About that Book Club Selection…

Dear Reese (can I name you Reese?),

I not too long ago noticed your #ReesesBookClub announcement the place you revealed Kristin Hannah’s e book The Nightingale as your March e book membership choose. Normally, I wouldn’t have even given it a second thought. But I watched the video as a result of a fellow Rioter talked about that the e book was ostensibly chosen in response to rising antisemitism (as you referenced within the announcement). Oh, and only a notice on your captions: antisemitism is one phrase, and you may learn why right here.

But earlier than we get into the e book alternative, let me say this: as a Jewish dad or mum elevating a Jewish little one, I respect you talking up about antisemitism. I respect you desirous to make this related to readers, and to indicate them how harmful antisemitism is, and that it’s a very actual and rising drawback within the US. It’s too simple to disregard if it doesn’t have an effect on you or to brush it off, and also you aren’t. So for that, I thanks and applaud you.

Which is why it pains me to ask: are there any Jews in your e book membership group? Because I’m beginning to suppose there’s not. I’ll be blunt: this isn’t the perfect e book to decide on if you wish to tackle antisemitism. Let me clarify why, after which I’ll share a few of my favourite options.

Kristin Hannah may be a pleasant individual and an exquisite author. But she’s not Jewish, from what I’ve learn and from every part I’ve gleaned from articles and social media. She admits that she has no private expertise or ties with WWII. She was drawn to the ladies who rescued Jewish kids due to her personal expertise of being a mom. While I can perceive that, it’s additionally not fairly the identical. You wouldn’t select a white author in the event you have been excited about addressing racism, would you? Or an writer who isn’t Muslim in the event you wished to deal with Islamophobia, proper? Why, then, is selecting a non-Jewish author okay in the event you’re making an attempt to lift consciousness of antisemitism? The very least you possibly can do is select a Jewish author.

In one interview, she says that being a hidden little one remains to be not talked about quite a bit. Well, in the event you’re not in Jewish circles, I suppose it’s not. But I can let you know that so many people have grown up with tales. Stories of hiding. Stories of rescuers. These are tales we hear every year throughout Yom Hashoah occasions at our synagogues, or tales we all know of buddies’ households. I grew up realizing that a number of of my lecturers escaped. I grew up spending hours on the homes of my buddies’ grandparents, who had numbers on their arms. Multiple classmates had grandparents who have been survivors. This was commonplace. So I admit, it gave me pause after I learn that.

Then there are the primary characters within the e book: Vianne and Isabelle, our heroes. There have been many, many Righteous Among the Nations – tens of 1000’s, the truth is, who saved numerous lives. That is definitely one thing to honor. That’s what this e book honors. The e book facilities non-Jewish rescuers, not Jewish people. So it’s an odd alternative in the event you’re making an attempt to deal with antisemitism.

And the subject. WW2 and the Holocaust. Yes, it’s an essential historic occasion. Yes, there’s a stunning lack of Holocaust training. Yes, an alarming variety of younger folks don’t know a lot in regards to the Holocaust in any respect. But good lord, please don’t scale back us to one of many worst occasions in our historical past. We are greater than that. (I’ve written about that right here!). It’s actually essential to acknowledge that antisemitism doesn’t need to escalate to Third Reich proportions to be actually shitty. Things aren’t nice proper now for us. Some Jewish folks don’t really feel snug carrying their Star of David or Chai necklace exterior their shirts, or are nervous carrying a kippah. Orthodox Jews, who’re extra visibly Jewish than many different Jews, have constantly been focused for years, most not too long ago when two males have been shot in separate incidents by the identical individual. A current examine discovered that one in 4 hiring managers admitted they’re much less prone to transfer ahead with a Jewish applicant for a job. It’s the on a regular basis small cuts, the microaggressions, the feedback folks make with out realizing who they’re speaking to, the information tales or movies folks ship with good intentions – however you recognize what they are saying about good intentions, proper? These issues add up. It’s the generally overwhelming determination about whether or not to go to synagogue in individual or attend by way of zoom. It’s the concern after dropping my son off at Hebrew faculty.

But why deal with our victimization? We are a vibrant folks, with superb holidays, traditions, and an extended legacy of survival. Acknowledging atrocity is essential, however so is embracing pleasure, as a result of that in itself could be an act of resistance and reclamation. Learning about, recognizing, and combating antisemitism doesn’t all the time have to come back within the type of Holocaust lit or Holocaust training.

Some Recommendations

If you continue to actually wish to learn Holocaust lit, there’s a lot from which to decide on. If you’re going to decide on WW2 lit, why not go along with a memoir? There are tales that extra folks want to listen to – true tales, not novels, the place it’s simple for individuals who won’t know sufficient to brush issues off as fiction. Why not select Michael Frank’s One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World, a nonfiction e book about Levi, who’s a Sephardic Jew and a Holocaust survivor. Another nice possibility: Gerda Weissmann Klein’s All But My Life.

These tales problem us to bear witness. To acknowledge what they survived. If you need a WW2 story, in my view it’s extra respectful to decide on a real story, as an alternative of what I see as voyeuristic WW2 lit.

But you’ve learn loads of nonfiction on your e book golf equipment earlier than, so why not do that now? Dara Horn’s People Love Dead Jews: Reports From A Haunted Present is an excellent and blistering have a look at antisemitism at the moment. Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities by Emily Tamkin is an incisive have a look at Jewish id within the US, entangled with this nation’s lengthy, lengthy historical past of antisemitism.

If you continue to desire fiction, Rena Rossner’s The Light of the Midnight Stars illustrates the insidious nature of antisemitism, woven along with fairytales and Jewish folklore. Any of Naomi Ragen’s books are superb, however what about The Sisters Weiss or Jephte’s Daughter? Books that present Jewish custom, Jewish lives, and Jewish pleasure.

(Just as a aspect notice, I do know you usually select books that heart girls, however Michael W. Twitty’s Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew would even be an incredible alternative. His insights about Jewish id, his journey, and antisemitism are a lot wanted today. For your YA e book membership, why not select Veera Hiranandani’s How to Find What You’re Not Looking For, a novel by a Jewish writer that discusses antisemitism with out being in regards to the Holocaust?)

One very last thing – The Nightingale has over a million rankings on Goodreads. It doesn’t want your endorsement. Perhaps your clout could be higher served lifting up a lesser-known e book/writer.

I do know you’ve made your e book membership alternative, and I see and applaud your work in combating antisemitism – and thanks on your allyship. I simply want our historical past, our tales, and our survival weren’t consistently decreased right down to WW2. At the very least, a e book by a Jewish writer, centering Jewish characters, would have been a better option.

For these of you who really wish to learn books by Jewish authors, centering Jewish characters, try Matzah Book Soup Book Club.

Reese, in the event you want e book solutions, you recognize the place to search out me.

Jaime

If you’re in search of extra books by Jewish authors, try these Jewish fantasy books, and this publish about 100 must-reads of Jewish fiction.