We study them, we write them, we consider them sacred objects.
So what are Bay Area Jews reading? What books are selling at Jewish bookstores?
“I look for books that give insight into being a Jew,” said Ellen Bob, co-owner of Bob and Bob, a Judaica store in Palo Alto. “It helps them understand the condition of being a Jew throughout history or contemporary America.”
Not surprisingly, that most central book to the Jewish faith tends to do heavy traffic. “Every year we do a bestseller list, and year after year after year, the best selling book is the Bible,” commented Bob. “People are just genuinely interested in how to bring Judaism into their lives.”
As far as fiction is concerned, one book stands out in recent Jewish literary history.
“The Red Tent,” written by Anita Diamant, explores the biblical story of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob. The novel takes a fictional spin on her life, family and community, and how she deals with incredible tragedy in her life.
A word-of-mouth phenomenon, “The Red Tent” has been a huge seller since it was published in 1997. When asked why her book is so successful, Diamant told copperfieldreview.com that it all has to do with making connections.
“Readers have told me how the mother, daughter, sister relationships resonate for them. And then there’s the Bible,” she said. “Whatever your relationship is to your sacred tradition in the west you have some relationship to the Bible, if only through the names of the characters.”
More recently, a new book titled “Rashi’s Daughters,” written by Maggie Anton, has taken the torch from Diamant, while using more research to explain the phenomenon that is Rashi and his daughters. Rashi, the authoritative creator of the Bible and Talmud, never had any sons, only daughters. Making the controversial decision to continue the teachings, Rashi taught his daughters his work, instead of holding back because they were not boys.
Besides fiction, another popular genre in Judaic text is the “how-to” book. Here Diamant continues to rule the Judaica store bookshelves. Returning to her roots, her guides “The New Jewish Wedding” and “Choosing a Jewish Life: A Guidebook for People Converting to Judaism and for their Family and Friends” are a staple in the Jewish community. In some circles, the guides have become the required reading assigned by rabbis from all streams of Judaism.
“Every month or so someone comes in and buys one or more of her books,” noted Afikomen book buyer Fred Isaac. “There is solid research involved, she knows the field and she writes simply enough so that people who don’t know very much can get involved. Her wedding book continues to connect to people who do not have a lot of Jewish knowledge but want to learn.”
Not everything is rosy for the independent Jewish bookseller, though. Internet commerce and chain bookstores continue to cut into their livelihood.
“I have been in business for 12 years, and I have seen the change in how people are buying books, at least in the Bay Area,” commented Nurit Sabadosh, owner and manager of Aleph Bet Judaica. “In the past, when new books have come out, we have held book signings with the food, wine and advertising, and then no one comes.”
Bob has seen this downfall in sales as well, but remains optimistic. “There are things that we offer that you cannot find on the Internet. We know which book would be best to give the non-Jewish son-in-law so he can absorb Judaism better. That kind of advice cannot be found on the Web. This is why the independent book store will always stay in business.”