Nice Jewish Books podcast: Recent Episodes
Sheryl Stahl
Nice Jewish Books is a podcast focusing on adult Jewish fiction. Not only is AJL the leading authority on Judaica Librarianship, its members are a community of readers and bibliophiles. On this podcast, we chat with authors about Jewish literature, genre fiction, works in translation, and more. As long as a book has a Jewish theme, it’s a candidate for our show!
Ten years after teen-aged Sydney vanished on a camping trip in the Azores, counselors, fellow campers, and her family come together to reconnect, remember her, and dedicate a newly renovated synagogue in her honor. But while old resentments resurface, what no one expects is the sudden arrival of a dead body—bringing long-buried secrets to the surface. Can the island finally reveal the truth? Join me for a conversation with Jaclyn Goldis about her latest thriller mystery, The Last Time We Saw Her.
Follow along with the transcript.
Check out Jaclyn's website and support efforts to rebuild the Venezuelan Jewish community after the devastating earthquakes of June 24, 2026.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
It is 1918 and Bluma has waited four long years for her husband, Sender, to bring her and their three daughters from Romania to America. When the tickets fail to arrive, she takes their future into her own hands.
Packing up her children, Bluma journeys across the ocean to rural Ohio—only to discover a crumbling farmhouse, a failing farm on the brink of foreclosure, and a husband more interested in studying Talmud than in actual farm work. In a strange new country, can she protect her dreams for her daughters: education, independence, and marriages built on love?
Follow along with the transcript. and check out Miriam's website.
Learn more about the Jewish Farmers Network.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
The newly crowned King David was making all kinds of radical reform in his kingdom. High on the list was establishing six cities of refuge where men accused on manslaughter would be safe from people seeking blood vengence. But with a new system in play; how long will it take for someone to figure out a way to pervert it? Join me for a conversation with author Jay Bailey about his book, Blood of Birds.
Follow along with the transcript. and check out the author's website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
What happens when two strangers are brought together by the same heartbreaking loss? Can friendship help heal the soul?
After Rose's husband, Maury, and Nina's fiancé, Jeff, are killed in a tragic car accident, the two women form an unexpected bond. What begins in shared grief grows into something deeper—through memories, regrets, and the search for a way forward. Despite their decades of age difference—Rose at 93 and Nina in her thirties—they connect through their shared love of dance, Nina's passion for yoga, and the complicated emotions that follow loss.
Author Susan Josephs brings a gentle, thoughtful touch to the story, exploring guilt, remembrance, and the quiet power of friendship during life's most difficult transitions.
Join me for a heartfelt conversation with Susan Josephs about her novel Accidental Friends on the Nice Jewish Books Podcast.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Every year, the Association of Jewish Libraries Fiction Award committee scours the literary world for books with significant Jewish content. They look for extra-ordinary writing, accurate depictions of Jewish life in all its diversity, and contributions to the field of Jewish literature. This month I am excited to speak with Rena Citrin about the 2026 award winners for the best Jewish fiction published in 2025.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their books here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Six lives. One city. A phone call that will change everything.
In Alive and Beating, Rebecca Wolf brings us to Jerusalem just days before Passover, where six diverse characters balance family, work, and life-threatening illnesses. After a devastating bus bombing, an organ donation sets off a question that drives the novel: who will get the call that saves their life?
Join me on Nice Jewish Books for a conversation with Rebecca Wolf about grief, grit, and the fragility of hope.
Follow along with the transcript.
Rebecca can be reached through email at authorrebeccawolf@gmail.com, her website: rebeccawolfauthor.com, and on Instagram: @aliveandbeating Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
In this episode of Nice Jewish Books…
Sheryl Stahl sits down with author Katherine Villyard to discuss Immortal Gifts, a historical fantasy starring Abraham, a Jewish vampire trying to balance immortal life, Jewish identity, and his love for his mortal wife, Destiny. But peace is hard to come by—Abraham is relentlessly hunted by Thomas, a radical Christian vampire, and must rely on his loyal friend and patron Ludwig to help him stay one step ahead with new identities and safe passage.
