As 2025 winds down and Jewish Book Month marks its 100th year, the final stretch of Tidewater’s Jewish Book Festival offers a meaningful way to gather in community, reflect on the year behind us, and celebrate the stories that connect us.
The conversation resumes with Michael Shapiro, founder of Ketubah.com, on Wednesday, November 12, at 12 pm. Shapiro invites audiences into the world of Jewish marriage contracts, not as legal documents, but as living art. In Ketubah Renaissance, Shapiro traces the ketubah’s 2,500-year evolution from a groom’s pledge to a canvas for modern love stories. His talk is paired with a companion exhibit of contemporary ketubot, curated by Shapiro and on display in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery through November 16. Tickets are $15 for JCC members, $20 for potential members and includes lunch. Pre-registration required by November 4.
The festival goes virtual for a special Jewish Book Month centennial event on Tuesday, November 18 at 1 pm with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, senior rabbi at Central Synagogue and the first Asian American ordained as a rabbi, along with author and journalist Abigail Pogrebin, for a conversation about Buchdahl’s memoir, Heart of a Stranger. The book is a spiritual guide for everyday living, and the discussion promises insight into faith, identity, and belonging.
Presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council and JBC member sites, including the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. Pre-registration required by November 17.
The festival returns in person with Rachel Simons, founder of Seed + Mill and author of Sesame: Global Recipes & Stories of an Ancient Seed on Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 pm. Simons takes readers on a flavorful journey through the history and cultural significance of sesame, from its ancient roots to its starring role in global cuisine. It’s a night for food lovers, storytellers, and anyone curious about how something so small can carry such a big story.
The volume turns up as Rick Mersel, founder of Norfolk’s iconic NorVa venue, shares his memoir All Revved Up and Ready to Go on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 pm.
From bar mitzvah dance floors to punk rock stages, Mersel’s story is a loud, raw, and wildly funny ride through Norfolk’s music scene. It’s not just a memoir, it’s a mixtape of rebellion, belonging, and the Jewish kid who helped build a cultural landmark.
Tickets are $10 for JCC members, $18 for potential members and includes a dessert reception. Pre-registration required by November 12.
The festival closes with Corey Rosen, expert storyteller and author of A Story for Everything on Thursday, December 11, at 7:30 pm. Rosen’s interactive evening blends laughter, inspiration, and practical tips for mastering the art of storytelling. Whether a seasoned speaker or someone who avoids the mic at all costs, Rosen will help participants find their voices, and maybe even their next great story.
Presented in partnership with the Konikoff Center for Learning.
As 2025 wraps up and a century of Jewish Book Month is marked, these final events offer a chance to come together, share space, and celebrate the voices that have shaped the year. Whether through art, memoir, food, music, or laughter, the Jewish Book Festival reminds that stories, especially when shared in community, are what keep community connected.
For details and tickets, visit JewishVA.org/BookFest.
Hunter Thomas is director of Arts + Ideas at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more information about the festival or to sponsor or volunteer, contact Thomas at HThomas@UJFT.org or 757-965-6137.