How to honor Jewish Book Month

There are many ways to celebrate this month-long tribute to Jewish books and ideas. You could create a book club with friends and see how many Jewish books you can read in one month, or read books about Jewish culture, traditions or the Jewish American experience. You can find books at the Jewish Book Council, Fig Tree Books, CCAR Press or Behrman House. Or why not organize a Jewish cookbook night? Invite some friends over and cook dishes from Jewish cookbooks.

But the best way to get involved is to attend the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. Running through Nov. 17, this festival is one of the largest and most celebrated of its kind, offering something for everyone—from talks with authors to discussions on topics ranging from history to humor. This is your chance to connect with the stories, ideas and voices that have shaped Jewish culture and continue to inspire. So let’s make this Jewish Book Month one to remember, keeping this vibrant tradition going strong in St. Louis and beyond.

One more thing

Personally, my family is convinced I’ve never actually finished a book—much less two. So, while “voracious reader” might be a stretch, they’re wrong. And to get in the spirit, here’s my official “National Jewish Book Month Books I’ve Actually Read” list:

1. “Tough Jews: Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams” by Rich Cohen
   In 1930s Brooklyn, a group of men, now nearly legend, formed the infamous “Murder Inc.” Growing up in Brownsville, these Jewish gangsters rose from street fights to becoming the enforcers for a national crime syndicate. “Tough Jews” dives into their world and the gritty realities of mob life, providing an in-depth portrait of the muscle behind infamous figures like Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano.
2. “People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present” by Dara Horn
   In this 2021 book, Horn explores why societies worldwide seem captivated by Jewish suffering and death but often ignore the struggles and lives of actual Jewish people. This collection of essays provokes a tough but necessary conversation on why people respect the dead more than the living, aiming to make readers uncomfortable—and thoughtful.
3. “Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its Moods” by Michael Wex
   This witty look at Yiddish is both a portrait of the language and an insight into Jewish culture. With a blend of humor and history, Wex uncovers how Yiddish captures the essence of Jewish survival across centuries. From tukhes to meshuganah, this book is a trove of culture and language that reveals the mindset and resilience that have defined Jewish life.
4. “Step One: Killing Hitler” by William Dean Hamilton
   This dark comedy follows a Jewish brother and sister who travel back in time, accidentally kill Hitler, and face surprising results. As they try to fix their changes to history, things get increasingly worse. “Step One: Killing Hitler” is a blend of humor, history and the science-fiction consequences of meddling with the past—a fascinating, often absurd, adventure.
5. “All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business” by Mel Brooks
   This memoir captures the meteoric rise of Mel Brooks, from Depression-era Brooklyn to receiving the National Medal of Arts. Through his service in World War II to his career beginnings in the Catskills, Brooks’ knack for comedy shines. From his work on “Your Show of Shows” with legends like Carl Reiner and Neil Simon to creating “Get Smart” and his iconic film hits like “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” Brooks recounts his journey with his signature wit. His accomplishments span film, TV, and even Broadway with his Tony-winning musical “The Producers”—and this book has all the laughs and wisdom of his career.