JEWISH BOOK FESTIVAL 2025
FEBRUARY 16-23
This year we’ve got a mix of in-person and virtual events planned for you to hear authors read excerpts from their books, answer your questions, and share their inspiration and challenges in writing these words. This series spotlights diverse stories from across the Jewish world.
Thanks to our community partner Letters Bookshop, you can purchase a copy of each of these great books from the Welcome Desk at the Levin JCC anytime!
This FREE PROGRAM is presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council, Beth El Synagogue, Judea Reform Congregation, and is sponsored in part by the Shepard Broad Foundation.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
| DATE | TIME | AUTHOR | TITLE | ZOOM OR IN-PERSON |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday February 16 | 2pm | Emily Katz, Jane Gabin, Michele Levy | Various Fiction Works | In-person @ JCC |
| Sunday February 16 | 3pm | Jim Cohen | "Modern Judaica" | In-person @ JCC |
| Monday February 17 | 1pm | Rachel Beanland | "The House is on Fire" | Zoom |
| Tuesday February 18 | 1pm | Margalit Fox | "The Talented Ms. Mandelbaum" | Zoom |
| Tuesday February 18 | 7pm | Maya Arad | "The Hebrew Teacher" | Zoom |
| Wednesday February 19 | 1pm | Robin Judd | "Between Two Worlds" | Zoom |
| Wednesday February 19 | 7pm | Benyamin Cohen | "The Einstein Effect" | Zoom |
| Thursday February 20 | 1pm | Julie Salow | "When Women Ran Fifth Avenue" | Zoom |
| Friday February 21 | 10:30am | Adam Sobsey | "A Jewish Appendix" | In-person @ JCC |
| Sunday February 23 | 11:30am | Ruth Behar | "Across So Many Seas" | Zoom |
| Sunday February 23 | 1pm | Laura Guttman | "Army Brat" | In-person @ JCC |
| Sunday February 23 | 2pm | Jeff Spinner-Halev & Noah Pickus | "Respect and Loathing in American Democracy" & "The New Global Universities" | In-person @ JCC |
Sunday February 16
In-person at the Levin JCC
2pm: Kickoff the festival with a panel discussion from local Jewish fiction writers:
Jane Gabin (“The Paris Photo”), Emily Katz (various fiction and non-fiction works), and Michele Levy (“Anna's Dance”).
The Paris Photo by Jane Gabin
A poignant tale of discovery, this novel follows an American woman unraveling the wartime secrets hidden in an old photograph from Nazi-occupied Paris.
Anna's Dance by Michele Levy
A young Jewish woman embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery and cultural exploration in the 1960s American South and Israel.
3pm: Join Jim Cohen in person at the JCC to learn about his book “Modern Judaica” and view some of the pieces from his collection.
Modern Judaica by Jim Cohen
An exploration of contemporary Jewish art and ritual objects, blending tradition with modern design and functionality.
Friday February 21
In-person at The Levin JCC
10:30am: Meet up at the JCC for light breakfast and hear from Adam Sobsey as he discusses his memoir “A Jewish Appendix.”
A Jewish Appendix by Adam Sobsey
A reflective exploration of Jewish identity, memory, and belonging through the lens of the author's personal and familial experiences.
Sunday February 23
in-person at the levin jcc
1pm: Meet with Laura Guttman as she shares stories and insight from her life as she talks about her new memoir “Army Brat.”
Army Brat by Laura Guttman
A compelling coming-of-age story about growing up in a military family and navigating the challenges of constant movement and cultural adaptation.
2pm: Close out the festival at the JCC for a discussion between two local Jewish non-fiction writers about global politics.
Respect & Loathing in American Democracy by Jeff Spinner-Halev
A thought-provoking examination of the tension between mutual respect and deep-seated divisions in the United States' democratic society.
The New Global Universities by Noah Pickus
A detailed investigation into how universities are adapting to globalization, focusing on their roles as hubs of cross-cultural exchange and innovation.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
The House Is On Fire by Rachel Beanland
A gripping historical novel based on the true story of a catastrophic theater fire in 1811 Richmond, Virginia, and its impact on the lives of those involved.
The Talented Ms. Mandelbaum by Margalit Fox
A fascinating biography of the 19th-century criminal mastermind, "Mother" Mandelbaum, who built a thriving empire of organized crime in New York.
The Hebrew Teacher by Maya Arad
A witty and incisive look at identity, ambition, and the challenges of cultural assimilation through the lens of a struggling Hebrew instructor in California.
Between Two Worlds by Robin Judd
An academic analysis of Jewish marriage practices and their cultural significance in Germany and Italy between the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Einstein Effect by Benyamin Cohen
A lively account of how Albert Einstein's name and ideas continue to influence contemporary culture and science.
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue by Julie Salow
A captivating history of trailblazing women in fashion and publishing who transformed New York's Fifth Avenue into a cultural hub.
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar
A heartfelt memoir chronicling the author's journey of migration, loss, and resilience as a Cuban Jew.
DON’T MISS FEBRUARY’S STRONGER COMMUNITIES EVENT!
Jewish Community Foundation presents:
Stronger Communities: Telling Our Stories with Orit Ramler Szulik
Each of us has a story — a legacy we will leave behind. Join us and author, Orit Ramler Szulik, as we discover our own Box of Life.
More than a simple pile of trinkets, your Box of Life facilitates a reassessing of a lifetime of moments that make us who we are. We all deserve to leave behind a legacy that tells our own stories the way we want them to be told, all while urging our loved ones to join and make new memories along the way.
Gather together and discover your own Box of Life at the Jewish Community Foundation’s eighth annual Stronger Communities program.
Tickets = $18/ea
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL
