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Author Lenny Ackerman will talk about and sign copies of his new book, “Leibisch’s Journey,” in an event at the Hedges Inn in East Hampton on Tuesday. Ackerman’s book tells tells the true story of his father, Leibisch, who, at age 12, was forced to flee his home in Ukraine during the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. COURTESY THE AUTHOR
On Tuesday, August 5, at 4 p.m., author Lenny Ackerman will be at the Hedges Inn in East Hampton to take part in a book talk and signing event for his new book “Leibisch’s Journey.” Carolyn Brody will moderate the discussion. All proceeds from the event will benefit Project Most.
Ackerman’s book tells the gripping, true story of his father, Leibisch, who, at age 12, was forced to flee his home in Ukraine during the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. Intending to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Sydney, who had emigrated to the U.S. four years earlier, Leibisch sets out alone, carrying little more than a knapsack with some food, a packet of Sydney’s letters and the precious ritual objects given to him by his father for a Bar Mitzvah the following year.
Traveling west via a battle-scarred, patchwork railway system, Leibisch makes his way through the villages and towns of Ukraine, Poland and Germany to the port of Hamburg, where he hopes to board a steamship to America. But an unexpected, tragic event during the final spasms of World War I changes everything. Diverted by 5,000 miles and delayed by five years, Leibisch’s long journey to America shapes the complicated, driven man Leibisch eventually becomes: One who achieves the American Dream yet is forever haunted by the past and the fate of the family he left behind.
Ackerman was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and now divides his time between East Hampton, Danforth, Maine and Palm Beach, Florida. He has practiced real estate law in East Hampton for nearly 50 years, and spends his free time fishing, watercolor painting and writing his weekly column, “Here Back East,” for the Mountain Messenger newspaper in northern California. His most recent books are “Here Back East: Collected Columns from the Mountain Messenger”; “Fishing the Morning”: and “Fishing to Home Waters.”
The Hedges Inn is at 74 James Lane in East Hampton.
Staff Writer on Jul 25, 2025