Abraham and Destiny also have to deal with the humorous—and not-so-humorous—complications that arise when Abraham turns one of the terminally ill family cats into a vampire.
✨ A blend of history, fantasy, danger, and heart—don't miss this conversation!
Follow along with the transcript. Check out Katherine's website (which includes her kick-start campaign)
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Geller has hit rock bottom — homeless, addicted, and haunted by the horrors of war. His only goal is to forget. But when he rescues a dog from another addict, something shifts. After a brutal accident, a stranger named Doris steps in — and suddenly, there's a spark of hope. Can a dog... and a kind stranger... help Geller find a life worth living? Join me for a powerful conversation with author Yishay "Ishy" Ron about his gripping novel Dog. We dive into the realities of PTSD, the struggle to seek help, and the unexpected paths to healing. Follow along with the transcript.
Check out Ishi's website and his publisher
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Louise isn’t juggling balls or flames — she’s juggling life: the emotional weight of being a daughter, a mother, a wife… and someone facing a terminal diagnosis. In her latest novel, Unfinished Acts of Wild Creation, author Sarah Yahm introduces us to a woman navigating the tangled mess of grief, love, honesty and humor.
Join us for a deeply moving (and surprisingly funny) conversation about Louise, her snarky daughter, her desperate-to-hold-it-all-together husband Leon, and the beauty found in unfinished things. We also share some personal stories along the way.
🎧 Listen now at jewishlibraries.org/nicejewishbooks 📚 Because sometimes the most Jewish thing you can do is tell a really good story.
Follow along with the transcript and check out Sarah's website and her book club guide.
Assist Sarah's call in her Tikun Olam efforts by supporting Rabbis for Ceasefire or Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
When Allison Epstein first saw the musical Oliver!, one character stood out—Fagin. He was the only Jewish character she’d ever seen on stage. But when she later read Dickens' Oliver Twist, her excitement turned to dismay. The Fagin in the novel was a far cry from what she’d hoped: he was a cruel caricature with no backstory, no first name, and no humanity.
So, Allison did what writers do best—she rewrote the story.
In her novel Fagin the Thief, Allison breathes life into the man Dickens left in the shadows, giving him depth, history, and a voice of his own.
Join me on Nice Jewish Books for a thought-provoking conversation with Allison Epstein, as we explore the origins of this reimagined character, the importance of representation, and the joy of reclaiming stories that were never fully told.
Follow along with the transcript and check out Allison's website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Step into the world of mystery, memory, and meaning with author Saul Golubcow.
In this compelling interview, Golubcow discusses his gripping works, The Cost of Living and Who Killed the Rabbi’s Wife?—this collection of three novellas and a novel feature Frank Wolf, a Holocaust survivor turned private investigator. Once a philosophy professor, Frank now solves crimes within the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of 1970s New York City.
Joined by his inquisitive grandson Joel and later his sharp daughter-in-law Aliya, Frank navigates a complex world where Jewish tradition, trauma, and truth collide. Golubcow shares the inspiration behind his characters, the cultural richness of his settings, and how Jewish tradition shapes every clue.
Contact the author at: essgees123@gmail.com
Don't miss this conversation with a writer who brings heart and humanity to the detective genre.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Michel may not be the big man on campus, but he definitely rules his 2nd grade classroom in Tehran and all is well in his world. That is, until his family decides to uproot him and brother Saeed and move the family to Los Angeles. Newly minted as "Mike" he struggles to navigate a new language, new customs, new foods, and most importantly new heirarchies on the playground. Join me for a conversation with Michael Shokrian about his new book American Playground.
Follow along with the transcript.
Check out his website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
In March, Rena Citrin, chair of the Association of Jewish Libraries fiction award, told me (not quite in these words) to get my tush in gear and read Joan Leegant’s excellent short story collection, Displaced Persons. It took two months for it to percolate to the top of my “to be read” pile but I’m thrilled that it did. Her stories are full of relatable people, situations, and humor, not to mention delicious sentences.
Follow along with the transcript.
