It seems like everyone is celebrating Passover this year--even President Obama is hosting a seder! (I wonder if he'll be asking his advisors the 4 Questions...) In honor of the holiday, here are some essential Judaica-related books (fiction and non-fiction) that every library should own.
Jewish Literacy by Joseph Telushkin. Widely recognized as one of the most respected and indispensable reference books on Jewish life, culture, tradition, and religion, Jewish Literacy covers every essential aspect of the Jewish people and Judaism.
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. At once a gripping whodunit, a love story, an homage to 1940s noir, and an exploration of the mysteries of exile and redemption, The Yiddish Policemen's Union is a novel only Michael Chabon could have written.
Clara's War by Clara Kramer. Out this month, Clara's War is a heart-stopping story of a young girl hiding from the Nazis in an underground bunker with seventeen other people.
The Story of Yiddish by Neal Karlen. Neal Karlen's unique, brashly entertaining, yet thoroughly researched telling of the language's story. The Story of Yiddish is a delightful tale of a people, their place in the world, and the fascinating language that held them together.
Born to Kvetch by Michael Wex. A delightful excursion through the Yiddish language, the culture it defines and serves, and the fine art of complaint.
Who by Fire by Diana Spechler. A sharp, captivating novel about a family grieving from the loss of their youngest daughter and trying to understand the role of faith in their lives, from a gifted new voice in fiction.
The Nazi Officer's Wife by Edith H. Beer. A riveting new chapter in the history of the Holocaust-- the memoir of an Austrian Jewish woman who forged her identity and married a Nazi in order to survive the war years in plain sight in Nazi Germany.
Golda by Elinor Burkett. An astounding portrait of one of the most commanding political presences of the twentieth century—a woman whose uncompromising commitment to the creation and preservation of a Jewish state fueled and framed the ideological conflicts that still define Middle Eastern relations today.
The Baseball Talmud by Howard Megdal. From the icons of the game to the players who got their big break but never quite broke through, The Baseball Talmud provides a wonderful historical narration of Major League Jewish Baseball in America.
Healthy Cooking for the Jewish Home by Faye Levy. Variety is not only the spice of life-- it's also the spice of nourishing menus. The two hundred healthful, tasty, innovative kosher recipes in this book are sure to add inspiration to your menus and variety to your daily eating, as well as zest to the lives of those who share your table.
Flory by Flory Van Beek. In 1939, as the Nazi occupation grew from threat to reality, the Jewish population throughout Europe faced heart-wrenching decisions—to flee and lose their homes or to go into hiding. Holocaust survivor Flory Van Beek faced this terrible choice, and in this poignant testament of hope she takes us on her personal journey into one of history's darkest hours.
Happy eating to everybody! Let's all celebrate the Passover with a feast!
Posted by: redundancy pay | August 12, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Clara's War has received absolutely glowing reviews from advance readers on Amazon.com. I'm looking forward to reading it when we get a copy at my library. Happy Passover!
Posted by: Beverley | April 11, 2009 at 10:03 PM