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.

• “After a twelve-year hiatus, Parchment, the only literary journal devoted to contemporary Canadian Jewish writing, is back!” In a recent episode of the Tête-à-tête podcast, “host Jonathan Slater sits down with Parchment’s new editor-in-chief, Orly Zebak.”
• From Jessica Kasmer-Jacobs: “Excited to announce I’ve launched a literary agency: Blueprint Literary, based in Tel Aviv, representing Jewish, Israeli, Arab-Israeli, and Palestinian authors. blueprintliterary.com“
• Speaking of literary agencies: I always look forward to the Jewish/Israeli-book info that’s packed into the Deborah Harris Agency’s newsletters. Here’s the latest edition, which arrived late last week.
• ICYMI: A couple of weeks ago, I was scheduled to be in conversation with Maya Arad on the subject of her novel Happy New Years (trans. Jessica Cohen), one of my favorite 2025 reads. When I had to withdraw, my colleague Gilly Segal stepped in, and she did a phenomenal job. Catch the recorded conversation, part of the “Read with JWI x AAA” series, on YouTube.
• And the UK-based Wingate Foundation “invites submissions for the 2027 Literary Prize worth £4,000,” recognizing “books of Jewish interest, both fiction and non-fiction,” that meet the guidelines stipulated. Deadline: June 26. NB: This award opportunity is just one of dozens of fee-free and paying/funded competitions and calls included in the June edition of The Practicing Writer 2.0, which went out to all subscribers last Sunday.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat shalom.