Jewish Book Club discussion

What is the Jewish book we need to read in July?
It could be any genre, as long as it's the one we need to read. ☺️

Could we use some comfort? Wisdom? Courage? More knowledge? A little of each, maybe? or even escapism? Is there a missing ingredient we need these days?
If you're like me, sometimes you know the book you need to be reading. Sometimes you flail around for a while.
When you heard this question, maybe you had an idea. Or a gut feeling.
Give us your nomination. Go for it.

Nominations will be taken until we get up to eight, or until May 23, whichever comes first. After we have our nominations, we'll have a poll.

One nomination per person, please.
We're asking for a nomination, not a list of suggestions, but if we get a list we'll take the 1st book on the list as your nomination.
Stacey and I will vet for availability and for whether your nomination is already on our bookshelf.

[Nominations by a book's author or other interested party not accepted

I would like to nominate

Abomination (2022) - Ashley Goldberg

Melbourne 1999: Ezra and Yonatan are best friends, but when their school, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Yahel Academy, is rocked by a scandal they are thrown onto two divergent paths. Twenty years later they are reunited, and the events of their past and present collide.

Hey, Jazzy, good morning (here) and thanks! Very interesting. Lots of Goodreads reviews with 5 or 4 stars, and I found a very comprehensive review on Newton Review of Books. Trouble is the price. Even Kindle is about $14, and price is getting up around $25 or more, even for used, of which there aren't many. I guess it's not widely available in the States. Not in my library either. I saw Google listed it as at Target, but apparently not any longer. Anybody see anything I missed?

Ah, this is what usually happens to me, I find it nearly impossible to find books for a low price and there is no chance of getting it in the library at all. It is Australian, so easier to find there i think! $14 is only £11, and i spent £10 for my ebook. But if no one wants to pay I could find something else.

Jazzy wrote: "Ah, this is what usually happens to me, I find it nearly impossible to find books for a low price and there is no chance of getting it in the library at all. It is Australian, so easier to find the..."

Sadly, I think that would be best. While Kindle is somewhat more reasonable, ebooks and Shabbat reading not good for some, so we usually avoid ones that are only available electronically.

I'll think of one xx

P.S. Jazzy, I remember your talking about Abomination on another discussion. I remember the picture. Will look for that later... Don't be discouraged! If there's somebody else who wants to read it with you, let me know and I'll set up a buddy read.

oh i just got a copy :)
I hadn't realised it would be so hard to find

The Only Woman in the Room by Pnina Lahav: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

How about

Berl Make Tea (1965) - Chaim Bermant

“Chapter 1

One evening I was sitting down to my favourite dish—rice-pudding with a blob of jam—when there was a knock on the door, and in came Mrs Kamenetz-Podolsk.
‘Your wife is out?’ she said.
‘Are you asking me or telling me?’ I said.
‘Half asking half telling, because as a matter of fact I know she’s out, but I want to know when she’s coming back,’ and as she spoke I could see by the look on her face that she knew that too. ‘Berl,’ she said, her voice full of complaint, ‘I’ve been a friend to you and your wife ever since you came here, haven’t I?’
‘You have, Mrs K-P.’
‘And I’ve never kept a secret from you, have I?’
‘No, Mrs K-P, you’ve always told us everything about yourself.’
‘Well,’ she said, ‘if your wife’s run off with a mamzer of a gardener, why are you afraid to tell me?’
‘Because if I make too much fuss, she might come back.”

Chaim Icyk Bermant (26 February 1929 – 20 January 1998) was a British-based journalist, and author. Born in Braslav, Belarus, he spent much of his childhood in Barovke, Latvia, and Scotland. He was educated at Queen's Park Secondary School in Glasgow, Glasgow University, where he graduated in economics, and the London School of Economics. He contributed regularly to The Jewish Chronicle and occasionally to the national press, particularly The Observer. An Orthodox Jew and supporter of Israel, he was freely critical of both. He wrote several novels and non-fiction works, mostly on the quirks of British Jewish society.

Susan wrote: "The Only Woman in the Room by Pnina Lahav: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

Hi Susan,
Great choice. I quickly checked Amazon first to make sure there were copies as vetting books is what we do. Because I only had a second to check, I may have missed seeing paperbacks, and the cost of the kindle is $19.95, the HB is around $25-$34. I will check the other available places tonight.

Jan wrote: "Hey, Jazzy, good morning (here) and thanks! Very interesting. Lots of Goodreads reviews with 5 or 4 stars, and I found a very comprehensive review on Newton Review of Books. Trouble is the price. E..."
Jan, I really don't think the price should be a deterrent for a good book. $14, or even $25 is the going rate and not out of line at all.

Jan wrote: "Hey, Jazzy, good morning (here) and thanks! Very interesting. Lots of Goodreads reviews with 5 or 4 stars, and I found a very comprehensive review on Newton Review of Books. Trouble is the price. E..."

Jazzy wrote: "I would like to nominate

Abomination (2022) - Ashley Goldberg

Melbourne 1999: Ezra and Yonatan are best friends, but when their school, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish ..."

