universal themes of morality, faith, and the human condition. His novels and short stories—among them The Family Moskat, Enemies: A Love Story, and Shosha—earned him global acclaim. In 1978, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his “impassioned narrative art” and his ability to infuse everyday life with the supernatural and the eternal. Singer is one 14 Americans to have received the distinguished honor.
Though he lived much of his life in New York, he found peace and inspiration right here in Surfside, where he spent his later years. He was often seen visiting Harding Avenue staple “Sheldon’s” or enjoying the quiet rhythms of seaside life. It was here in our beloved Florida Town that he continued to write and reflect, carrying on his deep commitment to storytelling and cultural memory.
Singerfest will honor both the man and his work with a day of readings, discussions, and cultural programming that highlight Singer’s profound contributions to literature and his special connection to Surfside. The event invites the community to celebrate not just his words on the page, but also his presence as a neighbor whose legacy still resonates in Town today.
By gathering to remember Isaac Bashevis Singer during the Town’s 90th Anniversary Year, Surfside not only pays tribute to a Nobel Laureate but also reaffirms its place in the cultural map as a community where art, history, and everyday life come together in meaningful ways.
Singerfest will begin on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. with a Book Club sponsored by the Community Relations Board. University of Texas Professor Itzik Gottesman, an expert on Yiddish literature, will lead the discussion and reading of Bashevis Singer works set in South Florida. Following the Book Club, the Resort Tax Board will sponsor a Reception featuring a short film screening, live Klezmer music, drinks and a light bite. It is our honor to celebrate the life and legacy of a remarkable Surfsider and literary giant, Isaac Bashevis Singer. Follow@visitsurfside for more information.
Singerfest is presesnted in partnership with the Miami Book Fair. which features extensive programming on Jewish authors, life and culture.
As part of the partnership, you can pick up FREE tickets to the 2025 Street Fair taking place Nov. 21-22. Click here to learn more.
.png?sfvrsn=1a061d94_1 "Singerfest 2025 - Flyer (4)")