Celebrating Jewish Book Month
Once upon a time…don’t some of the best stories start that way? Once upon a time, about 26 years ago, a small band of intrepid book lovers decided to start a book festival as a program of our local Jewish Federation. They started off in 1999 with 16 events celebrating November’s Jewish Book Month, including author presentations, panel discussions, book fairs and theatre. Their continuing efforts proved so successful that the November 8, 2002 issue of the Jewish Journal ran a story with the headline, “This year, Los Angeles’ most ambitious book festival will take place outside the city.”
Twenty-six years later, our Jewish Federation’s Jewish Book Festival continues to support Jewish literature, encourage cultural understanding, promote pride in our history and heritage, and make a lasting impact on our community. Using the resources of our Jewish Book Council (JBC), which sends authors to over 130 communities across North America, the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Book Festival Committee decided which authors to bring to our 26th Festival. They watched over 270 authors via Zoom, who were limited to two minutes each to influence the committee to choose them for the Festival. It’s speed-dating, or speed-dating by committee! As one might imagine, there were some spirited debates among these Jewish women on the committee who are passionate about books. Eventually, the committee came to a consensus and assembled a fabulous list of authors guaranteed to enlighten, educate, inspire, and entertain.
The Jewish Book Festival Committee brings our community together with a broad range of topics appealing to varied interests. This year is no different. What does a story of resilience and heroism in Nazi Germany (“Two Wheels to Freedom”), a murder mystery in Central America (“The Rabbi Wore a Collar”), a multigenerational tale in West Virginia set against the backdrop of a government cover-up (“In the Shadow of the Greenbriar”), and a ghost with stories of the Russian Revolution have in common (“Mother Doll”)? Or a TV producer (“Reach”), a Federal Judge (“Vision”), and a member of San Francisco’s Beat Generation (Father Verses Sons)? Vegan food (“Nosh”), a 19th Century crime boss (“The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum”), and Moroccan-Israelis who modeled themselves after the Black Panthers (“Israel’s Black Panthers”)? Jazz masters (‘The Jazzmen”), the Spanish Inquisition (“South of Sepharad”), and a big-box store (“Help Wanted”)? Are you intrigued? Community members have the opportunity to hear about all of these during this year’s Jewish Book Festival. There will even be an event dedicated to the atrocities of last year’s October 7 attack to allow our community to delve further into trying to understand this unfathomable occurrence from stories directly from the real-life people who experienced them.
During the first few years, some Jewish Book Festival events were held at private homes, but our community quickly outgrew them. The Jewish Book Festival has also held events at universities, museums, clubs (faculty, night and country) and bookstores (some of which are still in existence). This year, the 26th Annual Jewish Book Festival, our celebration of Jewish literature, values, and heritage, will take place at seven synagogues, a return to the University of La Verne, the Jewish Federation’s offices in Monrovia, as well as via two Zoom-only presentations.
Some events have become traditions which are being continued with this year’s festival. Our opening event at Temple Sholom of Ontario includes a bagel brunch hosted by their Sisterhood. We enjoy a festive Saturday night at Temple Beth Israel in Pomona. The Temple Beth David Sisterhood makes dishes out of our featured cookbook—this year it’s “NOSH” by Micah Sivah. The family of Lynn Zeller (z’’l), who was a valued member of the Book Festival Committee from 2001 to 2009, sponsors a memorial event at Temple Ami Shalom in West Covina. The Book Festival partners with the University of La Verne for its annual Kristallnacht commemoration program by arranging a Holocaust-themed author presentation. Our final event will take place at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, with music provided by the Amy Rowe Trio, is preceded by a reception for our Literary Circle. And, as always, presentations of family programs with notable children’s book authors to entertain all.
We continue to grow and innovate. Two years ago, we added our One Book, One Community event at Temple Sinai of Glendale. This year we are excited to introduce a new local authors event at Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, featuring 5 Jewish Southern California writers. This will be an opportunity to have authors living around us and in our own neighborhoods a chance to show what they do, and for our community members to experience several authors at one event.
Not just once upon a time, but now and for all time, we are passionate about our books. Come meet our talented authors, ask them your questions, have them sign your books, and don’t forget to NOSH and schmooze with friends from across our region! We welcome you to join us and take pride in our community and our heritage.
Shelley Klein is the Jewish Book Festival Committee Chair and a contributing writer to JLife Magazine.
