Erika Dreifus

Toward the end of each week, the My Machberet blog presents a collection of links, drawn primarily from the world of Jewish books and writing.

• Let’s kick things off with some celebratory news: “Natan and Jew­ish Book Coun­cil are thrilled to announce the Sum­mer 2025 Natan Notable Book: As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us by Sarah Hur­witz (Harper­One, Sep­tem­ber 9, 2025).”
• An update about the new memoir by former hostage Eli Sharabi, who was held in captivity for more than a year by Hamas: This week has brought news that an English-language version will be published October 7, 2025. (I’ve asked the publisher to name the translator.)
• I don’t happen to require more motivation to share news about or otherwise support Jewish (including Israeli Jewish) books and writing. But if you might benefit from a nudge, Amy Klein’s new interview with Jersualem-based literary agent Deborah Harris should do the trick.
• ICYMI: I don’t think that I’ve yet shared the latest newsletter from The Artists Against Antisemitism, which went out last week and includes, among other things, information about the upcoming inaugural Jewish Writers Mifgash.
• And let’s conclude, as we began, with something else from the Jewish Book Council, which is “accept­ing pro­pos­als for author-led pan­els for the 2025 JBC Vir­tu­al Writ­ers’ Con­fer­ence, which will take place Sun­day, Novem­ber 23rd, and Mon­day, Novem­ber 24th, 2025….All select­ed orga­niz­ers, mod­er­a­tors, and pan­elists will receive free admis­sion” to the conference. Deadline: August 2.

And, again, updates have continued for both “After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and More” and “Writers, Beware.”

Shabbat shalom.