Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
  • The New York Times divulges author Nathan Englander’s Sunday routine.
  • Speaking of Nathan Englander, not everyone will agree with Adam Kirsch’s take on his latest work, but you can’t deny that Kirsch’s conclusion is tantalizing and provocative: “Perhaps the great Jewish fiction of the near future will have to be less psychological and social than is currently the norm, and more explicitly political. And perhaps the great dividing line in contemporary Jewish life is not the one between religious and secular Jews, but between those who see themselves as members of a historical Jewish nation, and those who find such an identity archaic or delusional.”
  • JTA, “the global news service of the Jewish people,” is hiring.
  • New graduate program in Jewish cultural arts.
  • Deborah Feldman’s new memoir, Unorthodox, is making waves. Read all about it.
  • Shabbat shalom!

    7 thoughts on “Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    1. Carol says:

      I looked up Deborah Feldman. Another crab crunching ex-Chassid making a fast buck by revealing the sex secrets of the Satmars The half dozen or so pages, I read on Amazon left me cold. Feldman’s prose is as flat as a chappati, overloaded with telling and instead of showing and I’m not even touching my philosophical beef with her and how books like Feldman’s only arm the anti Semites, Jewish and otherwise. If you want a great read about disaffected Chassidim, pick up”The Romance Reader” by Pearl Abraham by far the best in this genre.

    2. You know, I’ve been meaning to read THE ROMANCE READER for years (since I met Pearl Abraham at a conference). Thanks for the reminder and recommendation.

      1. Janet Janal says:

        Hi Erika. I am a writer passionate about exploring hatred and antisemitism in all the subtle forms it takes in our day– as a matter of fact, it is my passion my purpose. I present real life instances and without insulting the reader, I explore what ever the situation there is, heartlessly if necessary, but, I never insult my reader by telling them what to think. There is so much hatred in our world and my job is to present it — and try — though it is sometimes impossible — to look for something good, so the story is uplifting.

        I’ve put together approximately 10 stories. I think what I am doing is unique. I’ve never seen anybody writing about hatred as a form of fiction, or antisemitism for that matter. I’d love to sit down with you and tell you how my perspective came to be. It would, however, suffice to tell me where I might go to get some of these stories out there. There is a common thread that runs through them.

        1. Erika Dreifus says:

          Thanks for your comment, Janet. Unfortunately, I can’t help you directly, but I hope that these resources on where to publish your work, and these spotlighting publications that feature Jewish-themed content, will help.

          1. Janet Janal says:

            Dear Erika.

            Thank you for taking the time to write. I will try to find the stories a home so other people might benefit from them. I’m told the perspective is unique and intelligent. I’m just getting started. Getting a good response helps.

            Regards,
            Janet Janal

        2. Janet Janal says:

          I am not sure you recieved my post. The notation states that there is some modification is required. Thank you.

    3. Janet Janal says:

      Hi. just wanted to add that there are no misleading references to anti-semitism or hatred in the book. In fact, in the first instance, a reader might miss that message altogether. In essence the stories are told through the events within. I’m dismally tired of overt inquiries in a fictional genre that change nothing, teach us nothing and leave us flat with the rerdundency of an overt message, which is further and predictably numbing. (The exception being those who do it well) Thank for the opportunity to clarify. Best regards, Janet Janal

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