 RE:writes
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Welcome to the Jewish issue. (Did you know I'm Jewish?) All you anti-Semites can get out of here (and kiss my tuchis on your way out), or, stay and learn a thing or two. I'm a proud Jew, like it or leave it! (I'd really prefer you leave if you don't like it.)
Sunday evening marks the start of Rosh Hashanah. It's our Jewish New Year, but we swap the cheap champagne and party hats for apples and honey, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a Jew whose Rosh Hashanah celebration ended with an awkward one-night stand.
Rosh Hashanah is a holiday to be spent with family and friends, reflecting on the past year, and looking forward to the year to come.
So this week is a special one for me. I'm sharing eight book recommendations, all written by female, Jewish authors. And while we're talking about Jewish women, let me introduce you to Rabbi Splansky, the Senior Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. She's a wise and badass woman, who had so much insight to share on female empowerment in the Jewish community, forgiveness during this reflective time of year, and the one Jewish food she could live without. I'll give you a hint, it's the most divisive food in all of Jewish cooking.
If you're elbows deep in gefilte fish as I write this, preparing for your Rosh Hashanah celebration, my interview with Anna Rupert, daughter of Bonnie Stern (yes, that iconic culinary legend Bonnie Stern), will leave you feeling inspired. Bonnie is truly a trailblazer in her field, and her latest cookbook, Don't Worry, Just Cook, offers a helpful mantra to inspire even the most timid chef. (Hello, are you there UberEats? It's me, Rebecca.)
And speaking of blazing...if the one thing keeping you from cannabis is your strictly Kosher lifestyle, have I got news for Jew! I spoke with the Director of Oy Vapes about their line of Kosher cannabis and their "How Chai (חי) Are You?" T-shirt, which admittedly had me laughing out loud like a total stoner (and I was totally sober!).
Shanah tovah!
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 RE:caRE:s
Jewish authors and characters.
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We Share the Same Sky: A Memoir of Memory & Migration by Racheal Cerrotti (Blackstone Publishing 2022) is nothing short of an epic retracing by Racheal Cerrotti of her grandmother's journey throughout the Holocaust. Racheal travels to the documented places and meets the ancestors of those who aided in her grandmother's amazing escape and survival. It's a meticulously researched and lovingly written memoir that will leave a lasting impression.
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I think Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier & Wendy Katzman (Sourcebooks 2021) was written for me. It's a mix of Real Housewives and Gossip Girl, about three mothers who go to ridiculous lengths to secure one coveted spot in an elite college for their kids. Considering their actions, I should have hated these characters, but I loved every one of them. The story had me on the edge of my seat. #LOVEDIT
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Ladyparts (Random House Publishing Group 2021) is not only a memoir by writer and photojournalist Deborah Copaken but also a reflection on the failings of the healthcare and social service systems in the United States for single mothers with serious health concerns. The book starts with her separation from her husband and then chronicles the stress, health, and financial issues that followed. She had to decide whether to use her money for her children or her health, a morally painful question. Written with honesty and humour, this is another exemplary memoir from Copaken.
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He Gets That from Me by Jacqueline Friedland (SparkPress 2021) is a moving novel that explores medical ethics, surrogacy, and the rights of biological parents. Maggie, a struggling young mother, answers an ad to be a surrogate for the large payout that comes with it. She is paired with Donovan and Chip, carries the baby successfully, and walks away with her payment. Ten years later, she is contacted regarding a shocking DNA result. Told from the duelling points of view of Maggie and Donovan, this compelling novel will stir every emotion you have.
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Thirty-something singer Aviva Rosner is about to release her fourth album. As her star is rising, she is also desperately trying to have a baby, but it’s not happening. When she realizes that she may have to turn to IVF, she has a tough time accepting that having a family is not as easy as making music about it. Told during the span of nine menstrual cycles, Human Blues by Elisa Albert (Simon & Schuster Press 2022) is a magnetic and entertaining account of feminism, infertility, and how women view and treat their bodies.
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In Yiddish, a yenta is a meddler or a gossip, but it was also the name of the matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof, so many still use it as a term for a matchmaker. In Mr. Perfect on Paper by Jean Meltzer (Mira Books 2022), Dara is a modern Yenta who comes from a long line of matchmakers. But, she created a dating app that uses technology to pair couples. The app has been very successful, but the algorithms have never worked for her. After her Bubbie finds Dara's wish for her perfect man, they go on a TV show, where the anchor, Chris, suggests they follow Dara in her quest to find a partner. Jean Meltzer proves again why she’s the queen of star(of David)-crossed lovers.
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Two parallel journeys to Israel, intersecting in the Tel Aviv Hilton, have more in common than meets the eye. Jules Epstein is a 68-year-old wealthy New York philanthropist and art collector who cleanses himself of all his possessions and heads to the desert. Nicole is a novelist looking for a solution to her crumbling marriage and hoping to find inspiration for her new book. Impressive in scope and structure, Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss (HarperCollins 2018) is a contemplation of the contemporary Jewish meaning of life.
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Rue Des Rosiers (Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd 2019) is the story of Sarah. She leaves her troubles in Toronto and heads to Paris, where she hopes to enjoy its charms but instead stumbles into a horrible terrorist attack. As a result, she is forced to reflect on the issues she left back home, her religion and culture, the realities of Antisemitism, choices, and chance. Based on a 1982 anti-Semitic attack on a delicatessen in Paris, Rhea Tregebov draws from her experience with this attack. She masterfully weaves layers of complexity and emotion into this novel.
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 tRE:at
No books here. Here's a giveaway to pamper one lucky winner.
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This is going to be a really sweet new year for 15 lucky winners. This week, I'm giving away:
- Five copies of Don't Worry, Just Cook ($35 value)
- Five "Chai how are you?" T-shirts from Oy Vapes ($25 value) and
- Five Apple iTunes cards ($25 value). (Get it, Apple because of Rosh Hashanah!)
Email me below to enter, and if you win, I'll reach out to let you know what sweet prize you've won!
P.S. The winner of last week's Amazon giveaway is (drum roll please)...Cynthia (Cyndie) Horner!
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*tREat contest rules here.
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