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A wonderful joke is told about a rabbi who, on the occasion of his retirement, tells his congregation that he now looks forward to finishing his book. "Rabbi," the excited congregation replies, "we didn't know you were writing a book." To which the Rabbi replies: "Not writing - READING!"All of us are so very busy that the books we want to read more often than not end up in a big stack somewhere at work or home. What we may need is a gentle push, something I hope to provide through the Jewish Book Circle. Each month we will face the task of reading one significant Jewish book together, and we will have a chance to share that experience through postings here on this blog. (A blog is simply a website where everyone can read what everyone writes. If you're new to blogs, you'll catch on quickly!)
The books we read will be largely non-fiction but occasionally a particularly noteworthy piece of fiction will slip through. We'll try to avoid overly-long books, too, which can be daunting, as well as books that are too academic. We'll also favor books available in less-expensive softcover editions, but not always. We do, after all, want to read really interesting stuff, and not always wait for the paperback version to arrive.
So welcome to the Jewish Book Circle! I look forward to your suggestions, book ideas and, most of all, postings as we explore some truly great Jewish books! Please check back Nov. 1 for our first selection.
—Rabbi Rosen
this is a great idea. However, I have one problem and that is that for the most part there will be no fiction on the list. What a shame--particularly given the embarrassment of riches that today is called Jewish fiction. I'm thinking of SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ, THOSE WHO SAVE US, THE HISTORY OF LOVE, THE WORLD TO COME, THE TREE OF LIFE (a fictionalization of life in the Lodz ghetto, where the author, Chava Rosenfarb, was incarcerated for four years before being deported to Auschwitz--it's brilliant! but there are ever so many others, and I hope these will be seriously considered in this absolutely wondrous endeavor.//julia
ReplyDeletep.s. I forgot to add that in truth fiction is not escapism, but a way of engaging fully with reality. And there are plenty of examples that might be added to the books mentioned in my earlier comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm open to good fiction, but for the purpose of our Jewish Book Circle, I think even a book of fiction has to be instructive, i.e., not just fiction about characters who happen to be Jewish but for whom the Jewish or historical context is vital. Certainly older books like "The Fixer" by Bernard Malamud or "The Source" by James Michener would fall into that category. I may need your help finding newer such books. Thank you very much for the comment.
ReplyDeleteYes, Rabbi, I agree with you completely about the need for Jewish fiction to be instructive--and the books I mentioned are just that! I learn a lot from reading fiction, biography, and autobiography--especially Holocaust-related work.
ReplyDeleteWonder if you were to allow some questions from the audiance after the book sermon, say 5 questions on a wireless mike, if that would bring more folks to that service. That is outside the box yet, worth the experiment. GaryC
ReplyDeleteFor non-fiction I particularly recommend Samuel Sassow's WHO WILL WRITE OUR HISTORY? It's about Emanuel Ringelblum and the Oyneg Shabbes Archive--about life in the Warsaw Ghetto. Ringelblum's rarely noticed archive, most of it buried in the ghetto in milk cans, gives an excellent, well-organized picture of all that came before the great losses that occurred. Just a suggestion . . .
ReplyDeleteHI Rabbi Rosen.
ReplyDeleteI would like to suggest the beautifully written novel (although very informative) 'Songs for the Butcher's Daughter' by Peter Manseau. This book has been chosen for the Community Read for this year's Book Fair. Mr Manseau will be speaking and answering questions on November 5th.
Sue Goott
Please don't add the Q&A about the book to Shabbat services. I don't know how many people this will apply to and would only lengthen our service.
ReplyDeleteI second the nomination of SONGS FOR THE BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER and am thrilled that the author will be at Book Fair on the 5th.
ReplyDeleteas for Q&A, why not have them after the regular service is over?
I'm not sure where the Q&A idea came from, but not me! What I wrote is that a sermon each month will be devoted to the book we are reading. When I post each month's new book, I will also state on which Friday/Saturday I will talk about the book. Thanks for all the fantastic comments!
ReplyDeleteI think this book club is a fabulous idea. I'm enjoying Sarah's Key and look forward to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteI finished reading Sarah's Key last night and highly recommend it. It was so good that I could hardly put it down!
ReplyDelete