CATEGORY
Books
“Bubie’s in Bidud” (Grandma’s in Isolation) — A Delightful Children’s Book by Karen Guth
I have known Karen Guth for many years, both as a friend and as a fellow English teacher in Israel.
Neal Shusterman on Judaism, the Pandemic, and his Latest Book
Eve Rotman - 0
“My rabbi once said that my stories always seem to have a lot of Talmudic thought in them.”
Connecting the Past to the Present
Stephanie Dray’s ambitious historical novel, “The Women of Chateau Lafayette” links three indomitable women over history.
Book Review: The Story of Esther Meets the Story of America
No other biblical text is richer with meaning for American Jews than the Book of Esther, as Rabbi Dr. Stuart W. Halpern points out.
Jake Cohen’s Debut Cookbook is a Love Letter to His Husband, Family and Judaism
Nice Jewish professional chef, Jake Cohen, always had a love for cooking. Rushing home every day as a teenager to watch “Barefoot Contessa,” the...
Melanie Chartoff Exposes Herself in Debut Memoir ‘Odd Woman Out’
Melanie Chartoff never intended on writing a book. With a multi-decade career as a voice-over, TV, film and stage actor, writing her life’s journey...
Top Children’s Books Feature a Passover Tale and 2 Coming-of-Age Debut Novels
A heartwarming and beautifully illustrated Passover tale and two poignant coming-of-age debut novels are this year’s gold medal winners of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards for the best in Jewish children’s literature.
Book Review: “I’m Not the Boss, I Just Work Here”
Sometimes, a book that is exactly what is needed right now appears. “I’m Not the Boss, I Just Work Here” is one of those books, providing much-needed relief to those suffering from depression and threatened with financial ruin due to COVID-19.
Eric Weiner Searches for Life Lessons in ‘Socrates Express’
When Eric Weiner chronicled his latest hunt for wisdom, the adventure had lasting impact. Despite his previous titles, The Geography of Bliss, The Geography...
Book Review: ‘Sergeant Salinger’
Charyn tells his tale with a wink and nod to the biography of the real J.D. Salinger.
Author Highlights the Horrors – and Hope – in the Spanish Inquisition in New Novel
In 2016, author Cambria Gordon, her husband and their youngest child left Los Angeles to take a yearlong sabbatical in Madrid.
Shechter Finds the Holiness Within the Mundane
This book sheds light on parts of the Jewish tradition that we had not sufficiently appreciated before.
New Book of Short Stories Reflects Contemporary Women’s Experiences
“The stories are written in a way that is relatable, honest and entertaining.” — Corie Adjmi
Book Review: ‘Sapiens: A Graphic History’
The latest manifestation of the “Sapiens” publishing enterprise is “Sapiens: A Graphic History”, a series that tells much of the same sweeping saga in comic-book format.
A Middle-Grade Book on the 1492 Expulsion: An Interview with Gail Carson Levine
Eve Rotman - 0
Famous for “Ella Enchanted,” author Gail Carson Levine discusses her latest book on the Spanish Inquisition.
Twenty of the Best 2020 (Non-Holiday) Jewish Books for Kids
Here’s a list of excellent 2020 books that we hope will not be overlooked due to shuttered schools, libraries and bookstores.
‘Tales of the Holy Mysticat’ Provides a Fresh Take on Jewish Mysticism
Adler employs both wit and wisdom in using the Mysticat to explore the inner meaning of Jewish wisdom.
‘Golem Girl’ Vividly Illustrates a Life Spent Overcoming Disabilities
Lehrer’s memoir deserves to be saluted as an all-too-rare example of a book that shows us what a remarkable human being can be glimpsed if we only peel away the clinical label of “disabled.”
Sisters, Secrets and Shivah in the Novel ‘Evening’
Nessa Rapoport tells her tales with utter clarity and dignity, and yet her prose also is charged with energy, emotion and sly humor.
Watching the Wall Between Church and State Crumble
A review of the book “The Religion Clauses: The Case for Separating Church and State.”
Novel’s Russian Jews Find Rough Going in Israel
The setting of “Jerusalem as a Second Language,” a new novel by Rochelle Distelheim (Aubade Publishing), harks back to a remarkable moment in history.
Timothy Snyder Ties Freedom to Health in ‘Our Malady’
“Health and history” is how Timothy Snyder describes the focal point of his latest book, “Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty From a Hospital Diary”...
Isabel Wilkerson’s New Book ‘Caste’ Clings to the Past
Wilkerson sees her focus on caste as an X-ray, illuminating the invisible, unchanging dimensions of American life.
The Struggle for a Jewish History of the Holocaust
They were most willing to confront the dark side of Jewish behavior. Dworzecki’s admonishment: “Remain Silent or tell the whole truth.”
Excerpt: When Natan Sharansky Met Nelson Mandela
ON FEBRUARY 11, 1990, FOUR YEARS TO THE DAY
after my release, the South African government freed Nelson Mandela. He had served twenty-seven years in...
A Conversation With Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy
Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy, co-authors of “Never Alone,” spoke with Jewish Journal book editor Jonathan Kirsch via Zoom from Jerusalem.
New Memoir Reveals Natan Sharansky’s Life as a Jewish Activist
From Russia came the first pioneers of the Jewish state in modern Israel, including Chaim Weizmann, David Ben-Gurion, Ze’ev Jabotinsky and Golda Meir, all...
NYT Bestselling Author and Holocaust Survivor Edith Eger on Her Self-Help Book ‘The Gift’
A Holocaust survivor with an extraordinary story, her self-help book is titled “The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life.”
Something for Everyone in ‘Night Archer’ Stories
We first came to know Michael Oren as a historian and the author of best-selling history books such as “Power, Faith, and Fantasy” and...
‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ Makes the Case for Soviet Influence in the Trials
Hirsch argues that the Soviet role has been neglected or even misstated in previous accounts, both in academic scholarship and popular culture.
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