Nominations for May, 2026 > Likes and Comments

Hi.
We’d love to get you more involved by exploring the kinds of books you enjoy most. Very similar to last months nominations.
*
What book have you set aside as your travel companion or Beach Read this summer?
Please choose only one.

I am reading books about the French philosopher Rene Girard. I started learning about him through Luke Burgis’ book Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Live.

So how does this tie to Judaism? Girard’s theories are based on the scapegoat story in Leviticus and how this cultural phenomenon results in violence towards specific groups of people (like antisemitism).

Now that is fascinating! I'm deeply invested in eradicating scapegoating in personal circumstances, and now I can see how this could be one possible source for Antisemitism. I definitely want to read Girard.

Half-Jew―Full Life: The Unlikely Journey of a Voluntary Jew from Nazi Persecution to the American Dream, from NetGalley.

I've got a new book coming out about Zionist antisemitism:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

It's also available on NetGalley (since the previous poster mentioned that).

De Effingers

Non-nominations, but on my list are:
Lucky Per, The Zelmenyaners: A Family Saga, and Fanny & Gabriel and The Tsimbalist.
Long Shabbat afternoons provide plenty of reading time!

Hey, thanks. P.S.: any of you who nominated your own book: not allowed. Sorry we didn't mention!

Joss wrote: "I've got a new book coming out about Zionist antisemitism....

Joss, after a lot of thought, I took down your post advertising your book yesterday. It isn't appropriate for this site.

You may know that Goodreads no longer supports private messages. I tried to respond using your email but I forgot to put the "uk" at the start, so my email came back.

I am a believer in free speech, but as all will admit there are some things it doesn't cover. Let me see where I might better follow up to you on my reasoning rather than on this Nominations thread. Better to do so in the light of day than privately anyway.

You don't believe that "free speech" should stretch to challenging antisemitism? Really?

I will always challenge antisemitism, and any other form of bigotry. So should you.

The discussion with Joss was continued at The Jewish Book Club and Antisemitism

I think we all agree with Josh’s intentions. Perhaps he can nominate another book.

Hi all.
First off, I forgot to include that authors may not nominate their own books. Thank you Jan for doing so.
We are looking for six to eight nominations; as of now we have three titles which I will vett.
I know I have set aside three, yet mods can't nominate or vote.

Nomination: ‘On Both Sides of the Wall’ by Vladka Meed, Steven D. Meed. Released 24 Feb 2026. Non-Fiction. He published in English, with additional documentation, his mother’s original Yiddish text.

Twenty-something years ago, a friend of blessed memory was retiring from the Rishut HaOtikot, and she sent a bundle of books with me back to the States because she was retiring and moving back. She was sending her favorite books back with friends piecemeal to lighten the weight of her luggage. She sent with me several books from the Children of the Lion series (don't confuse with the Mark of the Lion). Unfortunately, she passed away suddenly, and her children did not want the books.

So I started reading. And loved it. I quit reading after five or six books because I was too busy, but this summer, I've retrieved the first volume to read again. I want to see if it is as good as I remember. It's historical fiction set in the generation of Abraham and Lot. It may be out of print, but mass market paperback copies are cheap.

So, short story long,

Children of the Lion Book One by Peter Danielson

Stacey B wrote: "Hi.
We’d love to get you more involved by exploring the kinds of books you enjoy most. Very similar to last months nominations.
*
What book have you set aside as your travel companion or Beach Rea..."

Take a look at "Rabbi, Your Cleavage is Showing"

Beryl wrote: "Nomination: ‘On Both Sides of the Wall’ by Vladka Meed, Steven D. Meed. Released 24 Feb 2026. Non-Fiction. He published in English, with additional documentation, his mother’s original Yiddish text."

Thank you so much Beryl.
Will vett shortly.

Shanah wrote: "Twenty-something years ago, a friend of blessed memory was retiring from the Rishut HaOtikot, and she sent a bundle of books with me back to the States because she was retiring and moving back. She..."

Im sorry about your friend Shanah. What a great part of her legacy she left with you.
Going to vett as well. Thank you.

Michal wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "Hi.
We’d love to get you more involved by exploring the kinds of books you enjoy most. Very similar to last months nominations.
*
What book have you set aside as your travel compa..."

Ah. .. Michal,
Congrats on the publication of your book three days ago. We wish you well.
As with most groups on Grds including ours, authors cannot nominate their own books. Would you consider nominating another book?

Looking for at least two more nominations.
So far we have five choices.

1). Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Live.

2) Half-Jew―Full Life: The Unlikely Journey of a Voluntary Jew from Nazi Persecution to the American Dream
Georgette Bennett

3) De Effingers

4.) On Both Sides of the Wall’

5.) Children of the Lion (book #1 )

6.) The Jewish Policeman

****. 7.) Yarme and Keyle / looking for this book in English

How about the latest Adam Lapid investigation by Jonathan Dunsky: The Jewish Policeman.

I propose

Yarme and Keyle by Isaac B.Singer

Hermien wrote: "How about the latest Adam Lapid investigation by Jonathan Dunsky: The Jewish Policeman."

Thats the one I put aside for a trip, but then couldnt help myself. :)

Alessandra wrote: "I propose

Yarme and Keyle by Isaac B.Singer"

Hi Alessandra,
Im having difficulty finding an English translation /version
of this book. Is there one? I was going to put the poll up,
but I will wait until I hear from you. If there isnt one, by all means, choose another.