Lynne wrote: "...Jan, I really don't think the price should be a deterrent for a good book. $14, or even $25 is the going rate and not out of line at all. ..."

Lynne, you make a good point, one Stacey and I have debated often. She has convinced me that if people want to read a book, they will.
So we don't always make them meet my standard of a used book at "less than the price of a greeting card," that is < $5. That said, however, once we get up to the $25 to $40 range, we will price many people out of reading it. Also don't want to go solely w/ebooks because some can't read on Shabbat. So, if there were hardbacks coming in at around $15 I'd say go for it. Thanks for your comment and glad to discuss. Stacey may have something to add also.

Stacey B wrote: "Susan wrote: "The Only Woman in the Room by Pnina Lahav: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

Hi Susan,
Gre..."

Library!

Susan wrote: "The Only Woman in the Room by Pnina Lahav: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5..."

My search corroborates Stacey's quick search for The Only Woman in the Room: Golda Meir and Her Path to Power
If anything, it's coming in as a little more expensive than Abomination. I also checked AbeBooks and eBay. Just to be thorough I also checked Target, since last month I was surprised to find one there.
Only in hardback as just published in Sept 2022.
Nor is it in my public library system yet.

So, regretfully, it's probably best to hold off on this one as well.

I realize this means I'm turning down a book you found to meet the criteria of the book we need to read, Susan. Can you possibly come up with another?

I agree about the library. Libraries are free. The only issue is when libraries don’t have books and you have to order them or use inter library loan and then it could take 6-8 weeks for a book to be ready.

Out of curiosity I checked. At my library Abomination is not available and The Only Woman in the Room is only on audio plus it’s only been published in hardback. To get a good idea, my library system is pretty extensive so if neither of these are available most likely others won’t have it either. Hope this helps, Jan.

Susan wrote: "...Library!..."

Yes, that's the other good option, but The Only Woman in the Room: Golda Meir and Her Path to Power isn't in my public library system yet. You found it in yours?

Brina wrote: "I agree about the library. Libraries are free. The only issue is when libraries don’t have books and you have to order them or use inter library loan and then it could take 6-8 weeks for a book to ..."

I understand. Maybe it can be nominated next year.

Jan wrote: "Susan wrote: "...Library!..."

Yes, that's the other good option, but The Only Woman in the Room: Golda Meir and Her Path to Power isn't in my public library system yet. You found i..."

Yes, it's in my library system.

Jazzy wrote: "How about

Berl Make Tea (1965) - Chaim Bermant

“Chapter 1

One evening I was sitting down to my favourite dish—rice-pudding with a blob of jam—when there was a kno..."

Jazzy, this is available on Audible.com plus a few available as MP3-CDs, but as to hardback, while there are a few in the $10 range with $5 shipping, after that, they get very expensive or with very high shipping cost. Also sold with another book or story called Jericho Sleep Alone, but same issue of being rare and expensive. I think you have entered into the category of "rare books." :'(

Wondering if books that qualify for this category are as rare as hen's teeth. ???

What is that currently available book that we need to read?

If You Awaken Love by Emuna Elon. Available at most libraries!

If You Awaken Love looks good, Brina. Not in my library, but there are a lot of used copies out there in the $6 to $7 range. Thank you!

I will put up some more examples later this evening. The way I asked the question originally made it seem like the book had to be the be all & end all, and it doesn't.

In memory of Harold Kushner, I nominate Echoes of Sinai: Favorite Sermons of Rabbi Harold Kushner

No problem. I was just looking for a book in the library. I wish more of Elon’s books were available in English, but as of now only two are.

Brina wrote: "No problem. I was just looking for a book in the library. I wish more of Elon’s books were available in English, but as of now only two are."

I read both Elon's books in english. I preferred House on Endless Waters of the 2

I loved that book, Debra, so I’d like to give her other availabile one a chance.

Brina wrote: "No problem. I was just looking for a book in the library. I wish more of Elon’s books were available in English, but as of now only two are."

Well, there was one in my library, so it must have been the other one. This one looks fine, though. A nomination that is available -- Hooray!

Kszr wrote: "In memory of Harold Kushner, I nominate Echoes of Sinai: Favorite Sermons of Rabbi Harold Kushner"

Kszr, Echoes of Sinai: Favorite Sermons of Rabbi Harold Kushner looks good! It is available on Amazon Prime for $12.99, and it's inexpensive via Kindle. There are on a few available used, and they start in the $17 range (which includes shipping). This one isn't in my library. A point in its favor is that it was released fairly recently -- 2018. A very nice thought to nominate it in memory of Rabbi Kushner. Thank you.

So now we do have two viable nominations: progress!

Here are some EXAMPLES -- not nominations, just examples that I can imagine might be nominated. (These are titles from the Books I've been hearing about discussion. I think I put up most of them myself, being a sucker for a good title and/or a nice review.)
While you can nominate one of them if so inclined, I'm putting them up to stimulate the thought processes and get the wheels turning.

