Jewish Book Festival set to begin

By Gayle Dorio, 2021-22 Jewish Book Festival chair

We live in uncertain times. The news is filled with dire events, pandemic numbers, terrorist advancement, shootings, conspiracies, global climate crises and people generally finding reasons to be angry and upset with one another. It gets to be too much. Activism and speaking out are a couple of coping tools; being the kind people we know we can be is another. What about a few hours for peace and renewal? How about reading a good book?

Books offer us new worlds to explore and a means to escape. I have often remarked that I love big, thick books that let me live inside them for a little while. Yes, we are referred to as “People of the Book.” When I looked up the term, good old Wikipedia had several explanations. I encourage you to do this, also.

Besides a number of people claiming association with this term, when referring to Judaism, several notable Rabbinic scholars opined:

“The Spanish philosopher, physician and poet Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi writes of the importance of books by commenting, ‘My pen is my harp and my lyre, my library is my garden and orchard.’”

Provencal scholar, Rabbi Yehudah ibn Tibbon, further elaborates on the importance of his library by commenting, “Make books your companions; let your bookshelves be your gardens: bask in their beauty, gather their fruit, pluck their roses, take their spices and myrrh. And when your soul be weary, go from one garden to the other, and from one prospect to the other.”

So, with a love of books, reading and education, we bring you the 7th Jewish Book Festival! The preview event on Oct. 6 showcases the 15 events and 17 authors that will enlighten and delight you! The website is filled with all the information and is ready to accept your reservations. A few clicks at www.jewishbookfestival.org and you will be on your way! Become a patron or a sponsor and enjoy!

If you think the registration process on the website is easy, and it is, we have Larry Israelite to thank for that. Larry spent countless hours perfecting, editing and redoing. He designed the program to make it easy to select the events, books and whether you wish to attend in person or via Zoom. With just a few clicks, it’s done. Thank you, Larry!

We begin the first six events via Zoom. We hope that by the time December arrives, we will be able to meet in person, also. We planned nine events to be virtual and six events to be in person. Of course, time will tell, and vaccination efforts, too. Livestreaming is a wonderful addition to the festival, and going forward, we expect to be “Better Together” in many ways: in person and virtually, with books and friendship!

As you can see from the information in pages 4B-6B of this Federation Star, we have an exciting lineup! Please look over the authors and books and make your reservations!

Barnes and Noble has informed us that they are not able to accept book returns from us as they have in the past. We used to order boxes of books and return those that didn’t sell, but no more. That’s why we are asking you to pre-order as much as possible.

Any questions or comments, feel free to let Reneé Bialek and me know! Thank you to Reneé, the tireless worker doing everything behind the scenes. She is amazing. Thanks to the committee members who have contributed in many ways. It truly takes a village. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing from you and “seeing” you at each event.

I hope your holidays have been happy and healthy and you are all safe. On behalf of all, L’Shalom!