Check out Joan's website and her Tikun Olam inspiration Pesia's Kitchen
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
It’s Passover! Time to slurp the soup, crunch the matzah, and make jokes about Moses never stopping to ask directions in the desert. It’s also a great time to speak with Maggie Anton about her latest book, the Midwives’ Escape. Through the eyes of the Egyptian midwives, we see what life was like for the Israelites as they learned to transition from a people enslaved to a self-supporting community.
Follow along with the transcript. Check out Maggie's website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Every year, the Association of Jewish Libraries Fiction Award committee scours the book world for books with significant Jewish content. They look for extra-ordinary writing, accurate depictions of Jewish life in all its diversity, and contributions to the field of Jewish literature. This month I am excited to speak with Rena Citrin about the lastest winners of this award.
See the 2025 press release.
Winner: Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari (Random House, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC)
Honor: The Hebrew Teacher by Maya Arad, translated by Jessica Cohen (New Vessel Press)
Honor: Displaced Persons: Stories by Joan Leegant (New American Press)
Honor: Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore (Dell, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC)
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
When the Buddhist monk Xuanzang returned to China from India, bringing back precious Buddhist texts, he thought his traveling days were over. But then he finds an intriguing scrap with writing that he does not recognize. Finally connecting it with the Jewish community in Kaifeng he is implored by the community to go on another journey – this time even further west through Persia and Israel to find and bring back a teacher for the Kaifeng Jews. He is joined by his disciples, the magiFc Monkey and 8 rules Pigsy. Eventually a Jewish man known as Bear acts as a guide and interpreter as they encounter Jewish sages from the Talmud and Midrash. Join me for a conversation with Joel Bigman about this delightful mix of Chinese and Jewish folklore and wisdom in his book, The Second Journey.
Follow along with the transcript.
Connect with him on Facebook.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
After her town is carpeted with antisemitic leaflets, ceramic artist Faye finds refuge in her studio and before she knows it, her hands have created the figure of a man. She enscribes all her wishes into the clay and buries it under her rose bushes. The next day she runs into a handsome stranger, knocking him unconscious and giving him amnesia. As she gets to know him, he seems more and more like the man of her dreams. But is he just too good to be true? Or could he be a golem that she created and who just might become dangerous?
Find Jean on her website.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
For 100 years the Rosenfelds have been trapped in a time bubble in their tenement apartment on the lower East Side of New York. They can only catch glimpes of the outside world which has no idea that they are there. Until one day, Esther Luna, who works in the building which has now been turned into the Tenement Museum see a girl in the window who smiles and waves at her.
After exploring every reasonable explanation, Esther turns to Rabbi Meyer Poppers, a Jewish magician. While he finds the source of the curse, figuring out how to lift it is another matter entirely. And lifting it without killing the Rosenfelds will be even trickier.
Follow along with the transcript.
Check out other works by Mickey Dubrow.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Luna Levi may have graduated high school, but she is far from any kind of path to success. She works part time at a motel in Ottowa to help support her family since neither parent seem capable of it. Luna's mother has dreams of being a theater star and takes off for weeks at a time to perform in regional productions and her father, suffering from PTSD after serving in the Israel army, lives on the streets.
Luna watches her mother try one "get rich quick" scheme after another; each one bring the family further into debt. Her brother Ronen is an eternal optimist who tries to encourage her mother in her various ventures. It is Luna's desperate wish is to lead a responsible life; but will she be able to find her own path? or will she spiral into her mother's schemes?
Follow along with the transcript and check our Gila's website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Sharon is surrounded by secrets. It is 1968 and she has been recruited to clandestinely bring Israel sailors, soldiers, and engineers to the French port of Cherbourg. She needs to help support them until the last 5 ships which were promised to Israel were fully constructed. Since France has instituted an embargo against Israel, the men would have to smuggle to ships out for the Israeli Navy. On a smaller scale, she learned that her supervisor Daniel had been taken out of Israel as a young child as part of the youth aliyah program. Although Daniel only had thoughts of Israel's future, Sharon became obsessed with learning about his past. The information Sharon discovers could have major consequences on Daniel's life. Join me for a conversation with Talia Carner about her latest book, The Boy with the Star Tattoo.
