Reminder from Fig Tree Books (where I am Media Editor): There’s a giveaway going on now for readers interested in early copies of Abigail Pogrebin’s My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew. (And if you’re a librarian/reviewer/bookseller, we’ve got digital galleys for you to request, too.)
Coming soon: the #Readukkah challenge. Learn all about it over on the Association of Jewish Libraries website.
And applications are open for a number of compelling lit-related summer programs at the Yiddish Book Center. There’s the Great Jewish Books program for high-school students. There’s a Creative Writing program for twentysomethings. And there’s a program for writers of Children’s Literature–blessedly open to us old fogies, too.
Attention, young Canadians (ages 18-29). Here’s an essay contest for you, from the Canadian Jewish News. No entry fees. Cash prizes. Deadline: October 27, 2016.
I’m holding out for my print copy to get here, but the latest issue of the Jewish Review of Books is now online (limited free access for non-subscribers).
And last, but least: This week brought an extra-special edition of the Fig Tree Books newsletter, with all sorts of preview content from Abigail Pogrebin’s forthcoming My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew. The perfect way to approach the forthcoming Jewish New Year!
Speaking of Rosh Hashanah–let me wish you all a Shanah Tovah–as well as a Shabbat Shalom.
A beautiful essay “on what a dying language leaves behind” (the dying language in this case being Ladino), by Rachel Hall. (Bonus: a radio broadcast in which Rachel discusses her forthcoming book of short fiction.)
Reminder: The June 30 deadline for Moment magazine’s editorial fellowship is approaching.
In this week’s mail: the latest issue of the Jewish Review of Books (some content can be accessed online).
And for those of us who missed the latest conference of the Association of Jewish Libraries, the #AJLCon16 hashtag provides some highlights.
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam CohenEvery Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety. This week, many folks are already offline for the conclusion of Passover; I’m forging on nonetheless.
Deadline approaching (6pm, Pacific time, this evening) for Poetry Super Highway’s 18th annual Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) issue.
If you have the good luck to be in the environs of the Yiddish Book Center on Sunday, you can enjoy their Community Open House, which will feature “Is There Such a Thing as Jewish Literature?”—an address by Adam Kirsch.
“In ‘Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story’ Mr. [Matti] Friedman has written a top-notch account of [the First Lebanon War], persuasively arguing that it heralded a new style of combat in the Middle East, though no one knew it at the time.” A terrific review for a book I’m hoping to read very, very soon.”
“LETTERS TO SALA, Arlene Hutton’s stirring drama about a New York family coming to grips with the sudden disclosure of its matriarch’s hidden Holocaust past will have two concert performances on May 15 at 12 P.M. and 3:30 P.M. at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.” I’ve seen the play, and I recommend it, highly.
