Books coverage is supported by a generous grant from The Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund.
Welcome to J.’s semi-regular column featuring new releases across genres by Jewish authors in Northern California. Writers have been busy creating new works about Jewish leadership, World War II, the Catskills and more. You can find these books online or at your local bookstore.
“Re-Visioning Zionism: Reflections on My Life in Service to the Jewish People”
By Rabbi Brian Lurie and co-author Jeff Saperstein (308 pages, Spines)
Lurie, father of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and former senior rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El in S.F., traces his career, including his ordination as a rabbi and his time as executive director of the Jewish Community Federation and as president of the New Israel Fund. The book is a veritable who’s who of Jewish leadership, with a foreword by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. It is a memoir of service, interwoven with personal recollections from Lurie, who lives in Marin County.
“Reviving the Artist Who Fought Hitler: My Life with Arthur Szyk”
By Irvin Ungar (368 pages, University of Texas Press)
Polish Jewish immigrant Arthur Szyk, a prolific anti-Nazi artist during World War II, created world-famous art protesting the Nazis and segregation but fell into obscurity after his death in 1951. Ungar’s memoir recalls his own decades-long efforts as a collector and scholar to bring Szyk’s art into wide recognition again. Ungar previously served as rabbi at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame. The book is set to publish in June.
“A Time to Hide”
By Marion Seidemann Fredman (96 pages, The Collective Book Studio)
This book, for readers ages 9-12, tells the story of Grete and Julius, who fled the Nazis to take refuge in a Dutch attic and eventually welcomed a baby girl — the author, Marion — while still in hiding. Based on Fredman’s family history, the narrative is complemented by historical photographs, keepsakes and documents. A glossary and translation guide support young readers’ understanding of the complex historical context. Fredman lives in Berkeley.
“Troika: Three Generations, Three Days, and a Very American Road Trip”
By Irena Smith (256 pages, She Writes Press)
Smith’s memoir takes three generations of women — Smith, her mother and her daughter — on a road trip that uncovers deep memories and stories. Her mother brings tales of migration from Soviet Russia to the United States, while Smith’s Gen Z daughter dishes on internet memes, all amid the backdrop of the California coast. Smith is an author and college admissions consultant. She lives in Palo Alto.
“That Catskill Summer”
By Bart A. Charlow (321 pages)
Harking back to the Catskill summer resorts seen in “Dirty Dancing,” Charlow’s novel follows main character Aaron as he searches for love across decades in the Borscht Belt. Charlow writes from his experience growing up at such a resort. He is the author of two previous nonfiction books about Catskill resorts, “A Catskill Carnival: My Borscht Belt Life Lived, Lost and Loved” and “Pickle Barrel Tales: More Borscht Belt BS.” He was previously a therapist, educator and CEO of the nonprofit Samaritan House. He lives in the Bay Area.