Rabbi Pein, Dir. of Congregational Learning Blog

Last spring, PBS launched “The Great American Read,”  an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey).
Like many people, I  have more time to read in the summer, and I try to take advantage of this time by reading as many books as possible from my  “want to read book list” on my IPhone.

This summer, I enjoyed reading two books in particular.  The first was The Orchard by Yochi Brandes. This is a historical novel about the origins of Judaism and Christianity, told through the eyes of Rachel, the wife of the rabbinic sage, Rabbi Akiva. This book is an amazing story about how the ancient Sages tried to chart a new course for Judaism after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. A must read for Jewish history buffs!

The second book was Eternal Life by Dara Horn.  In this novel, Rachel is a woman who has been cursed to live forever. Her lives take her through 2, 000 years and into the 21st century in which science is racing to discover the secret to immortality and her life may help unlock that scientific discovery.  With countless lives to live, Rachel also has to find renewed purpose in life itself. An interesting and contemplative story.

It would be interesting for us to put together a “Great Jewish American Read.”  What are the great books you are reading right now?  What are your favorite Jewish books? I would love to hear about them!
 Please share them with me by emailing me, Rabbi Pein, at educator@tinw.org.