Learn more about Talia on her website.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Genevra Ex is a best-selling mystery author with a major quirk. Instead of inventing new characters, she hires a real-life person to be the main character of her book. The latest hire is a young woman named Rory. After an intensive three months of interviewing, Genevra gifts Rory with a ticket on the newly refurbish Orient Express. After boarding the train, Rory is shocked to find her brother Max, her best friend Caroline, and her ex-fiance Nate. She also finds a manuscript of Genevra's latest novel and a letter with secrets that rock Rory's life. although the trip takes them through gorgeous Italian country-side, tension among the passengers magnifies until it explodes into murder.
Follow along with the transcript.
Connect with Jaclyn through her website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Heidi Rabinowitz and I both saw a cartoon from the New Yorker in which one spouse was trying to move a pile of tottering books off the other spouses night-stand. The other spouse yelled in alarm (something like) "don't move those - they are my emotional support books!" We were inspired to ask our fellow attendees at the 2024 Association of Jewish Libraries conference to speak about their emotional support books!
Follow along with the transcript.
Enter the drawing for your own personal emotional support book bag! Share a review on social media (such as Facebook or Instagram) or post a review on your podcast platform (such as Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, etc.) Take a screen shot of the review and email it to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com by Oct. 24 2024 (the ultimate Jewish reading holiday, Simchat Torah)
If you can't wait for the drawing or you want to buy one for your friends and family you can get one (or many) at our Zazzle shop.
OUR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BOOKS
Sheryl Stahl: He, She, and It by Marge Piercy
Heidi Rabinowitz: When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
Heidi Rabinowitz: Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Lesléa Newman
Dara Henry: On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration in 14 Stories ed. by Chris Baron, Joshua Levy, and Naomi Milliner
A.R. Vishny: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
David Schlitt: Teitelbaum's Window by Wallace Markfield
Sally Weiner Grotta: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Sally Weiner Grotta: The Golden Dreidel by Ellen Kushner
Lies Meerboom: The Promise by Chaim Potok
Aden Polydoros: A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Rifka Yerushalmi: What a Beautiful Morning by Arthur A. Levine
Sidura Ludwig: Starry Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume
Elysa Keshen: All Rivers Run to the Sea by Elie Wiesel
Susan Dubin: Sisters at Sinai by Jill Hammer and other books about women in the Bible
Richard Ho: Happy Hanukkah, Curious George by H.A. Rey
Shoshana Traum: The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
Shoshana Traum: Jewish Futures: Stories from the World's Oldest Diaspora by Michael A. Burstein
Henry Woodall: Maimonides' Commentary on the Mishnah
Dina Herbert: The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann. M. Martin
Olga Potap: the works of Sholem Aleichem
Daniel Scheide: the works of William Morris
Jane Rothstein: All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Sally Stieglitz: Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Michal Babay: the works of Harlan Coban
Xandra O'Neill: Golemcrafters by Emi Watanabe Cohen
Bette Stahl: Jewish Cookbooks
David Stahl: A Torah Commentary for Our Times by Harvey J. Fields
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Whether you play the lottery or not, I think that all of us dream about what we would do if we won a major jackpot. This is what happened to three out of the four Jacobson siblings. Matthew, Laura, Sophie, and Noah were gathered to pack up the family summer house on Long Beach Island, when Noah announced he was going out and would be buying a lottery ticket. Laura and Sophie jumped to go in on the tickets, while Matthew flatly refused. They were all completely shocked to find that one of their tickets was a winner. The three winning siblings quickly set about spending the money. They found that becoming overnight millionaires brought more complications into their lives than they possibly could have projected. Join me for a conversation with Ellyssa Friedland about her latest work, Jackpot Summer.
Follow along with the transcript. Check out her website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Eve is only looking for some shelter from the rain, but what she finds will change her work, her heart, and her life. In a small cave in the Scottish highlands, Eve finds a journal written in as a series of letters from a woman named Shira to her lover Benjamin. Eve realized that the letters contain secrets about the family of her new love Mac. What secrets are revealed and can Eve and Mac's love survive? Join me for a conversation with Lynne Golodner about her latest book, Cave of Secrets.
