This popular cultural extravaganza attracts celebrated authors and a wide audience from the Lower Mainland as they welcome an exciting roster of writers from across Canada, the US, and Israel.. The Festival week is jam-packed with innovative literary events including unique meet-the-author opportunities, readings and panel discussions, the annual book club event, writing workshops, children’s and youth authors, wellness and food subjects, interdisciplinary and multi-media events and two onsite bookstores – new and used, open throughout the week. This Festival offers something of interest for every age group and every literary taste.
A special pre-Festival event features Montreal-born and Brooklyn-based author Sigal Samuel– you’ll be able to tell everyone that you saw her before she became famous…! Sigal will be presenting her debut novel The Mystics of Mile End, which critics say is “brimming with magic and mystery.” (October 25)
Highlights of the 2015 Festival: Opening Night Gala Event (November 21) features SEAN MICHAELS in Conversation with Hal Wake. The winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize talks about his “haunting and brilliant” book Us Conductors; Hailed as “the great Israeli novel” (Time Out Tel Aviv) and winner of the prestigious Bernstein Prize; ASSAF GAVRON’s THE HILLTOP is a bestseller in Israel and now published in eight countries and counting; NOMI EVE headlining the Festival’s annual Book Club Event presents her new release Henna House. From the traditions of the Yemenite Jews, to the devastation of the Holocaust and the birth of the State of Israel, Eve brings to life a fascinating period in the twentieth century; guitarist STEVEN HANCOFF presents a richly illustrated, multi-media live presentation that spans more than 250 years, with his interactive e-Book Bach, Casals and The Six Suites for ‘Cello Solo: the rediscovery of Bach’s forgotten Cello Suites; RUTH TAL’s Closing Night Event is ideal for foodies. The celebrated restaurateur and entrepreneur shares over 200 delicious and energizing plant-based recipes in her new cookbook SuperFresh, bursting with natural flavours and pure goodness; AYELET TSABARI, winner of the 2015 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, presents the vividly cinematic short stories from her collection The Best Place on Earth;STUART ROJSTACZER , winner of the Outstanding Fiction Debut prize for The Mathematician’s Shiva reads from his wryly-funny coming-of-middle-age story; In Trees on Mars, Toronto’s cultural critic and author Hal NIEDZVIECKI argues that our society’s singular emphasis on creating and owning the “future” is unprecedented in human history, while outstanding local talent ecologist ALEJANDRO FRID searches for optimism with A World for My Daughter ; RABBI AVI WEISS will share the story of his struggle to free Soviet Jewry in the ‘70s withOpen Up the Iron Door.
Remarkable local authors include LEAH GOLDSTEIN, World Kickboxing Champ, former Israeli Commando and ultra-endurance cyclist with her book No Limits , children’s author and educator DAN BAR-EL with Nine Words Max and Audrey (Cow) which was recently named finalist in the Governor General’s Literary Awards, MARINA SONKINA and ADARA GOLDBERG and many other writers, events and genres.
“The Jewish Book Festival embraces everyone who loves the written word” says newly appointed Festival director, Dana Camil Hewitt. “Jewish writers are part of the diverse fabric surrounding us: their themes are universal, but their approaches as varied as the world we live in. We will be exploring connections of literature with music and the visual arts, discovering exotic and colourful Jewish communities, debating politics and the environment: there will be something for everyone with our diverse and entertaining selection of celebrated authors and panelists.”
Mark your calendars now! Regular updates and Tickets can be found on the website or by phone at 604.257.5111. The Jewish Book Festival program guide is available at select locations throughout the Lower Mainland after October 20, 2015. All events take place at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (950 West 41st Ave at Oak).
