Jewish Literary Links
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.
(more…)My Machberet
“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.
Images of the Week
I’ve just returned from a trip to Israel. Among the lasting impressions from this trip are mental imprints from a “War Diary” video installation that I sat through multiple times over the course of two visits to ANU/Museum of the Jewish People. The video includes 300 news photos shot in the Gaza Envelope region after the October 7 massacre and during the ensuing war. (Suffice to say that these are a genre of photos you’ve not seen featured regularly on the front pages of The New York Times or The Washington Post.)
Twenty-first-century technology makes it possible for me to share these images with you. Your encounter will be different for multiple reasons—not least because viewing on your phone or laptop cannot possibly be the same as seeing the images projected on a dedicated wall at the museum, as part of an exhibition titled “October Seventh.”
One other difference, though, you can try to bridge.
(more…)Jewish Literary Links
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.
(more…)Words of the Week: Holocaust Museums
“Hate crimes against American Jews have tripled since Hamas’ unprovoked terrorist attack against Israeli civilians on October 7th, 2023, with many of those crimes motivated by inaccurate allegations of genocide against Israel. Our mission to guard the memory of Holocaust Survivors and victims requires clarity on what does and does not constitute genocide, especially where misconceptions lead to hateful acts of antisemitism.”
Jewish Literary Links
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.
- The Lehrhaus “is pleased to announce a call for submissions to our 2024 Short Story Contest.” Deadline: July 31. (Thanks to Merri Ukraincik for the tip; I’ll be listing this contest, along with dozens of not-necessarily-“Jewish” opportunities, in the July edition of The Practicing Writer 2.0, which will go out to subscribers Sunday.)
- The Canadian Jewish News is seeking a full-time news reporter based in Montreal.
- This week has brought a new statement from the Authors Guild that condemns “censoring, threatening, or blacklisting authors.” Note: “The Authors Guild takes strategic legal actions when authors are censored based on their views, religious or national affiliation, race, gender, or sexual identity, and we step in to provide legal assistance to members when their rights are being violated or ignored. Our legal actions serve to protect all authors regardless of changes in the political or social climate over time. The Guild encourages members and other authors who are experiencing censorship to reach out to us for support and to keep us abreast of what you are experiencing so that we may take action.” Contact info appears within the post. (Related reminder: The Jewish Book Council has also implemented a mechanism for reporting antisemitism in the literary world.)
- Recommended reading from Aviya Kushner: Breaking the Glass: A Contemporary Jewish Poetry Anthology.
- Speaking of poetry: “Things I Need to Hear Right Now (After Nine Days in Jerusalem)” is a poignant, powerful poem by Evonne Marzouk.
Updated this week: both “After October 7: Readings, Recordings, and More” and “Writers, Beware.”
Shabbat shalom.