Find the author at her website, her substack, and her social media Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Follow along with the .
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Often we just want to connect with all the people around us and fix any problems we see. In the Hebrew Teacher, a collection of three novellas, people attempt to do this in very different situations. But sometimes, other people see the problem from a different perspective, or the problem is not what it seems. And to connect with someone else, they need to want to connect back with you. Join me for a conversation with Maya Arad about navigating life, jobs, and family.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
. Annamae lives in New York with her brother and linguist mother. She yearns for connection and feels that someone will show up to take her away to where she is supposed to be. In the meantime, she pours her thoughts and dreams into her diary. Ani lives on a homestead which is a safe place for misfits and homeless. One day, the Captain, one of the long time residents, hears a call and just walks away to follow it. When Ani realizes that he forgot his treasured journal, she attempts to follow him to him to return it. Each girl is growing into her identity and finding her place in her family, community, and world. Join me for a conversation with Leah Hager Cohen about her book (or books!) To and Fro.
Follow along with the transcript and check out her website.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Every year the Research, Archive, and Special libraries division of the Association of Jewish Libraries (otherwise known as RAS) gives awards for excellence in Reference and in Bibliography. Since these are obviously not fiction, they wouldn’t ordinarily be a candidate for this podcast. But I got an opportunity to share the interview with last year’s bibliography winner that I found too delicious to pass up. The bibliography award focuses on books written about other books. In the case, the winner Adras Koerner won for this work Early Jewish Cookbooks: Essay on Hungarian Jewish Gastronomical History. Join me at Nice Jewish books to listen to RAS vice president Eitan Kensky and author Andras Koerner discuss Jewish food, cookbooks and culture.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
During the Holocaust, desperate Jewish parents placed their children with Christian families and in convents in the hope that the children would survive the war. After the war, Jewish organizations went to reclaim these children to be raised in the Jewish community. But how did the children deal with yet another displacement. Join me for a conversation with Jennifer Rosner.
Follow along with the transcript.
Find out more on the author's website
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
We start in a familiar place, in contemporary Chicago, where Jennifer, a museum curator, is asked to go to Belarus to create a living installation of Jewish life there before the Holocaust. She invites a distant cousin to participate, and she brings with her an old Yiddish literary magazine to use as a prop in the installment. In each chapter we move backward in time. As the settings become less familiar to us, we see the cousin relationships getting closer and see that there is a poem in the journal that is directed at three brothers in the family. The triplets had been separated at a young age. To find out why, and what the poem has to do with it, we must travel back further in time. Join me on this journey of Our Little Histories by Janice Weizman
Check out her Jewish fiction website which focuses on literature from small presses.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Adam is a twelve year old boy preparing for his bar mitzvah in Flushing New York in the early 1970. In many ways, he is a typical kid, trying to fit in at school, but also trying to find himself and find ways to stand out. But his year is off to a difficult start when his parents decide to move the family to a different neighborhood and at the same time his best friend decides to ghost him. Can Adam make new friends, find his people, and survive his bar mitzvah? Join me for a conversation with author Don Futterman about Adam Unrehearsed.
Find the author's website and podcast.
Don supports the residents and rebuilding of Kfar Azza and the Israel Center for Educational Innovation.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
While the body of Yiddish literature is vast, many people still think of Tevye the milkman, trudging along with his lame horse and arguing with God. But the many new translations of Yiddish fiction show the breadth and depth of the settings, characters, and topics covered as well as the many different voices of the authors.
This past fall, Nice Jewish Books in conjunction with AJL presents, gathered three amazing scholars to speak about the past, present, and future of Yiddish literature and especially Yiddish literature in translation. Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, poet, writer, and translater; translator Mindy Liberman, and Ellen Cassedy, a translator, author and activist, discussed the resurgence of interest in Yiddish literature and their own particular projects.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Links from the chat:
Yermiyahu's website : https://yataubdotnet.wordpress.com/bio/
Ellen's website: https://ellencassedy.com/translations...
