I feel torn….

One the one hand, I really enjoyed Sally Rooney’s new book, Intermezzo, about Peter and his younger brother, Ivan, their relationship with each other, others and the loss of their father. This was a slow moving story with an unusual writing style, intriguing, introspective and insightful.

Sharing what I read and love is the reason I write this blog. But in this case, I am not joyful when I tell you about this book, and that is because earlier this year, author Sally Rooney, along with other authors, publically called for a boycott of Israeli cultural and literary institutions, including publishing houses, literary festivals and agents, and has taken a stand by refusing to allow her work to be translated into Hebrew. (NYTimes Article) I believe everyone has the right to believe what they choose, but when public declarations contribute to the antisimetic environment that negatively impacts so many of us, I find this to be unacceptable. Separating the art from the artist is difficult, but, rather than not mentioning a book I enjoyed, I decided to pair Intermezzo with another book that has a very important place on the bookshelf.

A Must Read…

I am proud to tell you about On Being Jewish Now, Reflections from Authors and Advocates, edited by Zibby Owens with the Founding Team of Artists Against Antisemitism. This is a collection of meaningful essays about what it means to be Jewish and how life has changed since the attacks in Israel on October 7th, 2023. I am a huge fan of so many of the contributing authors, and I am thrilled to be supporting their literary work along with so many other Jewish authors by reading these stories, and at the same time contributing to Artists Against Antisemitism (this organization receives all profits from the sale of this book).

I landed in Israel on October 7th, 2023 while the attack was happening, and that terror followed by uncertainty and lack of safety has taken on a life of its own and now can be felt in many of our hometowns, nearby cities and other locations all over the country and the world. Jews make up less that 2.5% of the US population and the Antidefamation League (ADL) has reported over 10,000 antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024 (an increase of 361% with highest number of incidents in CA, NY, NJ and FL).

We all deserve to feel protected, loved and supported. Please pick up a copy of On Being Jewish Now for yourself and your friends and family. Reading these essays can lead to greater empathy, understanding, compassion, camaraderie and connection. ✡️