February 2024

This March, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s Center for Jewish Education will be hosting the 2024 Jewish Book Festival. Mark your calendars for three enriching evenings spotlighting renowned authors and their narratives. Through their compelling books, we will delve into the vibrant tapestry of Jewish life and history, inviting you to engage, discover, and celebrate the Jewish experience through literature.

Opening Night with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Joshua Cohen — March 3, 7 p.m. in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts

 

The 2024 Jewish Book Festival kicks off on March 3 with author Joshua Cohen. Cohen’s book, “The Netanyahus,” has been hailed as a wildly inventive, genre-bending comedy of identity, history, and politics. It has won numerous accolades, including the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the 2021 National Jewish Book Award. Join us for a captivating discussion of this satirical, yet culturally significant novel and explore the ambiguities of the Jewish-American experience.

Empowered and Fit: Celebrating the History of Women’s Fitness with Danielle Friedman — March 7, 7 p.m. in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts

Jewish author Danielle Friedman joins us on March 7 for a ladies’ night out of fitness, food, and fun. Friedman’s book, “Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World,” unearths the untold history of women’s exercise culture. Join us for an event co-sponsored by Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy and the Levine JCC (LJCC) featuring drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a chance to “get physical” with LJCC fitness, followed by a book discussion on women’s empowerment through physical fitness.

 

Unbroken Spirit: Tales of Resilience, Courage, and Compassion, a Conversation with Two Authors — March 17, 7 p.m. in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts

Concluding the festival on March 17, authors Armando Lucas Correa and Weina Dai Randel engage in a powerful moderated discussion with Tair Giudice, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s chief impact officer. Correa’s “The Night Travelers” and Randel’s “Night Angels” offer compelling tales of resilience across generations and selfless courage in the face of incalculable evil. This conversation presents an opportunity to witness the convergence of two remarkable narratives of often unexplored aspects of the Jewish experience in the WWII era and beyond.

By celebrating Jewish literature through up-close and personal discussions with acclaimed authors, the 2024 Jewish Book Festival will engage and educate audiences of all backgrounds. Join us this March and immerse yourself in the essence of Jewish experiences through the art of storytelling. Tickets are on sale at jewishcharlotte.org.