Mindy in geveb: https://ingeveb.org/people/mindy-libe...
https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/tra...
https://yivo.org/Irena-Klepfisz
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Leah is not your typical Chinese-Jewish owner of a kosher Chinese restaurant. She is also a woman on the run from Yuk-Wong, a drug lord determined to marry her against her will. And if that wasn't enough drama in her life, she is also the host/recipient of the Spirit of Water with all the powers that entails. When Yuk-Wong's minions find her in New York, she decides to return to China and face her figurative and literal demons. Join me for a conversation with graphic artist Fabrice Sapolsky about this second story of the Intertwined universe, The Last Jewish Daughter of Kaifeng.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Check out these links from Fabrice Sapolsky:
- JewceThe Jewish Comic Experience at the Center for Jewish History
- Fair Square Comics
- Be'chol Lashon / Global Jews
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
When people think of Operation Moses, they usually think of a plane full of Ethiopian Jews, the Beta Israel, arriving in Israel. But their journey started long before the plane ride and continued for years after arriving. Kim Salzman follows a single family as they journey in three groups from Ethiopia to Sudan, to Israel, and into the Israeli absorption centers. They each endure a physically dangerous and emotional wrenching journey.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Lesbian, poet, activist, and Yiddishist Irena Klepfisz speaks about her lastest book, Her Birth and Later Years : New and Collected Poems, 1971-2021 with Yermiyahu Ahron Taub. Yermiyahu is a poet and Yiddishist in his own right. He and Irena have been friends for years. They speak about her process of writing and her use of Yiddish in her work as well as the legacy of her parents and extended family.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
During World War 11, Japanese citizens were rounded up and sent to internment camps. When they were finally released, the vast majority had lost their homes and businesses. In the upcoming episode of Nice Jewish Books, I speak with Josh Tuininga about one of the rare exceptions to this appalling situation. Josh focuses on the Sephardic Jewish community in Seattle, Washington where the friendship between Marco Calvo and members of the Japanese community rippled through the generations.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
If I told you that this episode was going to be about a house which ran around on chicken legs, you might assume that this should belong to an odd looking children’s book. But NO! This is a full-fledged intruiguing adult adventure. When the Yaga siblings inherit their grandmother’s house, they set off on a journey to hide from the mysterious man who is stalking the house, discover themselves, and oh yes, create puppet shows along the way. Listen in to Hannah Srour-Zackon’s interview of GennaRose Northcott about her AJL honor winning book, Thistlefoot.
Follow along with the transcript.
Follow GennaRose on Instagram #gennarosenethercott
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
- Donate to support the podcast
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
When Jamie's family moves from a liberal Jewish area of San Francisco to a conservative area of Florida, he decides to go back into the closet. But when he meets Alex, the football star, sparks fly between them which un-nerves both of the teens. Can they work out their feelings for each other while navigating homophobia? Join me for a conversation with Jacob Gelman.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Twins JoJo and Bronka are coming of age in the United States in the 1960s. Daughters of Orthodox Jewish parents, they both have dreams and ambitions; JoJo of becoming an actress and Bronka of becoming an journalist. But shadows follow them: their parents' holocaust experience, US politics, neo-Nazis, sexism, and an unplanned pregnancy. Join me for a conversation with Meryl Ain, author of the Shadows We Carry.
Follow along with the transcript.
Connect with Meryl through her website https://merylain.com/ and Facebook page and enjoy her podcast.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Casey is a teenager living in New Orleans, when her parents decide that she is getting into too much trouble. They move the family back to Brooklyn to be closer to their Orthodox Jewish Syrian community. But will she end up trapped in the Marriage Box? Join me for a conversation with author Corie Adjmi.
Follow along with the transcript.
