Leah Lax Explained

Leah Lax
Alma Mater:University of Houston
MFA, Creative Writing

Leah Lax (born 1955 or 1956) is an American author and librettist.[1] She is best known for her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home which was later developed as an opera with composer Lori Laitman.[2] [3]

Biography

Lax was born in 1955 or 1956, and grew up in Dallas, Texas.[4] She joined the Lubavitcher Hasidim at sixteen.[5] In 1975, Lax entered an arranged marriage at the age of 19,[6] and remained among the Hasidim for thirty years, bearing seven children.[7] In 2002 she left the community to lead a secular life and live openly as a lesbian.[8] Subsequently, Lax graduated from the University of Houston with an MFA in Creative Writing.[9] She had completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Career

Her interest in writing started while reading anthologies by feminist and lesbian poet Adrienne Rich. Lax started writing in earnest after she underwent a secret abortion to terminate a life-threatening pregnancy.[10] In 2007 Lax co-wrote The Refuge for the Houston Grand Opera with composer Christopher Theofanidis debuted at Houston's Wortham Center.[11] In 2013, she created and designed Houston's In Concert Against Hate for the Houston Symphony In collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League,[12] In 2020, Lax created an opera Uncovered with composer Lori Laitman and director/dramatist Beth Greenberg. Lax wrote the libretto based on her memoir Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home,[13] narrating thirty years as a Hasidic wife, mother, and closeted lesbian.[14] [15]

Uncovered was named Redbook Magazine "Best of 2015".[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Villalpando . Nicole . How Leah Lax left Hasidism, came out as a lesbian and wrote a book . 2022-08-24 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Leah Lax Biography . Potsdam . September 12, 2022.
  3. Web site: White . Emily . March 31, 2022 . Utah State opera premieres 'Uncovered' . 2022-08-25 . The Utah Statesman . en-US.
  4. News: Author Leah Lax: A lesbian girl in an Orthodox world . Naomi . Pfefferman . . 2015-09-02 . 2024-06-14 . In 1975, Leah Lax – 19 and relatively new to Orthodoxy – walked with trepidation into the office of her Orthodox rabbi at the University of Texas at Austin..
  5. Web site: Marloff . Sarah . February 16, 2016 . Uncovering Leah Lax . 2022-08-24 . . en-US.
  6. News: Galehouse . Maggie . August 28, 2015 . After decades as Hasidic Jew, gay Houston author Leah Lax writes new life . 2022-08-24 . . en-US.
  7. News: 'Off the Path' Memoirs of ex-Hasidic Jews Shine Light on Faigy Mayer's World . en . . 2022-08-24.
  8. Web site: Pfefferman . Naomi . September 2, 2015 . Author Leah Lax: A lesbian girl in an Orthodox world . 2022-08-24 . . en-US.
  9. News: Himmelstein . Drew . July 8, 2016 . Author to speak in S.F. about her adios to Hasidic world . 2022-08-24 . J . en-US.
  10. Web site: August 9, 2015 . Off the path: Ex-Hasid memoirs shine a spotlight on Faigy Mayer's world . 2022-08-24 . . en-US.
  11. News: Blumenthal . Ralph . November 12, 2007 . Not From Here: An Opera for Houston's Immigrants . en-US . . 2022-08-24 . 0362-4331.
  12. Web site: ADL awes audience in centennial celebration . 2022-08-25 . Jewish Herald-Voice.
  13. Web site: March 30, 2022 . USU Opera Premieres 'Uncovered' . 2022-08-25 . Utah State Today . en.
  14. Web site: Enszer . Julie R. . October 8, 2015 . 'Uncovered: How I left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home' by Leah Lax . 2022-08-25 . . en.
  15. Web site: 2015 . Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home Jewish Book Council . 2022-08-25 . . en.
  16. Web site: December 29, 2015 . The 20 Best Books By Women in 2015 . 2022-08-25 . . en-US.

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