The Goddess of Warsaw is a historical fiction novel written by Lisa Barr. This is the story of a World War II Jewish assassin who escaped the Warsaw ghetto. She leaves behind a painful past and finds fame as a Hollywood actress, but her secrets don’t stay buried forever. In 1943, Bina Blonski was a…

The Gates of Gaza is a story of the love that parents have for their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. It is also a story of unspeakable evil, as well as a story of unimaginable courage, strength and resilience. This, in other words, is a story of October 7, 2023 in Israel. Amir Tibon was a…

As a collector of cookbooks I was thrilled when a good friend gifted me a copy of Jerusalem: A cookbook, by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. This is not your usual stereotypical Ashkenazi Jewish cookbook. Far from it. This is the winner of James Beard award for International Cookbooks. But just because it won an…

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel is my favorite book to read with my daughters, ages 1.5 and 4, during Hanukkah. It’s a classic that I loved as a child, and it’s become a special holiday tradition in our home. The story is the perfect mix of folklore, humor, and spookiness. It always…