Guide to Jewish Literature - March/April 2026

This critically acclaimed bestseller presents the captivating story of Clara Prinz, a remarkable woman forced to leave her native Berlin in 1939. As Clara traveled alone on a voyage into the unknown, she turned to memories of her adolescence during La Belle Époque – the Beautiful Era filled with optimism and cultural transformation at the dawn of the twentieth century. Through Clara’s chance encounters with notable personalities of the period, Clara’s Secret weaves an unforgettable tapestry of personal and historic events. Clara’s Secret is ultimately a compelling story of the advancement of humankind and the survival of its decline. 

Born at Mila 18 in Warsaw—future headquarters of the Ghetto Uprising—Edna Szurek was not quite five when Nazi bombs fell. Drawn from more than five hours of testimony recorded by the USC Shoah Foundation, Little Edna’s War recounts her survival: smuggling food through ghetto walls, hiding under a false Catholic identity, joining the Polish Home Army armed at nine under the nom de guerre Kajtek, fighting in the Warsaw Uprising, enduring Nazi POW camps. Poland awarded her medals for valor. At twelve, Pope Pius XII honored her as a Catholic war hero. No one knew she was Jewish.  

The most important haggadah of the decade: 150 pages of commentary connecting the traditional Haggadah to modern times. Did you know that Passover is a premier Zionist holiday? The Jewish nation was born, and God freed us to take us to the promised land. Teach the haggadah lessons of Zionism, how to defend Israel, how to become active in its defense. This second edition, updated January 2026, includes essays regarding the October 7 war. Fifth cup? Empty chair? Dayenu supplement? It’s all there.

A cartoon haggadah that follows the traditional steps of the seder. Written in a concise, contemporary style, it includes songs, games, recipes and prayers in English, Hebrew and transliterated Hebrew. It makes the seder fun and meaningful for family, guests and even for those “who don’t know how to ask.”

Co-published by CCAR Press and Central Synagogue in celebration of Rabbi Angela W. Buchdahl’s twentieth anniversary at the congregation, Haggadah Shel Erev Rav celebrates this sacred multivocality of the Jewish people, helping us rediscover the Passover story with fresh eyes and a vibrant imagination. The lucid, inclusive translation and commentary are enhanced by original illustrations by Indian Jewish artist Siona Benjamin, presenting in gorgeous color.

Operation Texas is a page-turning thriller that unveils the clandestine effort on behalf of Lyndon Baines Johnson to secure visas for Polish Jews on the eve on the Nazi invasion. Multi-lingual, Jewish, Texas-born Rosalind Fisher is handed the nearly impossible job of easing the visas through the US Embassy in Warsaw while also dealing with German spies. She must ensure the safety of LBJ’s good friend, Jim Novy, also Jewish, as he travels through Poland visiting family. Reviews say Anita “has struck gold again” after her novel, Helen by Anita Mishook.

A rhyming cadence with colorful illustration offers teaching opportunities for parents and teachers to discuss with young children the choices they may experience in the future and how their choices may impact and affect others.

In the 1970s, a Jewish University of Michigan student known as “Midnight” embarks on an unforgettable journey. Driven by a passion for rock music, Midnight hitchhikes 500 miles roundtrip to see David Bowie in concert. Along the way, Midnight encounters a motley crew of characters, each with their own quirks and secrets. This captivating tale, recounted from the perspective of the now-older author, transports readers back to a bygone era. Experience the exhilarating highs and daunting lows of hitchhiking, the magic of a legendary concert, and the profound life lessons learned along the way.

A sweeping historical novel tracing one Jewish family from pre-war Europe through the Holocaust, and toward the fragile hope of a homeland. Told with restraint and emotional depth, this story explores identity, memory, and love carried across generations—how what is hidden, lost, and remembered shapes who we become, and what we pass on.

Two Minute Torah gives fresh voice to an ancient wisdom that still resonates with 21st Century Jews. For every day of the year, the reader will find a two-minute passage of study, invigorating and inspiring, to either start or finish the day. The very readable explanations of the biblical and rabbinic citations will further confirm an old Jewish idea: whenever we learn something new, we have crossed paths with God. Whether God speaks to us with myth or math, one thing is sure: God is always communicating, and Two Minute Torah will open the reader to those compelling messages.

From the opening vignette in which a photograph is a silent witness to history to the powerful coda “Miracles,” a novella set against the vibrant panorama of the Yiddish theater in America, the fifteen memorable narratives in The Girls of Jerusalem and Other Stories span continents and eras as they chronicle love and loss, piety and heresy, mysticism and rationality to reinterpret ancient tropes of exile, dislocation, and profound change, revealing a new understanding of Jewish history and memory. “Luminous tales of exile and loss that bequeath new life” Kirkus Reviews (starred review). A best book of the year selection.

Felice and Ira Zaslow’s love story spanned almost four decades, from the beaches of Far Rockaway to a comfortable suburban existence on the south shore of Long Island. Then came the morning of September 11, 2001. Through the days, weeks, and months that followed, Felice had to find her way through unfathomable trauma, on a path she had to forge herself, seeking guidance and role models along the way. This remarkable and inspiring memoir puts a very personal face on a national tragedy, facing down the darkness by looking for the light that is always present.

I and the Village is a captivating coming-of-age story which recounts a life shaped by communal upbringing and the turbulent history of Israel. This moving memoir takes the reader on a journey, through the persecution of her family during the Nazi mass killing of Jews in Lithuania, to Estee’s life as a fledgling dancer on a young Kibbutz and her struggle for individuality. Her narrative weaves personal stories, historical perspectives, and reflection on trauma, survival, and the silent legacy of the Holocaust as she eventually decides to leave the kibbutz to study dance at the Martha Graham School in NYC.

Based on a true story. Growing up Jewish in the shadow of World War II, where love and danger intertwine in a gripping tale of suspense and romance. In this captivating psychological thriller, Francois, a young boy caught in the whirlwind of life’s uncertainties, finds himself entangled in a web of mystery and deceit. Navigating the streets of Paris, confronting the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Francois must summon the courage to confront his deepest fears and unravel the dark secrets that threaten to tear his world apart. This book will leave you breathless and longing for more.