Connect with Corie at https://corieadjmi.com/
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
We may not be able to live in the past, but it is nice to visit it sometimes. Join me for a nostalgic journey back to Jewish sleep-away-camp with Eric Glickman as we talk about his graphic novel Camp Pock-a-wocknee : dynomite summer '77.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
What if David and Goliath were actually lovers and con artists? What if the Scotts turned about to be God's chosen people? What if Ilan Ramon had been on the Columbia ground crew instead of in the shuttle? Andrea Lobel and Mark Shainblum collect an intriguing collection of "what ifs" in Jewish history and modern midrash, or "Jewish fan fiction" of the Bible. I had a fascinating conversation with the editors and two of the collection's authors, Esther Alter and Eric Choi.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Scheherazade telling stories to spellbound soldiers, Sephardic kids "borrow' and old confused man off the street to pose as their Holocaust surviving grandfather, and the son of a shoemaker who delights in climbing construction cranes ... these are just a few of the characters who appear in Omer Friedlander's Association of Jewish Libraries' award winning collection, The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land.
Contact the author at https://www.omerfriedlander.com/
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
· The Association of Jewish Libraries
· Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
· Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
This episode of The Book of Life features Sarah Aroeste,a singer/songwriter of Ladino music and an author of board books featuring Sephardic culture and Ladino vocabulary andBridget Hodder, a Sephardic author of middle grade and picture books.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
After her beloved father's death, Lena is stunned to learn that he was not her biological father. She had never felt as close to Regina, her Russian-born mother. But as Regina's story unfolds from her early life in Moscow to her early adulthood in Birobidzhan, the Jewish Autonomous Region, their relationship begins to heal. Alina Adams gives us an engaging story of hardship, love, impossible decisions, and reconciliation.
Contact the author through her website AlinaAdams.com
Support UJA/Federation Ukraine Crisis Relief
Follow along with the transcript,
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
In a Nice Jewish Books first – I won’t be speaking with the author of the book From the Jewish Provinces, Fradl Shtok, but rather her translators, Jordan Finkin and Allison Schachter. Fradl Shtok was born in the Austro-Hungarian empire and started her writing career there. She later moved to New York and continued her writing career. Although better known for her poetry, Shtok also wrote short stories. Jordan Finkin and Allison Schachter, both long-time Yiddishists, collaborated on translating her stories in this collection, From the Jewish Provinces.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
In this historical novel based on both their families’ histories, I speak with author's Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman. In the novel, we follow two couples. Jacob and Lilly are a Jewish couple living in New York while Stella and William are both slaves in New Orleans. Both men are fighting for the Union and they bond over their love of music. Both women use their sewing skills to help the war effort. But while their lives should have run parallel to each other, they diverge in some shocking ways.
Follow along with the transcript
Check out the website www.thethreadcollectors.com
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Journo (journalist) Shanna Regan was researching historical plaques for the town news magazine when she encounters fake plaques. Instead of praising a former residents, the plaques told of a person's malicious actions and a statement this if they don't repent, that they will never rest in peace. With a stalker, a murky family history, and new plaques appearing, will Shanna be able to sort everything out before another person is murdered? Join me for a conversation with Victoria Goldman about justice, revenge, and murder.
Follow along on the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Aviva Rosner is a rock star, committed to speaking about truth of her life, even if, or especially if, it makes other people uncomfortable. She has a happy marriage, and loyal fans. What she doesn’t have is a baby. In Human Blues, by Elisa Albert, we follow her through 9 months of her cycles of hope, grief and frustration.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
17th century Venice is fascinating time and place in history; especially for Jews. Join me for a conversation with Nina Wachman about her latest book, A Gallery of Beauties. Her protagonist, Diana, daughter of the chief rabbi of Venice, must decide if she wants her life to remain centered in the Jewish Ghetto, or to become a protegy of a famous Venician courtesan. Of course, above all else, she must avoid becoming the next victim of the local poisoner.
Here's the link to her website to get the free 6 chapter download: https://venicebeauties.com/
Learn more about Nina's efforts to connect peopel with rare diseases with treatments and clinical trials at: https://knowrare.com/
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Sarah can't help being a match-maker; she sees a mystical light between people who are meant for each other. But can she stand up to the local male matchmakers who are angry at her for taking their business? And what is her granddaughter Abby to make of her journals? Join me for my talk with author Lynda Loigman about love, soul-mates, and pickles and herring!
