NBC News Correspondent to talk about Israel-Hamas War at St. Louis Jewish Book Festival

Published October 29, 2023

The war in Israel has been at the top of mind since it began on October 7, when the terrorist organization Hamas brutally attacked Israel and committed horrific atrocities that has led to so much suffering and loss.

In recognition of this moment of collective concern and interest, the opening night of the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival will now focus on this crisis. Martin Fletcher, author of “Teachers” will be live, in-person at the J on Sunday, November 5 at 7pm. Fletcher, former NBC News Correspondent, and bureau chief in Tel Aviv for nearly thirty years, has elected to adjust the content of his interview on November 5 at 7 p.m.

In lieu of primarily discussing his book, Fletcher will speak about the real-time tragedies in Israel and its war against Hamas. Fletcher, who was stationed in Tel Aviv for more than 30 years as NBC news bureau chief and is currently working as a contributor to NBC’s coverage, is a true expert on modern Israel and will give incredible insider insight into the current climate.

“It just seems to me incongruous for me to give a long talk about the book [“Teachers”] at this time,” said Fletcher.

At the book festival, Fletcher will answer questions and offer the St. Louis community his experiences and thoughts about the issues and developments of the Israel-Hamas war. Ellen Futterman, Editor-in-Chief of the St. Louis Jewish Light will moderate the discussion.

In addition to Martin Fletcher, the festival will offer a diverse lineup of bestselling authors, investigative journalists, historians, and more. Highlights include:

Mitch Albom, author of the #1 Bestseller “The Stranger in the Lifeboat,” will close out the festival on November 19 discussing his latest novel, “The Little Liar,” which will be officially released during the book festival. This moving story of three Holocaust survivors focuses on the consequences of what they said, did, and endured as children to survive such a devastating moment in history.
Internationally acclaimed intuitive self-improvement advisor and psychic medium Rebecca Rosen will take the stage to discuss her book, “What’s Your Heaven? 7 Lessons to Heal the Past and Live Fully Now.” This book is a guide to overcoming harmful intergenerational patterns and tapping into your own divine guidance to start living the life you were born to lead.
YouTube star Andrew Rea will lead Cooking Night speaking about his book “Basics with Babish”, a kitchen Bible for a new generation of home chefs and a proud reclamation of mistakes which encourages you to learn from your and Andrew’s missteps alike.

Participants can also expect names like Andrew Mellen, Benyamin Cohen, Diana Fersko, Aaron Hamburger, Weina Dai Randel, and Michael Strassfeld to present their latest books throughout the festival. See the full lineup of authors and event, or purchase tickets.