Sharing Our Stories

by Elyse Deutsch

Women’s Philanthropy Book Club

“The books and discussions are stimulating, the people interesting and wonderful. I have made some great friends.” This is the feedback we received from Barbara Rood, long-time participant in the Women’s Philanthropy Book Club. Her sentiments were echoed by fellow attendees.

About 10 years ago, Janice Weinberg and I decided to form a Women’s Philanthropy Book Club. The club started in what was previously known as the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, but it has since expanded and now appeals to women all over the Greater MetroWest area.

We meet in the comfort of women’s homes, routinely hosting as many as 20 women at a time. Although a core group regularly attends our meetings, we often welcome women who can only come from time to time but who contribute interesting viewpoints to our discussions. As my co-chair Janice said, “Our book club is unique because it’s ever changing. This gives the group new dimensions and new perspectives.”

Many women appreciate the flexibility that our book club offers, and they enjoy its diverse makeup. Susan Rifkin explained that “our book club enables women of various ages and backgrounds to share their perspectives.” And Lisa Rouder said that she learns “something new each time” from this diverse group.

The books we select usually are written by Jewish authors and/or have Jewish themes, such as And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer or the next selection, The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff, who will be speaking at the JCC of Central NJ in December. But occasionally women simply recommend books that have gotten great reviews and might lead to interesting discussions.

“Our book club provides a forum to discuss our personal views, beliefs, and feelings in conjunction with the books’ plots,” said Isabel Berg. “Some of our religious observances are different but we share a rich Jewish heritage that binds us. We respect each other and enjoy the camaraderie and noshes!”

And what’s a book club without noshes? Eugenie Taub summed it up best. “I get cookies, wine, and a chance to meet new people,” she said. “The good read is a bonus.”

Living Bridge International Book Club

Our passion for books also binds us with our fellow Jews in Israel. Through its Global Connections department, Federation sponsors the Living Bridge International Book Club, uniting book lovers in Greater MetroWest New Jersey with their counterparts in Arad, Israel.

For more than 20 years, Arad has been one of our Federation’s sister cities. Located on the border of the Negev and Judean Deserts, near the Dead Sea, Arad has a diverse population of about 28,000 people that includes Russians, Ethiopians, Bedouins, and native-born Israelis. A Federation program called Partnership2Gether (P2G) aims at creating “living bridges” that connect Jews in Greater MetroWest with Jews in Arad through efforts that promote better understanding between the two communities in ways that are mutually beneficial.

The Living Bridge International Book Club is going on its third year. Bonnie Isaacson, a volunteer in the community, helped initiate the project because of the immediate and strong connection she felt towards Arad and the people she met through P2G. She was instrumental in starting the Book Club “as a way to maintain and further connect our NJ MetroWest community with my love for Arad and its people.”

Book Club members read the same book in English or Hebrew and then join together for a discussion via video conference. The major goal of the book club is to share a mutual passion for reading while also learning about each other. Conversations have centered around Israeli culture and history, and American culture and the diaspora experience. “It’s been thrilling to see how we can connect with each other while tackling topics that highlight both our common as well as our unique perspectives,” Bonnie said.

For Greater MetroWest participants, each book club meeting starts in the morning with a thematic workshop and a light breakfast. This is followed by a 1.5-hour videoconference with Arad. Bonnie reported that the Americans have been thrilled with the virtual discussion format.  “It gives people an opportunity to connect on a global and highly personal level to each other,” she said. “It’s fascinating to read the same book and get totally different thinking between the two groups – you gain insights about one another’s experiences and how they may see things through a different lens.” 

Book selections are as diverse as the participants. Last year the group read an immigrant tale that combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, as well as a novel about two love stories, written by an internationally acclaimed Israeli author.

Club member Miriam Seiden explained, “Sharing reactions to the selected novels with our Arad book club members adds a whole new dimension and diversity to our discussions and creates a living bridge for all involved.”

For further information about the Women’s Philanthropy Book Club contact Karen Auerbach Bocaletti at KBocaletti@jfedgmw.org. To learn more about the International Book Club contact Randi Brokman at RBrokman@jfedgmw.org.