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Join me for a wider ranging talk with Derek Miller about the mystery of Sheldon's father's death, Jewish life in rural America, and Yankee ingenuity. How to find your way in the Dark is the winner of the 2022 Association of Jewish Libraries' Jewish Fiction Award.
Follow along with the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
What connects a Warsaw Holocaust era orphanage and a 1970's West Bengal village? It is a play, the Post Office, written by Rabindranath Tagore, and performed in both places. Jai Chakrabarti skillfully weaves together 1940s Warsaw and 1970s New York and India and discusses the role of the arts in healing and inspiring people. Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Read the transcript.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
After reading Chaim Potok's early works, author Maggie Anton wondered, "where were the women?" In her latest novel, The Choice: Love, Faith, and Talmud, Maggie imagines what life might have been like for women living in Potok's world.
To find out more about Maggie Anton and her work, check out her website.
Read the transcript.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Mathemetician/nuclear physicist Anna, is briefly launched into the future when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant melts down. She sees her estranged daughter, Molly dying from a violent injury. Now Anna has to figure out a way to travel to the past to reconnect with her daughter and hopefully save her life. Join me for a fascinating talk with Rachel Barenbaum about family, time travel, and who gets to decide who lives or dies.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Follow along with the transcription.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Kayla is a piano prodigy. From a very young age, she has struggled to balance her musical life with family tensions and mental illness. Not to mention the mysterious stalker. Join me for a wide-ranging talk with Bruce Berger about music, mental illness, and family dynamics.
Read the transcript
Support the Young Musicians Foundation
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
It is the late1890's London and all is not well. A dense fog is creeping through the streets transforming people into other-worldly creatures and the "Elegents" walk the streets killing at will. Can a neer-do-well second son of a banker and a young Jewish woman solve these horrific mysteries and perhaps save the bank along the way? Join me for a conversation with multi-genre author David Liss.
You can read the transcipt.
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Mirta Trupp writes "Jewish Historical Fiction : For those who like a little Yiddishkeit with their Period Drama." I had a great conversation about her latest book, Celestial Persuasion, a Jane Austen fan fiction as well as a great stand-alone work.
Read the transcript
Check out her site, https://mirtainestruppauthor.com/
Follow her on Goodreads and Instagram; buy her books
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Can secrets bring a family together? or tear them apart? In Rachel Beanland's novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, Florence's family must figure out how to grieve her untimely death, while keeping it a secret from her bed-bound pregnant sister. Based on a true incident from her family history, Rachel imagines what life would have been like for the Adler family in Atlantic City in 1935.
Read the transcript of the conversation.
Check out Rachel's website (https://rachelbeanland.com/)
Support the author, AJL, and independent book stores by buying their book here.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Talia Carner is a longtime global activist on women's economic and health issues, and also a longtime multi award winning writer. I learned so much after speaking with her about Sholem Aleichem, The Third Daughter, and sex trafficking. We also get a sneak peek at her upcoming novel.
You can support Talia, independent book stores, and AJL by buying her books.
Check out her website especially the translation of the "Man from Buenos Aires" by Sholem Aleichem, which was one of the inspirations for the Third Daughter.
Talia also has resources to Take Action Against Trafficking.
Read about the Boats of Cherbourg, the setting for her upcoming novel.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home)
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.
Mary Marks created the spunky, middle-aged, plump and curvy, quilting protagonist Martha Rose. Martha and her circle of quilting friends seem to bump into dead bodies with alarming frequency. Luckily, they are able use their observational skills, intuition, and persistence to "help" the police catch the killers.
Join me for a far-reaching conversation about Jewish practice, representation of female characters, quilting, and finding love in her 70's!
Check out her website and buy her books.
Follow her on Facebook to see her quilts.
Thanks to:
- The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Heidi Rabinowitz, podcast mentor
- Dee Yan Key for use of their Freylekh (downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/home
If you enjoyed this podcast, you might also like the AJL sister podcast, The Book of Life, a podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly.