On Tuesday, June 13, Jewish Light published a story by freelancer Bill Motchan about Congregation Shaare Emeth launching a “Banned Book Club” later this month. Club participants will discuss important books that have been banned by some school districts in Missouri and across the country.

The response to the story was immediate with more than 2,000 reads before noon. Given the interest in this topic, we want to provide you with some additional information about three other groups that are promoting and creating dialogue regarding banned books.

For context

Last year the Missouri legislature passed Senate Bill 775. The bill largely deals with child trafficking and sexual abuse and establishes a criminal penalty for providing “explicit sexual material” to students. The law orders possible jail time for any educators found to be in violation. The bill went into effect in August. Now Missouri is among a handful of states where book banning is prevalent, according to the reading advocacy group PEN America.

In addition to Shaare Emeth’s club there are three other programs created in response to the book bans.

ADL, the J partner on new lending library

In November 2022, The Anti-Defamation League, Heartland partnered with the Jewish Community Center of St. Louis in response to some St. Louis area schools banning several Holocaust books, including Art Spiegelman’s “Maus.”

The partnership established a new lending library with “Maus” and six other books about the Holocaust geared toward young readers.

To get an updated list of available books or to check one out, call 314-442-3294 or send an email.

In Purpose Educational Services and the St. Louis bookstore EyeSeeMe

In January 2022, In Purpose Educational Services and the St. Louis bookstore EyeSeeMe partnered to create their own “Banned Book Program.”

Each month the program partners select one book that has been banned and provide that book to households free of charge. All that is required is for families to fill out an online form. Click here for more information.

‘The Novel Neighbor’

The Webster Groves, independent bookstore the Novel Neighbor has its own “Banned Bookshelf.”  The shelf was also created in response to the books being pulled out of schools last year.

“Our Banned Bookshelf at the front of our store has current and previously banned books that we think every reader should pick up –– and they are available from us for 20% off. We will proudly press them into the hands of anyone interested, because we all learn and benefit from their existence,” posted the bookstore on social media.

The banned book list is also offered online.