My Machberet

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“Machberet” is the Hebrew word for notebook. Since it’s also (appropriately) one of the very first words I learned in my first Hebrew school in Brooklyn (and, until I returned to language study well into adulthood, one of the few conversational Hebrew words I still remembered), I’ve chosen it to title this blog, where I offer write-ups on Jewish news (especially of the literary sort) and occasional commentary.

Jewish Literary Links: Upcoming Opportunities Edition

by Erika Dreifus on November 30, 2023

plain blue-white graphic announcing upcoming Jewish-writing opportunities

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.

I hit “send” for the December 2023 issue of The Practicing Writer 2.0 earlier this morning. Among the dozens of fee-free (and paying) opportunities listed there are several that focus on developing and/or recognizing Jewish work.

The Jewish Book Council & The Betsy Writers Room Inaugural Writer’s Residency Contest (deadline: December 7).
Being Jewish on Campus: A Student Writing Challenge (deadline: December 31).
Lilith Magazine Annual Short Fiction Contest (deadline: December 31).
Reboot Studios Project Fund (deadline: December 31).

Reminder: As I’ve said before, Jewish work can (and does!) find homes in “secular” or other not-necessarily-“Jewish” publications, presses, and programs. So be sure to check out all of the other opportunities listed in this newsletter issue, too.

Shabbat shalom.

Words of the Week: Ilya Shapiro

by Erika Dreifus on November 27, 2023

“Sometimes ‘speech’ isn’t speech. Sometimes it rises to the level of conduct that prevents others from being able to live their lives. Right now we need people to discern the difference.”

Source: Ilya Shapiro, “Where Free Speech Ends and Lawbreaking Begins” (The Free Press; note, at the post’s conclusion, an editorial reference to “another view”).

Jewish Literary Links

by Erika Dreifus on November 23, 2023

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.

Ahead of the upcoming holiday, peruse “The Festival of Lights: 21 Mighty Girl Hanukkah Books.”
New York City-based Congregation Ramath Orah “is seeking a part-time Newsletter Editor/Communications Associate to support our shul for about 3-4 hours/week. Duties may be completed 100% remotely.” Compensation: “$60/week ($20/hr).”
With kibbutzim in the news, there’s a timely, education-oriented Goodreads giveaway going on right now for Jessamyn Hope’s 2015 novel Safekeeping.
Timed to coincide with Jewish Book Month, this recent panel discussion featured Allegra Goodman, Dani Shapiro and Ruth Knafo Setton with Hadassah Magazine Executive Editor Lisa Hostein on the topic of what makes a book Jewish. (I’m hoping to watch the recording asap myself.)
And a reminder that I continue to update the document-in-progress titled “After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and More.” Among this week’s additions: “Reflections on October 7,” a collection of pieces by Israeli writers published over on Tablet magazine. (Hoping for the recording of an event featuring these writers to be made available soon—the event was excellent.)

Wishing everyone a Shabbat shalom.

Words of the Week: Seth Pinsky

by Erika Dreifus on November 21, 2023

“For a long time, we’ve made the decision that we’re not going to welcome people who are racist to our stage. We’re not going to welcome people who are homophobic or people who are misogynistic to our stage….We have adopted a policy of continuing to welcome diverse perspectives to our stage, including those of people who are critical of Israel. And we’ve essentially drawn only one red line. The red line is that if you actively call for the destruction of the State of Israel, or question its legitimacy, then you’re welcome to have that opinion in the world, but we’re not going to give it a platform.”

—Seth Pinsky, quoted in “92NY Splits With the Cultural Elite” (New York Magazine)

Jewish Literary Links

by Erika Dreifus on November 16, 2023

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.

A don’t-miss update from Julie Zuckerman, including a reminder about this weekend’s upcoming Literary Modiin Solidarity with Israel session.
If you haven’t yet read Howard Lovy’s Substack post on “Antisemitism in the Literary Community,” please do (and take note of Lovy’s new book project).
And if you haven’t already seen it, I shared “18 Ways to Address Antisemitism in Your Literary Life,” a handout that accompanied my recent Jewish Book Council presentation, over on the Practicing Writing blog yesterday. (Note, too, that I continue to update the document-in-progress titled “After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and More.”)
Reminder: It’s Jewish Book Month! And if you’re on Twitter, I’ve been sharing #JewishBookMonth posts there daily.
And the latest Jewish Book Carnival went live yesterday, hosted for November by Gila Green.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat shalom. #AmYisraelChai. And #BringThemHomeNow.

Words of the Week: Gili Dolev

by Erika Dreifus on November 14, 2023

Gili Dolev on i24 News English. It’s not only the words, but the images in the animated short “Mama Bear” that you won’t be able to forget. I haven’t been able to get the film out of my mind since I caught this segment several days ago. UPDATED TO ADD DIRECT LINK TO THE DISCRETE SHORT; note the warning that this is NOT suitable for children.