Nice Jewish Books
33 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsNice Jewish Books is a podcast focusing on adult Jewish fiction sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL.) 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 or character, it’s a candidate for our show!
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Episodes
Could we adjust Once We Were Home? a conversation with Jennifer Rosner
March 14, 2024 02:47 - 34 minutes - 28.1 MBDuring 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 independe...
Discovering the mysteries in Our Little Histories : a conversation with Janice Weizman
February 19, 2024 20:23 - 43 minutes - 34.5 MBWe 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 th...
Can a kid survive the turmoil of the 70s as well as his Bar Mitsvah? Adam Unrehearsed with Don Futterman
January 18, 2024 03:51 - 49 minutes - 38.9 MBAdam 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 wi...
New Translations of Yiddish Literature
December 12, 2023 00:02 - 1 hour - 47 MBWhile 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...
The Last Jewish Daughter of Kaifeng : a conversation with graphic novelist Fabrice Sapolsky
November 03, 2023 22:33 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBLeah 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...
Straddling Black & White: the travails of the Ethiopian Jews with author Kim Salzman
October 09, 2023 18:19 - 43 minutes - 28.4 MBWhen 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 autho...
Irena Klepfisz discusses Her Birth and Later Years with guest host Yermiyahu Ahron Taub
September 13, 2023 03:54 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBLesbian, 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 ...
We are not Strangers: Friendship between the Jews & Japanese in WWII era Seattle, a conversation with Josh Tuininga
August 13, 2023 20:32 - 27 minutes - 22.6 MBDuring 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. Foll...
On the Run in a House with Chicken-feet: a discussion Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
July 12, 2023 01:33 - 34 minutes - 24.9 MBIf 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 Genn...
Coming out in Florida ... Can love triumph? A discussion with Jacob Gelman about Butterflies in the Endzone
June 21, 2023 01:50 - 19 minutes - 16.9 MBWhen 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...
What are the Shadows We Carry? A conversation with Meryl Ain
June 08, 2023 04:46 - 32 minutes - 28 MBTwins 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...
Can this young Jewish Syrian woman find her way out of the Marriage Box? A conversation with Corie Adjmi
May 14, 2023 21:09 - 23 minutes - 16.7 MBCasey 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 Associa...
The Joys of Jewish sleepaway camp! Eric Glickman regales us with adventures a Camp Pock-a-Wockne
April 25, 2023 00:09 - 34 minutes - 29.4 MBWe 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 ...
Other Covenants, the ultimate "what ifs" of Jewish history and Jewish fan fiction
March 12, 2023 18:23 - 49 minutes - 34.5 MBWhat 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 ...
Speaking with AJL Fiction Award winner Omer Friedlander about the Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land
February 17, 2023 06:19 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBScheherazade 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 tra...
It's Always a Party with a Sephardi! from the Book of Life
January 15, 2023 23:05 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBThis 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 (downloa...
A Deathbed Confession reveals My Mother's Secret. A conversation with Alina Adams
December 07, 2022 04:52 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MBAfter 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...
The Surprisingly Modern Voice of Yiddish Author Fradl Shtok : a conversation with translators Jordan Finkin and Allison Schachter
November 15, 2022 00:42 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBIn 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 translat...
Almost Parallel Lives: The Thread Collectors by Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Goldman
October 17, 2022 23:20 - 39 minutes - 26.1 MBIn 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 shoc...
Justice or Revenge? Can Shanna Tell Them Apart and Prevent Another Murder?
October 07, 2022 02:26 - 24 minutes - 17.6 MBJourno (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...
Aviva Rosner is singing the Human Blues
September 15, 2022 17:38 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBAviva 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 H...
What can poison do in a Gallery of Beauties? a conversation with Nina Wachsman
August 15, 2022 21:13 - 44 minutes - 29.3 MB17th century Venice is fascinating time and place in history; especially for Jews. Join me for a conversation with Nina Wachsman 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 protege 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 ge...
Finding your soul-mate, The Matchmaker's gift with Lynda Loigman
July 14, 2022 19:12 - 32 minutes - 24.6 MBSarah 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: T...
How to Find Your Way in the Dark with Derek Miller
June 24, 2022 18:45 - 54 minutes - 36.8 MBJoin 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...
A Play for the End of the World, by Jai Chakrabarti
June 12, 2022 17:55 - 31 minutes - 21.2 MBWhat 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 Rabinow...
Love, Faith, and Talmud with Maggie Anton
May 09, 2022 20:48 - 43 minutes - 30.7 MBAfter 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 men...
Preventing the Chernobyl meltdown? or saving her family? Atomic Anna with Rachel Barenbaum
April 26, 2022 17:10 - 27 minutes - 19.3 MBMathemetician/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 t...
Just who is stalking whom in Bruce Berger's latest book?
March 19, 2022 18:35 - 31 minutes - 20.7 MBKayla 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, podcas...
Talking about Peculiarities with David Liss
February 09, 2022 01:01 - 35 minutes - 26 MBIt 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 thei...
Mirta Trupp and her persuasive Austen fan fiction
December 21, 2021 18:36 - 33 minutes - 24.6 MBMirta 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 the...
Secrets with Rachel Beanland
December 07, 2021 22:27 - 31 minutes - 20.2 MBCan 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/) Su...
Interview with Talia Carner
November 04, 2021 21:50 - 47 minutes - 33.6 MBTalia 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 inspiratio...
Mary Marks and Murder
October 13, 2021 17:13 - 30 minutes - 18.3 MBMary 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 book...