Hadassah Magazine's Guide to Jewish Literature

Until her enchanting French mother died and her famous uncle became her guardian, Paige never knew the pain and passion of the secrets in a hidden diary. She never knew the Holocaust was part of her story. Protecting Paige, a captivating saga about a young girl’s coming-of-age and a man’s quest for a lost love, is a rich tapestry, spanning three generations.

A heartfelt, hopeful and inspiring account chronicling how a rabbi confronted a devastating diagnosis. Sprinkled with humor and insights from Jewish tradition, it ultimately is an uplifting message of hope that offers encouragement and inspiration. A wonderful read for anyone who may be facing cancer.

Provides the tools and understanding you need to create a conscious Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience. Step-by-step guides and riveting true stories help all involved to feel personally “touched by Torah.” Featured at the Jewish Futures Conference, this innovative approach reduces stress, while teaching the building blocks of a mitzvah-centered life through connections to family, friends, community and heritage. Featured at the Jewish Futures Conference. “Excellent and useful”— Jewish Book Council.

In this, her second cookbook, Sarabeth Levine, James Beard Award winning Pastry Chef and renowned restaurateur, serves up her classic morning recipes designed for the home cook. Among them, you will find her cheese blintzes, Mandelbrot with Jam, Challah loaves, Hungarian Coffee cake and other Jewish specialties from her childhood. The easy-to-follow recipes come with technique tips and make-ahead instructions that guarantee effortless entertaining.

Gabi Khasani is stunned one morning to learn that her parents have arranged a marriage between her and a long-forgotten grade school crush, Joel Steinberg. As they reconnect, Gabi and Joel find much to appreciate in one another and discover how deeply their shared background unites them.

Part of the Jewish Book Council Author Tour. From the mansions of Chicago’s North Shore to the European capitals of Paris and Berlin, from WWII to the present day, this compelling historical fiction follows a beautiful Impressionist painting and a young love diverted by the Nazis. From a world torn by the horrors of war, a love story emerges that endures through years of separation.

What if the Religious Right took over the fertility business? When the son of a Hasidic Rebbe and a Catholic social worker search for the birthmother of a girl with leukemia, they are stalked by Renaissance, a ruthless corporate alliance between God and greed. Are human lives becoming a commodity?

In 1940, Churchill, a friend of the Jews, was fighting Hitler alone. The book imagines what might have happened if the Jews joined Churchill in the fight against Hitler.

The treasured bond between bubbies, zaydees and grandchildren is lovingly shared in Bubbie’s Baby, a musical story of a bubbie, zaydee and grandchild celebrating the joys of exploring the world. This tender tale comes to life through a CD-single/book, featuring a toe-tapping melody and beautiful vocals sung by singer/songwriter/author. Guaranteed to create memories together with sing-along fun!

Touted by Gloria Steinem (“courageous”) and National Book Award winner Mark Doty (“marvelous”), Uncovered is the very first memoir of a gay person who left the Hasidic fold. Uncovered begins with Lax’s arranged marriage, then recounts  her teenaged move toward cult-like faith, estrangement from  secular family, and endless motherhood during thirty years among the Hasidim, as creative, sexual, and spiritual longings simmered on. Since its release, Uncovered has remained at #1 in “Women & Judaism” on Amazon. It has been hailed by Booklist as a Top 10 title in “LGBT” books and “Religion & Spirituality.” Lambda Literary calls it “groundbreaking.”

Focusing on everyday life in Czernowitz of the 1930s, this is an eye-witness account of the author’s childhood, teenage years and young adulthood. The author manages to capture decisive events of the 20th century in individual chapters, each covering one year, along with vignettes of daily life. After an adventurous escape from the Russians, the author remained in defeated West Germany until 1951 when she came to the United States.

“From turbulent Nazi occupied Paris to plush Palm Beach in 1961, this one will take you on a ride you won’t forget.”

Named to “Top Twelve of 2012” best novels.

“5 Soaring Stars.”

“Authentic details of the time-periods that make it fun to read.”—Reviewer Deborah Previte.

“…bursting with riveting mystery, suspenseful twists and love scenes that sizzle and pop.”—Reviewer Cari Pestelak.

“…well told, well plotted out and executed perfectly.”

“It’s witty, fun and sassy.”

The thrilling sequel to Exceeding Expectations

“Sophisticated, Smoldering and Suspenseful = Sensational!”

“The characters…are so rich and complex I feel as if I know them all.”

“A compelling and superbly written book that will fill you with anticipation until the very end yet still leave you wanting more.”—Reviewer Crystal Fulcher.

“For readers who wish to be totally engrossed in a story and feel transported thru time and space.” —Reviewer Marilou George.

“This book has it all! …romance, mystery, sex and crime…a story that you will not be able to put down.”—Reviewer Charla Wilson.

New! Jan. 1, 2016

The Third in the Series

Follow your favorite unforgettable characters in this suspenseful page-turner. The title is from a Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best is now.”

A book club favorite and finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, this acclaimed memoir of growing up a Turkish Jew in a fortune-telling, belly-dancing family illustrates Sephardic life, the foods, fear of the Evil Eye and the author’s struggle to walk again after polio. Booklist calls it “A joy to read…a profoundly moving memoir.” Now in paperback with Discussion Questions!

Christian missionaries calling themselves messianic “Jews,” Jews ingratiating themselves to Evangelical Christians for their support of Israel, the overuse of the term “Judeo-Christian” and the increasing use of Jewish rituals in Christian churches are among the factors that blur the lines between Judaism and Christianity. Judaism and Christianity: A Contrast explains, from a Jewish perspective, the irreconcilable differences and mutually exclusive beliefs of the two faiths.

“The unifying theme of Why We Remain Jews is the beauty of the Jewish religion [and] why adherence to Judaism is so tenacious. Very highly recommended for students of Judaism, [for] both community and academic libraries.”–Midwest Book Review. “…valuable and wise reflection of Jewish history and Jewish survival.”—Rabbi David J. Wolpe. “A welcome, warm-hearted book that provides inspiration and amusement.”—Michael Medved.

In Tel Aviv, during Operation Desert Storm, Sharon Lapidot, a beautiful young nurse, begins an affair with a married doctor amid a culture of strict Jewish faith. Vividly told, this compelling journey of love and lust, honor and betrayal, loss and redemption, will move you—and perhaps even change you. “…It tells the story of the heartbreak of forbidden love between star-crossed lovers. This is the story of love, romance, conflict and finding oneself…”—Amazon Reviewer Coco.