November Library Notes Part 2

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There are lots of links to share as November passes its midpoint and lots to do. Thanksgiving is only a week away; a few days after we welcome Hanukkah.

So there will be much entertaining, many family gathering, and loads of cooking going on.

But before getting into that, here are some sites to share. They are in no particular order, so browse away.

On December 12, 1995, the factory that made fleece for many major manufacturers was destroyed by fire. In an act of great hesed, the owner Aaron Feuerstein, an observant Jew, embraced his Jewish values. He paid his workers and he helped them financially; but even more important he pledged to rebuild and thus continued to provide jobs for hundreds of people.

At the time, Mr. Feuerstein was lauded as a great example. He passed away recently, but his example is worth recalling

Booker Award winning British author Howard Jacobson has an imaginary conversation with a college freshman on how to respond to contemporary antisemitism. You’ll find it in the latest issue of Sapir. Share this with your college aged children who may very well be facing the issues Jacobson discusses.

Jacobson says :”Zionism is the expression of a people’s soul: It is a longing and a necessity, a Utopian fantasy, an understanding of history, an act of reasoning, an act of despair, a prayer, a poem, and a song. Hate the poetry of my soul and you hate me.”

Advice to a Jewish Freshman

 

Another reminder about CSP and My Jewish Learning, two organizations that present (mostly) free outstanding programs of Jewish interest. Many of the programs are recorded so you can watch at your convenience.

Join the mailing list atoccsp.us19.list-manage.com

You may enjoy this book/author talk coming up in early December. With Hanukkah on the horizon, read the new fun, romance novel The Matzah Ball and then engage in a question answer session with Jean Meltzer, the author. The Association of Jewish libraries is opening this talk up to everyone. But you must register for the 12:30 December 6 session.
Register here

For more from The Matzah Ball’s author who wants Jews to read more romance, one of the most popular fiction genres visit this link.

Some years ago Edmund de Waal made a splash with the story of his family told through the artworks including a priceless collection of Japanese netsuke that the family collected. The Hare with Amber Eyes opens on November 19 through May 22, at the Jewish Museum .On display will be pieces from the Ephrussi/ de Waal family’s collections.

De Waal’s latest books is Letters to Camondo, a collection of imaginary letters to one of the storied French Jewish families famous for the wealth and collection of art. Find it in the library. For a look at the Camondo family see this previous article

Are you interested in sports?. There’s now a weekly (every Friday) Jewish Sports Report from JTA and Alma which will focus on “ Jews to watch in every sport, the most memorable Jewish sports moments of each week, a look back at Jewish sports history and much more.” Sign up here

For Thanksgiving and/ or Hanukkah, how about some cranberry orange rugelach? The link to the complete recipe follows, but there is an easy short cut. Use frozen or chilled pastry dough if you are in a rush and a good quality premade cranberry relish. Roll the cookies as you usually would. They are not quite as good as totally homemade but are still delicious. And you should be able to freeze them successfully. Here’s the recipe.

Happy Thanksgiving/ Happy Hanukkah/ BItayavon!

 

 

 

 

 

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