The Great Jewish Bookshelf is ready to inspire 2025 reading journeys, starting with an exceptional lineup for January. Beginning Jan. 1, subscribers will choose their first book from a selection of titles that touch on Jewish identity, history, and imagination. Subscribers will have the opportunity to add one copy of a bonus book, It Takes Two to Torah by Abigail Pogrebin and Rabbi Dov Linzer, for just $10.
January’s selections
1. The Letter in the Scroll by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Readers are invited to explore what it means to be part of the Jewish story in The Letter in the Scroll. This passionate work argues for embracing one’s Jewish spiritual inheritance and personal link in the chain of Jewish history. Craig Schranz, a member of the Jewish Innovation steering committee and facilitator of Tidewater’s Rabbi Sacks Community Book Club, calls it, “A tour de force that you won’t want to put down!!! If there is one book you could pass on to your children to instill what it means to be and live as a Jew, this is it. Rabbi Sacks passionately argues for each of us to embrace our spiritual inheritance and forever be a letter in the scroll.”
2. Mother Doll by Katya Apekina
This intriguing novel blurs the boundaries between the real and the supernatural, weaving a tale about familial relationships, forgiveness, and the mysteries of life and death. Hilary Truman, a member of the Great Jewish Bookshelf 2025 selection committee, says, “Have you ever wondered what lies beyond death or wished you could speak with someone who has passed on? What if one day, your long-dead great-grandmother called just to chat?
In this book, readers are invited to explore the boundary between the real and the supernatural, blending life’s hardships with an otherworldly twist. It touches on the struggles of familial relationships, particularly between mothers and daughters, and asks the question: ‘How do you ask for forgiveness?’ More importantly, it challenges us to reflect on whether we can offer forgiveness when it’s needed most.”
3. Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War by Matti Friedman
Matti Friedman’s powerful memoir takes readers into the heart of Israeli life and the complexities of its conflicts. Reflecting on his experiences as a soldier, Friedman sheds light on the pain, joy, and determination that shape Israel’s story. Rabbi Michael Panitz of Temple Israel recommends the memoir, writing, “If you want to get a feel for the true dynamics of being an Israeli—the pain as well as the joy, the frustration of facing implacable foes and the honesty to discuss mistakes and seek to learn—then Pumpkinflowers is a good place to start. Matti Friedman speaks from experience and shares the wisdom he gained from thinking hard about the realities of his country’s predicament. Read it without preconceptions, because this is a book designed to make you think.”
How the selection process works
Subscribers to the Great Jewish Bookshelf can make their first selection starting January 1. Every two months, subscribers receive an email with a curated list of titles; they who can choose the book that resonates most with their interests or explore something entirely new. Each book is carefully chosen to deepen subscribers’ connection to Jewish culture, heritage, and ideas.
Don’t miss the special bonus book!
Those subscribing before January can add It Takes Two to Torah for just $10. This exclusive offer is available only to subscribers and promises to enrich an understanding of Torah through engaging insights and practical wisdom.
Visit JewishVA.org/GJB for more information and to subscribe.