The Book of Life

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     🕮    In this twelfth anniversary episode of The Book of Life, we hear from listeners and past guests about some of their favorite interviews. If we missed YOUR favorite, check out the right-hand sidebar at bookoflifepodcast.com for past episodes or go to the Internet Archive at archive.org/details/@TBOL . During The Book of Life's coming hiatus, I may post occasional interviews if I come across something just too interesting to resist podcasting about, and I'll also post about any future podcasting plans, so watch this space! My new job at PJ Library includes overseeing the Author Newsletter, so if you're a creator of Jewish kidlit, be sure to subscribe to that newsletter here . Today's show includes clips from these shows; click on any title to listen to the full episode. March 2007 Why Is This Podcast Different From All Other Podcasts? Guests: dave horowitz (Five Little Gefiltes), Tami Lehman-Wilzig (Passover Aroun...

The Association of Jewish Libraries and the Jewish Book Council present the third annual reading challenge for readers of all ages, Readukkah! To participate, all you have to do is post about any #JewLit book (any book of Jewish interest) on the Facebook event discussion board—or share a link to your review anywhere online—and use the hashtag #Readukkah to connect with other readers! By sharing your Readukkah posts, your participation in this reading challenge helps spread the word about worthwhile titles, bringing them to the attention of more readers and supporting the publication of Jewish books!   JOIN THE EVENT HERE

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST    |    BUY THE BOOKS: ILLUSTRATED / PIRKEI IMAHOT     🕮    I convened a virtual roundtable among the creators of two books related to The Ethics of the Fathers, aka the Pirkei Avot. Goodness knows, this is a time when the world needs moral guidance! Why not turn to ancient and modern teachings of Judaism for help? I spoke with Jessica Deutsch, creator of The Illustrated Pirkei Avot: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Ethics , and with Lois Shenker and Rabbi Eve Posen, co-authors of Pirkei Imahot: The Wisom of Mothers, The Voices of Women . GRAND FINALE: In other news, I want to thank you all for the voicemails you've left me saying nice things about The Book of Life. You'll hear those messages, mixed with clips from the episodes they refer to, in our grande finale episode later in December 2017. I also want to let you know that I may post random episodes of The Book of Life now and then in the coming year,...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    Tasa's Song by Linda Kass is a story of a young musician in WWII Poland. I met the author at "A Book in Concert" where she read excerpts interspersed with musical performances by the Carpe Diem String Quartet . They played classical music that Tasa would have played herself, and they played the original piece "Tasa's Song," written by Charles Weatherbee as a tribute to the book. Linda is not only an author, she's also a bookseller! If you're ever in Bexley, Ohio, visit her bookstore, Gramercy Books ! GRAND FINALE: The Book of Life will go on hiatus after the December 2017 episode. YOU can be a part of my grand finale! Leave me a voicemail or send me an audio recording with your comment about what The Book of Life has meant to you, about a favorite interview, about new podcasting ideas for me, or any other thoughts you want to share. Your voice may end up on th...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    VISIT THE YIDDISH BOOK CENTER       🕮    The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA rescues Yiddish books and puts them in context to broaden our understanding of modern Jewish identity. This June I visited the Yiddish Book Center, where I spoke to Communications Director Lisa Newman, and to Christa Whitney, director of the center's Wexler Oral History Project . They both offered exciting backstage views of the Yiddish Book Center, and they even helped me clear up an old family linguistic mystery! By the way, here's a link to Lisa's podcast, The Shmooze ; and the address Christa mentions for requesting oral history interviews is yiddishbookcenter.org/tell-your-story.   "VACATION PHOTOS"   NEWS!  NEWS!  NEWS! After 18 amazing years as Judaica librarian at Congregation B'nai Israel of Boca Raton, I've taken a new job at PJ Library in Agawam, Massachusetts. I ne...

As many of you have heard, I now work for PJ Library and PJ Our Way! I am very pleased to announce their new initiative, a FREE trip to Israel to inspire authors to write for children about Judaism in general and Israel in particular. If you are an author who writes Jewish kidlit, or if you are a published author who has ever thought about writing Jewish kidlit, check this out. And if you have friends who are authors, please let them know about this opportunity! CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE TRIP!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST      |    BUY THE BOOK     🕮    In My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew , Abigail Pogrebin takes readers on a journey through every single Jewish holiday ever. As a non-Orthodox Jew, many of these holidays were unfamiliar to her before this; she explains these holidays and finds meaning in them at the same time. Abigail last appeared on The Book of Life in October 2006 , talking about her book Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish . I spoke to Abigail by Skype at her home in New York. CREDITS: Supported in part by: Association of Jewish Libraries   Theme music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band   Facebook: facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast  Twitter: @bookoflifepod   Support The Book of Life by becoming a patron at Patreon.com/bookoflife Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 56...

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST     |    WATCH THE VIDEO      🕮    The Last Shepherd by Evil Sun Productions is a Hebrew-language indie comedy adventure scifi fantasy film with elements of Jewish mysticism and kabbalah, made in Israel. To summarize, "A geeky programmer and his rebellious co-worker are taken by a mysterious biblical figure on a cross country adventure, trying to stop an ancient evil force, while being chased by government agents."  Back in January 2016, I Skyped with actors Uri Lifshitz and Roni Weissman, writer Gai Bosco, and post production manager Dovi Shraga. Then I sat on the interview, waiting for the film to become available in North America. It hasn't happened yet, but I got tired of waiting. Instead, I'm hoping listeners will be proactive in helping to get the film more widely distributed. If this interview piques your interest, please request that your local Jewish film festival or your...