Read

Look for these titles in local library—many libraries also have books available to check out for digital download to your e-reader, or consider supporting the gift shop at your local Jewish museum. Many titles are also available for purchase at ShopTheWeitzman.org.

See below for a few more suggestions to get started.

 

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Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life by Rabbi Shai Held (2024)

“A highly literate, thought-provoking, persuasive argument for the centrality of love in the Jewish faith.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

What Jewish Looks Like by Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard

“In a world where anti-Semitic violence has steadily risen since 2016, this book delivers a reminder that Jewish people are musicians, athletes, activists, religious leaders, and just like everyone else—complex people.” — School Library Journal

Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories by Mike Rothschild (2023)

It is “quite timeless in how it elegantly untangles fact from fiction. I can imagine encouraging people interested in the function and history of antisemitic conspiracy theories to read it for years to come.” – The Washington Post

Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt (2019)
“Read Lipstadt’s new book. And then give it to your children and grandchildren. It is that good—and it is that relevant.” —Jeffrey Salkin, Religion News Service
The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar's and Everything

“Informative and irreverent, welcoming and witty, it is enthusiastically recommended.” —Booklist

…And so many more titles to explore. Be sure to check out the Jewish Book Council‘s reading lists and reviews.

Antisemitism and Related

  • People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present  by Dara Horn (2022)
  • Maus by Art Spiegelman (first published as a serial in the 80s)
  • Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories by Mike Rothschild (2023)
  • Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt (2019)
  • Letters To My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi (2018)

Nonfiction Titles Across the Spectrum of Jewish American Life

  • Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs, and Rituals by George Robinson (Updated 2023)
  • Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life by Rabbi Shai Held (2024)
  • Ashkenazi Herbalism: Rediscovering the Herbal Traditions of Eastern European Jews by Deatra Cohen and Adam Siegel (2021)
  • Speaking Yiddish to Chickens
  • The Cost of Free Land
  • Jewish Priorities
  • The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything
  • Most Fortunate Unfortunates
  • This is Your Song Too: Phish and Contemporary Jewish Identity
  • The American Way

Food & Diverse Jewish Cultural Heritage

  • Koshersoul
  • Kugel and Frijoles: Latino Jews in the United States
  • My Life In Recipes
  • I Could Nosh by Jake Cohen
  • Sephardi: Cooking the History. Recipes of the Jews of Spain and the Diaspora, from the 13th Century to Today
  • Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking Cookbook
  • The Jewish Deli

Children/Young Adult

  • Tia Fortuna’s New Home
  • “Nice” Jewish Girls
  • How to Find What You’re Not Looking For
  • Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

More to explore!

 

Jewish American Heritage Month