Book lovers, get ready. The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is back, Nov. 5-19, every day except Saturday, Nov. 18. The annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is a nationally recognized event, now in its 45th year, and one of the largest in the country.
This year there is a fully packed schedule of authors and events, with book topics ranging from the serious to the light-hearted, from history, antisemitism and finding one’s purpose to cooking, mystery novels and games (mahjong!).
“We have a wonderful mix of popular festival returnees as well as many new faces and topics to welcome to the J this November,” said Hannah Dinkel, director of literary arts at the Jewish Community Center. “There is truly something for everyone this year.”
There is no keynote speaker this year, but the festival will feature several headlining authors, among them Martin Fletcher, Mitch Albom, Rebecca Rosen, Andrew Rea and Rebecca Minkoff.
“The absolute ‘don’t miss’ speaker is Martin Fletcher,” said Barb Raznick, who is co-chair of this year’s festival, along with Barb Kramer.
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 have 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 7 p.m. 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.
Psychic medium Rebecca Rosen will discuss her new book, “What’s Your Heaven?” (described by Dinkel as “an invitation of self-introspection and discovery”) at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6.
YouTube cooking sensation Andrew Rea will discuss his cookbook, “Basics with Babish,” on Tuesday Nov. 7, in conversation with St. Louis Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb.
Designer and social activist Rebecca Minkoff, author of “Fearless,” speaks at the festival’s Women’s Night on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in conversation with the Jewish Light’s Editor-in-Chief Ellen Futterman. Dinkel described Minkoff as a “fashion designer, business mogul, podcaster and activist for women and mothers in the workplace.” Her latest book is “a biographical guide of how women can live up to their fullest potential in all that they strive for,” Dinkel said.
Women’s Night kicks off with a local Women’s Business Expo, with light refreshments at 5 p.m. before the author’s appearance at 7 p.m. The event will also collect lightly used handbags for National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis’ Resale Shop. Minkoff is donating five handbags for a raffle taking place that evening.
Mitch Albom will discuss his novel “The Little Liar” at the festival’s closing event on Nov. 19. In his book, Albom “explores uncharted waters in his creative process, and for the first time in his career, creates a narrative surrounding Greek-Jewish survivors of the Holocaust and a camp commandant who tormented them,” Dinkel said.
More Festival highlights
“Back by popular demand is Game Day,” Raznick said. “Participants can play mahjong, bridge, rummy cube or a game of their choice, have lunch and hear a presentation by Ruth Weiner on her fun novel, ‘The Mahjong Mavens of Boca Raton.’”
Game Day is Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Edison Gym, starting at 10 a.m., with Weiner’s talk at 1 p.m.
The festival will commemorate Kristallnacht with a free event at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 featuring Wolf Gruner, author of “Resisters,” which tells the story of five Jews (a merchant, a homemaker, a real estate broker, and two teenagers) who resisted persecution and defended themselves in Nazi Germany.
Sports Night features Evan Drellich and his book, “Winning Fixes Everything,” about the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. Drellich will be interviewed by sports journalist and St. Louis native Tamar Sher.
Panel discussions include a World War II Memory Panel at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, pairing non-fiction authors Cynthia Ehrenkrantz (author of the memoir “Seeking Shelter,” detailing her early years as a young Jewish child in wartime London) and Jeremy Eichler (author of “Time’s Echo,” about four famous composers who turned their WWII experiences into musical works).
A pair of festival events take place outside the J’s campus this year. Marlene Trestman will discuss her book “‘Most Fortunate Unfortunates,” about the Jewish Orphans’ Home of New Orleans, during a 1 p.m. Nov. 15 talk at the University City Public Library. The festival’s annual Arthur Gale Jewish Lives series will feature Andrew Meier, author of “Morgenthau: Power, Privilege and the Rise of an American Dynasty,” at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Washington University Law School’s Moot Courtroom in Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Festival co-chairs Kramer and Raznick have additional favorites they are looking forward to.
“I am also so pleased that we are welcoming Michael Strassfeld with his book, ‘Judaism Disrupted,’” Raznick said. “For many years, I was the director of the Brodsky Jewish Community Library and the two most used books for general information and ‘how to’ on Judaism were Rabbi Strassfeld’s first and second Jewish Catalogs. His latest book is a different kind of “how to” — how to hold on to faith and participate in a new Judaism.” Strassfeld will be interviewed at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 by Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation.
Kramer said one of her personal favorites is Andrew Mellon, who will discuss his book “Calling Bullsh*t on Busy,” at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8. She said she thinks his book “will appeal to everyone in the work force, volunteer worker or if you just need to organize your … He combines research in neuroscience with some common-sense tactics to address the ‘busy’ in everyone’s life.”
St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
WHEN: Nov. 5-19
WHERE: Most festival events take place at the J’s Staenberg Family Complex in Creve Coeur, 2 Millstone Campus Drive.
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices vary, and some tickets include a copy of the book as well as admission. An All-Access Pass is available, which includes the festival from Nov. 5 -19, plus the Bookend events for $136.
MORE INFO: For a full schedule or additional information, visit stljewishbookfestival.org or call 314-442-3294.
Festival books can be purchased at the on-site Jewish Book Festival Bookstore, run in collaboration with The Novel Neighbor. The festival also has raffle tickets for prizes (individual tickets for $5, five-ticket bundles for $20).
Check the festival Hotline at 314-442-3299 for schedule changes.
