Over six weeks, the 2024 Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival brought together bestselling authors, emerging voices, and an audience hungry for stories.
The festival began with a look into history, as novelist Rachel Beanland transported attendees back to 1811 Richmond with The House is on Fire on October 28. Her storytelling and moderator Mona Flax’s thoughtful questions painted a picture of courage and chaos in the aftermath of America’s deadliest theater fire.
The following week, Holocaust researchers Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa shared the extraordinary story of Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg as told in their book, The Counterfeit Countess. At this lunchtime event, Carol Jason, a Holocaust Commission member, interviewed the authors who described Mehlberg’s daring deception; saving thousands from Nazi persecution by posing as a Polish aristocrat. Attendees walked away not just moved but inspired to confront today’s injustices with similar courage.
The festival moved into the later 20th century and into the 21st on November 18 when Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat spoke with Virginia Beach City Councilman Joash Schulman about the behind-the-scenes accounts of the world-changing negotiations he describes in The Art of Diplomacy. His firsthand stories of high-stakes talks—spanning from the Vietnam War to the Iranian Nuclear Accord—left the audience with a newfound appreciation for the intricate art of global diplomacy. Read more about this event on page 35.
For something lighter but equally engaging, The Joy of Costco by David and Susan Schwartz was a hit on November 20. Who knew a warehouse retailer could spark so much fascination? From their behind-the-scenes tours of more than 250 Costco locations to quirky facts (like Costco selling more hotdogs than all Major League Baseball stadiums combined), the Schwartzes and moderator Joel Rubin had everyone chuckling — and rushing to renew their Costco memberships.
And who could forget the festival’s grand finale? On December 4, theater journalist Eddie Shapiro brought Broadway to Tidewater with Here’s to the Ladies. The cabaret-style event, which featured live music in partnership with Zeiders American Dream Theater and ROÙGE Theater Reinvented, was a dazzling tribute to the iconic women of musical theater. With heartfelt stories and powerful performances, it was a night that left everyone singing as they walked out the door.
The 2024 Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival wasn’t just about books—it was about people, stories, and the power of words to transform lives. The countdown to 2025 is already underway. Be there. Be inspired.
For more information and updates, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest
