Hadassah Magazine's Guide to Jewish Literature - July/August 2018

In a compelling drama, a Bronx family fights to overcome hardships through wit, wisdom and tenacity as their younger daughter searches for faith and reconciliation in the midst of danger during the Six Day War in Israel. A beautiful narrative that weaves the Fifties and Sixties in an authentically rich journey of American and Jewish history, identity and soul.

A plot-twisting, suspenseful tale of a ‘60s Jewish teenager’s fight to free his black carpenter mentor, falsely accused of murder, with the help of an only-in-the South soup-mix of colorful characters. Jewboy of the South’s provocative  insights into the mind and morality of Judaism and the South are sprinkled with Torah, sex, hilarity, violence and reflections on Martin L King. Black prostitute, May, and Clara, Klan daughter, sing and redeem. 50 shades of Oy Vey!“….compelling and vividly written. Audacious”— Katherine Bernheimer, Boulder Jewish News.  “..barnburner… never stops boiling from page to page.” —Boulder Daily Camera

In 1905, when Rebecca leaves her shtetl in Ukraine to join Samuel in Milwaukee and Ingrid leaves Norway to become the Picture Bride of Lars, a farmer in North Dakota, by mistake officials at Ellis Island send them to each other’s destination. Lost in alien cultures, they struggle to return to their fiancés. But the love that blossoms between Rebecca and Lars threatens their plans.

“Compelling…engaging…a moving family saga”—Kirkus Reviews. 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. A stunning novel of uncovering your heritage and discovering your destiny.

Harpoon tells the story of a secret Israeli mission – code-named “Harpoon” – that fought to choke off terrorists’ oxygen supply, money, using innovative tactics and strategies. Among the many revelations, the authors show how Hamas received funding through U.S.-based charitable donations and diverted the money to carry out suicide bombings and terrorist attacks inside Israel — including attacks that resulted in the deaths of American citizens. Harpoon’s efforts successfully shut down these programs with spy-thrilling dare, while lawyers pursued devastating court judgments in New York against major banks that helped launder terror money. A true-life thriller you just can’t put down.

A contemporary fantasy adventure that the entire family will enjoy! After finding her living uncle’s death certificate and seeing her terminally-ill stepfather recover overnight, eighteen-year-old Corinne Greene wants to learn about her family’s secrets. Her relatives won’t reveal anything, but with the aid of Allen, an educator-in-training, she delves into her Jewish ancestry, discovering unique abilities and a connection to a medieval “sorcerer” known as “The Fox”. Then her brother Daniel is abducted. Using her newfound talents, Corinne must find Daniel and defeat his captor. If she fails, her “Family of the Fox” may be erased from existence.

In Tel Aviv, under daily missile attack during Operation Desert Storm, when every heart seeks comfort and companionship, complex affairs and a world of crisis bring conflicts of love, betrayal and unforeseen commitments. A young charismatic nurse lives and works by her own code of honor in a strict Orthodox hospital—until one day a married doctor emerges with a campaign of seduction that could endanger her livelihood, reputation and self-respect. “…a powerful first-hand look at what everyday life was like in Israel when most Americans were watching Shock and Awe on the 24-hour news channel.”—Mike Ball, Erma Bombeck award-winning author.

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!

A National Jewish Book Award finalist. On a journey back to the “old country,” a scholar discovers his family’s stories in an old farm, a hidden cemetery and people who still remember his ancestors’ names and honor them as fighters against oppression 200 years ago when a gentle doctor faced his personal demons with the help of the man reverently called “the Angel of Death.”

“Magnificent… a novel of epic proportions that tells of three strong women, a nun, a rabbi and a minister as they face the struggle for legitimacy and recognition…”—Rabbi Stephen L. Fuchs. A Catholic Sister wants to become a priest. One of the first women rabbis and one of the first women Presbyterian pastors must choose between their lovers and their careers. When the three attend a dinner to receive an award, each recalls fifty years of her life and journey to forge a path-breaking career and find her voice, and each makes the decision that will forever change her life.

Leaner and lighter Mediterranean cuisine. A collection of Mediterranean-style Kosher family recipes handed down from mother to daughter from Esther Salem, Sarina’s grandmother, the first Syrian Jewish caterer in Brooklyn. These authentic, traditional salad recipes are beautifully photographed and have easy to follow directions. Each has a glorious blend of Middle East flavors. Sarina has adapted some recipes to accommodate modern thinking about healthy eating. Perfect for beginners and vegetarians.

A young lawyer, Samuel Baas moves from staid New England to the hothouse world of Miami where he represents an accused Nazi war criminal and Haitians who, if deported, face retribution from the murderous Tonton Macoute.  Head of a crime family, his father takes a special interest in his son’s legal career. A romantic and virgin, Baas wants love before sex. His experiences leave him wondering, “Is love for someone else?” Over a span of ten years, Samuel Baas journeys toward intimacy and his Jewish people.

An inspiring anthology of true stories about Israel’s birth, immigrant roots, and contemporary society. Discover extraordinary Israelis who strive to improve the lives of Jews and Arabs, apply technology to third-world problems, and seek peaceful coexistence with neighbors, in keeping with Israel’s founding ideals. MIRACLE NATION offers pride-inducing stories to all ages about Israel’s caring, can-do, and hopeful spirit.