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History and Heritage Month Reading Lists

Further suggestions and readings from the library!

Antisemitism in America

"Is antisemitism on the rise in America? Did the 'hymietown' comment by Jesse Jackson and the Crown Heights riot signal a resurgence of antisemitism among blacks? The surprising answer to both questions, according to Leonard Dinnerstein, is no - Jews have never been more at home in America. But what we are seeing today, he writes, are the well-publicized results of a long tradition of prejudice, suspicion, and hatred against Jews - the direct product of the Christian teachings underlying so much of America's national heritage." --Goodreads

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

"Joe Kavalier, a young Jewish artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-invaded Prague and landed in New York City. His Brooklyn cousin Sammy Clay is looking for a partner to create heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit America - the comic book. Drawing on their own fears and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. With exhilarating style and grace, Michael Chabon tells an unforgettable story about American romance and possibility."       --Goodreads

The Ghosts of Rose Hill

"Ilana Lopez-a biracial Jewish girl-finds herself torn between her dream of becoming a violinist and her immigrant parents' desire for her to pursue a more stable career. When she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her aunt's cottage, she meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy named Benjamin, who died over a century ago. Rudolph Wassermann, a man with no shadow, has become fascinated with [Ilana] and the music she plays. [After] Ilana discovers the truth about Wassermann and how Benjamin became bound to the city, she resolves to save the boy she loves, even if it means losing him - forever."  --Publisher

The Unfinished Corner

"Jewish mythology says that when G-d created the universe, a tiny corner of it was left unfinished. Opinion is divided on why, but everyone agrees that it's a dangerous place full of monsters. Twelve-year-old Miriam neither knows nor cares-- she's too busy preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, wrestling with whether she even wants to be Jewish-- until a peculiar angel appears, whisking her, her two best friends, and her worst frenemy off to this monstrous land with a single mission: finish the Unfinished Corner." --Publisher

Antisemitism and the Politics of History

"This groundbreaking collection addresses the history and challenges of using 'antisemitism' and related terms as tools for historical analysis and public discourse. It encourages readers to rethink long-standing assumptions regarding the meaning of Jewish history and the history of relations between Jews and their neighbors. ...It is a critical resource for scholars, policymakers, and journalists researching antisemitism, the Holocoust, and modern Jewish society."            --Publisher

 

From the Popular Reading Room

 

 

Fiction

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Poetry

Graphic Novels

Cookbooks

 

Jewish American Law and Academia