Book publishers know that the marketplace is full of Jewish customers with a high level of secular education, a reasonable degree of Jewish awareness and strong aesthetic sensibilities. And now they\’re having children.
America\’s sense of self-definition has been on display more blatantly than ever, it seems. Led by our administration, we have embraced the \”cowboy\” ethic: seemingly down-home while at the same time unilaterally aggressive.
Solid proof that Jew-hating is on the rise is the number of nonfiction titles publishers are releasing on the subject.
\”The Blessing of a Broken Heart\” gives the struggle a precious face and, at the same time, illustrates the power of Jewish faith, ritual and community to heal.
It\’s official. American Jews are now the People of the Book Festival.
Nowadays, literature in general — and Jewish literature in particular — have become much more public entertainments.
\”I would prefer to marry someone who\’s Jewish,\” Cindy Chupack said, because most Jews have a \”built-in sense of humor, just because we\’ve had to develop one; it\’s one of our survival instincts or something.\” She finds humor really sexy, and likes Jewish family values, \”but we haven\’t cornered the market on that,\” she said.
With chapters organized by decades, \”Stars\” devotes chapters to some shopworn but necessary rock pioneers — Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Bob Dylan, Roth — as well as more eclectic entries: late T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan, Lee Oskar of WAR and Phish bassist Mike Gordon, suddenly topical after he was arrested Aug. 16 and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.
Dr. Raymond Jones, a professor of English at the University of Alberta, who teaches literature courses in \”Harry Potter,\” said that is was highly probable that Anthony is Jewish.
The author of \”The Cross and the Pear Tree: A Sephardic Journey,\” a nonfiction work largely about that curse, died in Santa Cruz on June 14. He was 69.
While Louise Steinman was growing up Reform in Culver City, her father seemed unknowable. A taciturn, workaholic pharmacist, he never spoke of his combat experiences in the Pacific. But Asian food was banned from the house and his four children weren\’t allowed to cry in front of him. \”Reminds him of the war,\” his wife said.
