Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

by Erika Dreifus on
1

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • Mazal tov to Richard Chess on the publication of his latest poetry collection. I can’t wait to read Love Nailed to the Doorpost, which Rick recently discussed in this interview.
  • Not sure how I’ve missed this incredible online treasure, but TeachGreatJewishBooks.org is an amazing resource.
  • “This year, feminist Jewish magazine Lilith is celebrating 40 years in print. On March 26, there will be a celebration at Brandeis University, where Lilith’s archives of manuscripts, photographs, letters, cover art, notes, drafts, and much more can be viewed by the public. The celebration will feature a panel which will include Keshet Executive Director Idit Klein. The Sunday afternoon panel is free and open to the public with pre-registration.” More details/RSVP info available here.
  • News from Jerusalem: “Best-selling authors are coming to the Tower of David at the Jaffa Gate for a new series of literary events in English presented in cooperation with The Times of Israel.” (Thanks to @DevorahBlachor for the tip on this one.)
  • And here’s one more Jewish-lit event to share (and this one will be livestreamed): Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin in conversation at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Monday evening, 7:30 pm (New York time).

    • Shabbat shalom, everyone.

    Words of the Week

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    “Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are intersectional challenges. The intersectional justice movement should be doing everything that it can to tackle those issues and to include Jews and Jewish institutions in its advocacy work. Linda Sarsour’s cringe-worthy words, however, are symptomatic of a larger problem within pro-justice movements in the United States.

    The intersectional discourse has empowered activists to form crucial coalitions, center severely marginalized voices, and establish united fronts against formidable enemies. Intersectional movements can generate great solidarity and progress. And yet, activists are allowing the value of these movements to be undermined by a handful of people determined to leverage these causes to promote hatred and exclusion.

    It is time to push back. It is time for intersectionality to include the Jews.”

    Source: Benjamin Gladstone, “It’s Time for Intersectionality to Include the Jews” (Tablet magazine)

    The (Jewish) Plays Are the Thing

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Is it just me, or is it an especially rich time for Jewish theater at the moment? Especially here in New York?

    On Sunday, I had the great privilege of attending a performance of “Through the Darkness: The Story of Four People Who Outran the Holocaust.” Staged at The Workshop Theater, the play is the creation of Alan Breindel, a member of my home congregation. (more…)

    Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • It has been a big week for our team at Fig Tree Books: Abigail Pogrebin’s My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew is officially out in the world. There’s been lots of great press so far. Appearing yesterday: a super Q&A on Gretchen Rubin’s blog (with a special shoutout for Shabbat).
  • This week also brought the latest Jewish Book Carnival, which routinely features news, reviews, and interviews from the Jewish literary blogosphere. (Hosted for March by Barbara Krasner/The Whole Megillah.)
  • A timely look, 50 years later, at “Natan Alterman or Amos Oz? The Six-Day War and Israeli Literature” (by Liam Hoare for Fathom).
  • Two superb “long reads” for the weekend: Maxim D. Shrayer’s Mosaic essay on Russia’s Jews, and Sabine Heinlein’s “The Restless Ghosts of Baiersdorf”.
  • And speaking of long reads—if you’ve never read George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda (or if you want to immerse yourself in it anew), the Tikvah Fund has an online learning opportunity for you.

    • Shabbat shalom, everyone!