Jewish Book Month:
Celebrating Jewish Voices,
Page by Page
Happy Jewish Book Month! That’s right – November is not only for celebrating Thanksgiving with loved ones as the leaves fall and the weather gets colder. It’s a time to celebrate Jewish literature with your fellow book lovers.
Our Baltimore Jewish community has come together with some fantastic Jewish-themed book recommendations that are perfect for cozy evenings in or sharing with your book club. These book recommendations all center on Jewish themes. Some are light reads, while others offer deep and thought-provoking insights.
So grab a warm drink, find your favorite reading spot and get ready to immerse yourself in these enriching reads.
Marry Me Midnight by Felicia Grossman
Recommended by Parker Schnell, Young Leadership Council
“In general, I enjoy a good romance novel because these days, it’s nice to know there’s going to be a happy ending. This book and its sequel are your classic Regency Romances but set in Jewish London at the beginning of the 1800s. It’s a gender-reversed ‘Cinderella’ story, but what I find special is that it’s a book about everyday Jews living in everyday times without the story being centered around a historical crisis. I also learned a ton that I never had before about Sephardic and Ashkenazi relations and the differences and similarities in their cultures at that time.”
Interested in joining a book club? The Associated’s Young Adult Division (YAD)* is hosting its first-ever book club! Register to join Books & Banter.
*YAD connects young adults between the ages of 22-39 at all stages of life with opportunities to engage, fundraise and grow as community leaders.
O Jerusalem by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
Recommended by Avi Wolasky, Young Leadership Council
“This book offers a compelling, thrilling and largely objective account of the miraculous establishment of the State of Israel. The book’s narrative style captivates the reader, bringing historical figures to life and enabling a personal connection with them. Through extensive interviews with individuals from all sides of the conflict, the authors weave together multiple storylines, immersing readers in the emotions of the period and enhancing the authenticity and immediacy of the narrative.”
Thanks for Today by Lina Schwarz
Recommended by Erica Zippert, Community Connector
“Our family is head over heels for the PJ Library book Thanks for Today by Lina Schwarz. I’m always a proponent of books with rhyming text and illustrations that represent different families, but I’m especially ecstatic that it exposes my kids to useful Hebrew words and phrases that we now use over and over again! Not to mention that the story emphasizes being grateful and considerate of others, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this book!”
Jewish Priorities – Sixty-Five Priorities for the Future of our People edited by David Hazony
Recommended by Sara Shalva, Chief Arts Officer at the Gordon Center
“This book came out in October of 2023, and I’m so impressed with how compelling the essays are, even after 10/7. Some of the essays are inspiring, others are challenging, all thought-provoking.”
The Lord is My Shepherd by Harold S. Kushner
Recommended by Larraine Bernstein
“This is a feel-good book by Rabbi Kushner who takes apart the twenty third Psalm and shows how it can be not only a comfort for those who are grieving but also helps those who live in fear. I’ve read it several times and always find something new when I do.”
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The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
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