It’s the season book lovers have been waiting for: the annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is back, Nov. 2–9, for a week’s worth of author, pre- and post-fest events.
And this year, the festival begins a year-round Speakers Series.
“This year’s festival feels both expansive and deeply rooted in tradition,” said Jessica Fischoff, director of literary arts at the Jewish Community Center. “We’re thrilled to bring back some of our community’s favorite programs, like Women’s Night and Missouri’s Own, while introducing new partnerships, venues and themes that reflect how literature connects to every facet of life.”
The festival once again delivers its signature mix of fiction, history, memoir and more, offering something for every reader. From cooking and comedy to music, sports and family dynamics, the lineup spans the full spectrum of storytelling.
Audiences can expect powerful true stories, explorations of art in wartime and fresh takes on Jewish folklore. Some events come with extras such as receptions and live performances.
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Expanding the festival’s reach year-round
While most programs will be held at the J’s Mirowitz Performing Arts Center, special sessions are also planned at the St. Louis Art Museum and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
“We’ve made a special effort to broaden our lens, featuring authors who explore resilience, identity, humor and the Jewish experience in fresh, compelling ways,” Fischoff said. “We’ve also expanded our definition of what ‘literary’ means, welcoming speakers who may not be promoting a new book but whose voices and ideas spark meaningful connection and conversation within our community.
“While we continue to celebrate a full week of festival events, the festival has grown into a year-round series that keeps conversation alive throughout the year,” she said, noting pre- and post-fest events. “This approach allows us the opportunity to bring in more voices and perspectives beyond what we can fit into a single week or are available to visit during the month of November.”
Pre-festival and opening night highlights
Cathy Dobkin and Laurie Chod, co-chairs of this year’s festival, wanted to highlight a special pre-festival event. On Oct. 29, author and Haaretz reporter Lee Yaron will discuss her book “10/7: 100 Human Stories,” drawn from firsthand accounts of survivors, first responders and bereaved families of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.
The festival opening night is Nov. 2, with Pulitzer Prize finalist Andrew Leland and his “The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight,” at 7 p.m., also at the Performing Arts Center.
Leland’s “memoir is a beautifully crafted exploration of disability, family and perspective, making it a perfect way to open a festival centered on seeing the world through new eyes,” Fischoff said. “Opening night sets the tone for the entire festival — thoughtful, heartfelt and deeply human. His conversation will explore how we navigate change, difference and connection, core themes that resonate throughout the festival.”
From Hollywood to home design
Fischoff said she is excited to welcome actor and podcaster Joshua Malina, known for his TV roles in “Scandal” and “The West Wing,” whose reflections on being Jewish in Hollywood have earned him a loyal following; and interior designer Nate Berkus, who will bring an inspiring perspective on creativity, home and storytelling through design. Together, she said, they embody the depth and diversity that mark this year’s festival.
Malina will be interviewed Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center by St. Louis native Jessica Radloff, the West Coast editor of Glamour magazine and author of “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.”
Berkus will speak about his new book, “Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal,” at a post-fest program Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in the J’s Edison Gym.
“We are especially proud to welcome Nate Berkus this year,” Fischoff said. “He’s only doing a handful of appearances on his tour, and we’re honored to be the only Jewish organization he’s visiting.”
Special events at the Garden and Art Museum
For the first time, two programs will take place at special locations, one each at the St. Louis Art Museum and Missouri Botanical Garden.
“Partnering with the Garden and the Art Museum allows us to bring literature into two of the most inspiring spaces in the city,” Fischoff said. “Both venues provide a stunning backdrop for storytelling and discussion, and these partnerships reflect our mission to celebrate Jewish voices within the broader cultural life of St. Louis.”
Nutritionist Diana Goldman will speak about vegan eating and her book, “Plants for You,” at the Garden on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.
The Art Museum will be the spot for “Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France,” Christopher C. Gorham’s book about the artist’s experiences in World War II, which he will discuss Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.
Women’s Night and Missouri’s Own return
Favorite returning events will include Women’s Night on Nov. 6, starting with a reception at the Edison Gym at 5:30 p.m., followed by author Jane Eisner at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. She will speak about her book “Carole King: She Made the Earth Move,” about the legendary singer and songwriter.
“Women’s Night always brings together an incredible crowd for conversation and connection,” Fischoff said. “This year’s event will feature live music by local musician Mattie Schell, who will be performing songs by Carole King, adding a beautiful and memorable soundtrack to the evening.”
Also returning to the lineup will be Missouri’s Own, a longstanding favorite that spotlights local authors of fiction and nonfiction. The panel will take place Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. This year’s panel includes an impressive mix of voices:
Gail Benick’s “The Courts on Maple Drive,” a novel that follows a spirited widow in her 70s who discovers pickleball as a path to independence, all while confronting her Holocaust survivor mother’s fading memories and the fallout from one fateful summer night on the court.
In Ronald Gieseke’s “Baseball Bench Coach,” America’s pastime takes center stage through personal anecdotes, historical context and the insights of a lifelong fan who has chronicled his love of the game in a popular blog for six seasons.
Frances Levine, former president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society and Missouri History Museum, brings a St. Louis connection to “Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail,” which recounts the experiences of women whose journeys helped shape a history too often told through the lens of men’s exploits and expansion.
And Max Levin’s “Under the Stretcher” offers a powerful, firsthand account of the 2014 war in Gaza, called Operation Protective Edge. The American-born Israeli soldier chronicles his path from learning Hebrew and joining the elite Palchan Tzanhanim unit to the emotional reckoning that followed his time as both soldier and then peacekeeper in the West Bank.
Closing events and continuing conversations
Other highlights at the Performing Arts Center will include novelist Esther Chehebar, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., who will discuss “Sisters of Fortune,” set within New York’s Syrian Jewish community; Susan Dominus, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., who explores sibling relationships in her book, “The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success”; and renowned poet Edward Hirsch, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m., who will share insights from his witty and poignant memoir, “My Childhood in Pieces: A Stand-Up Comedy, a Skokie Elegy.”
The festival will end Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. with brothers Ben and Max Berkowitz, creators of the new graphic novel “The Writer.” Fischoff said their work “dives into Jewish folklore through a modern and visually striking lens,” blending art, myth and storytelling.
Fischoff said, “It’s the perfect way to end the week, bringing together humor and reflection while celebrating how Jewish stories continue to evolve.”
Ticket information and the full lineup of authors and events, as well as the upcoming Speakers Series events, is available on the festival website, jccstl.com/festival-events-schedule.