EXAMPLES of books that could be the one begging to be read:
In Praise of Good Bookstores by Jeff Deutsch
Gangsters vs. Nazis: How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis in Wartime America by Michael Benson
The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliott -- Jewish fantasy. Another Jewish Book Club member told me it's good. In view of the recent holiday, this one seems to have a mother theme.
The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land: Stories by Omer Friedlander. I don't think it's on our bookshelf yet.
Death of a Dancing Queen I believe it's the 1st of a new series.

How to Find Your Way in the Dark was nominated a few polls ago but didn't win... (was one of my recent favorite reads!) If previous nominations "disqualify" it - then I nominate Concealed-a memoir by Esther Amini

debra wrote: "How to Find Your Way in the Dark was nominated a few polls ago but didn't win... (was one of my recent favorite reads!) If previous nominations "disqualify" it - then I nominate Concealed-a memoir ..."

How to Find Your Way in the Dark looks good, Debra. As for availability, will probably be in most libraries. There are used versions available -- and at the moment is $7.70 brand new on Amazon Prime. Not sure how long that will last; it could be the paperback has just come out and that's why. Thanks for giving us a nomination, Debra.

We have three nominations so far and are needing some more.
What's the book you think we need to read for July? See above (comment no. 32) for some examples

So far, we have:
1. If You Awaken Love by Emuna Elon
2. Echoes of Sinai: Favorite Sermons of Rabbi Harold Kushner
3. How to Find Your Way in the Dark by Derek B. Miller

Clifford wrote: "I am not sure if this is appropriate (and apologize if it is not), but I suggest my new book titled "Israel's struggle with Hezbollah." It is a blow-by-blow history that explores Hezbollah’s origin..."

Good morning Clifford.
Our group has a rule or two regarding authors. For obvious reasons I think you allude to above, authors can't nominate their own books. Jan writes this at the very top of the page.
BUT.. it would be so refreshing to see an author nominate a different book.. Thank you for understanding.

Clifford, here's the spot to announce your book(s): Authors Announcing Their Work. Members are welcome to discuss them with you there.

Meanwhile, everybody -- more nominations needed. 🥰

A Woman Of No importance by Sonia Parnell. Absolutely extraordinary. Absolutely unbelievable. Absolutely all true.

Margo wrote: "A Woman Of No importance by Sonia Parnell. Absolutely extraordinary. Absolutely unbelievable. Absolutely all true."

Nomination No. 4 A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
From 2019. In the library. Available used over the internet in the $6-$7 range (including postage) and even brand new is $11.99 in paperback for those who prefer.
Looks good, Margo. Thank you.

The Living and the Lost. By Ellen Feldman

I read A Woman of No Importance and highly recommend it. While it's about WWII, it's not a Jewish-themed book. Still, I learned quite a bit.

Mel wrote: "I read A Woman of No Importance and highly recommend it. While it's about WWII, it's not a Jewish-themed book. Still, I learned quite a bit."

Thank you Rmplanet and Mel for nominating books.
Much appreciated.

Mel wrote: "I read A Woman of No Importance and highly recommend it. While it's about WWII, it's not a Jewish-themed book. Still, I learned quite a bit."

Mel,
The subject covers the jewish theme.

Jan, I live in England and Berl Makes Tea is not only available here but under £5. Not rare at all. but this happens to me all the time, i can't find these books the americans speak of. They seem to be unavailable to me, but $15 is CHEAP, i usually have to spend more than that with P&P for these books. it's only £12! BARGAIN!

Okay I'll look for another.

Jazzy wrote: "Jan, I live in England and Berl Makes Tea is not only available here but under £5. Not rare at all. but this happens to me all the time, i can't find these books the americans speak of. They seem t..."

Gm Jazzy- its me this time. :)
You read so many books, I know you will surprise us with something.
Nominate what makes you happy- it's too early for me to convert
currency, as math isn't my forte' either. :) :) $1.20 to the pound???

Every book nominated is very pricey. $15, $19, $27

Hallo Stacy!

I keep finding books I know no one can find ahaha still looking.

Maybe we could always read a book that is available to us as individuals instead x

Jazzy wrote: "Maybe we could always read a book that is available to us as individuals instead x"

That's a good thought!!
I do know the cost of paper doubled from covid. Not saying that is the only reason.
For me, if I want to read a book that may be costly, I buy it.
Never know what we can learn from it that may be priceless :)

I've bought a lot of expensive books so i could read them, one was Lucky Per, and since it took me over 3 months to read i can say that was money well spent :D

Jazzy wrote: "I've bought a lot of expensive books so i could read them, one was Lucky Per, and since it took me over 3 months to read i can say that was money well spent :D"

I know we're U.S.-dominant on this site! And to add to the difficulty in other countries, when I was searching for one of these books the other day I discovered that the Book Depository had shut down. Apparently went defunct this April. I didn't use it here, since every book I looked up was also available from AbeBooks or eBay, but I understood it was a good source in other parts of the world.