Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • One of this week’s favorite reads: Roz Chast’s “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” in The New Yorker.
  • Just in time for Purim, Rebecca Klempner shares some literary lessons from the Book of Esther.
  • Superb profile of Molly Antopol by Sandee Brawarsky for The Jewish Week. (I’ve finally bought Antopol’s The UnAmericans–now I just need to find the time to read it!)
  • From the same source that brought us the PJ Library: “The Massachusetts-based Harold Grinspoon Foundation recently launched Maktabat al-Fanoos, Arabic for Lantern Library, which provides Arabic children’s books to Arab Israeli children in kindergarten and pre-K.”
  • I’m unfortunately not likely to make it to this event, but if you’re in New York, you may want to try to attend “Making it New: Contemporary Novelists and the Jewish Literary Tradition,” a program that will feature Jonathan Rosen, Tova Mirvis, and Josh Lambert ($10 admission fee).
  • Shabbat shalom.

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    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • This Fiction Writers Review interview with Molly Antopol heightened my interest in Antopol’s debut story collection The UnAmericans (although my interest level was already pretty high). Note the segment in which Antopol answers the question, “So do you consider The UnAmericans a Jewish book?” (On a related note: I have a guest post this week on The Whole Megillah in which I reflect [again] on what defines a “Jewish story.”)
  • Joanna Chen’s essay for the Los Angeles Review of Books introduced me to the poetry of Agi Mishol.
  • If, like me, you missed the chance to see the Elif Batuman/Gary Shteyngart double-feature at the 92nd Street Y earlier this month, you can catch the video here.
  • You’ve probably seen plenty of laudatory reviews of Ari Shavit’s My Promised Land (including some cited here on My Machberet). More recently, I’ve caught two less enthusiastic takes: one on The Daily Beast and one from Moment magazine. See what you think about them.
  • And last, but definitely not least: the latest Jewish Book Carnival, hosted most graciously by the Jewish Book Council.
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • In which Philip Roth rejects (again) the notion that he is an “American-Jewish writer.”
  • B’nai B’rith magazine is looking for a Deputy Editor; at the same time, B’nai B’rith International seeks a Digital Media Strategist. (Both positions are in Washington.)
  • Renee Ghert-Zand reminds us of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s notable “Jewish role” in the Australian clay animation film Mary & Max.
  • “Kaddish for the Last Survivor,” a short story by Michael A. Burstein.
  • An artful piece on “Searching for a Rabbi” by Richard Chess.
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • Mazel tov to the winners and other honorees cited among this year’s Sydney Taylor Book Awards titles.
  • Harold Bloom really likes Peter Cole’s latest poetry book.
  • Nice interview with Janice Weizmann, editor of the Israel-based journal The Ilanot Review.
  • I no longer live in the Garden State, but I still consider New Jersey Jewish News my hometown Jewish newspaper; I’m intrigued by this profile of Peter Waldor, insurance executive & poet, and winner of the National Jewish Book Award in poetry.
  • And a little something from me: a piece about “Why I’m Going to See an ‘Anti-Israel’ Play,” published on The Forward’s “Arty Semite” blog this week.
  • Shabbat shalom.