Welcome

Welcome to the 34th annual Cherie Smith JCC Jewish Book Festival 2019!

If ever we could choose an actual theme for each festival, this year would be New Timeline, New Energy! We’ve made the leap to February and are planning to warm up your winter nights with this extended literary treat, an exciting line-up of writers from Canada, the US, Israel and New Zealand. This guide tells their story best. Take your time and savour the ideas , then please join thousands of your fellow book lovers to listen, meet, and interact with those outstanding authors. I think you will be inspired by their energy and conversations!

Amongst the many prominent names, we can detect overarching, universal themes: aspects of feminism and focus on women as central characters stand out this year; memoirs where the Holocaust is never too far away, even in third generation; joyful book launches by local authors and… we’ll end by celebrating Valentine’s with a side-splitting humourist! And following our cherished tradition, we are reaching out to the Jewish day schools and to the outlying Jewish communities with exciting author events, for children and adults.

The JCC Jewish Book Festival is a labour of love and teamwork. A heartfelt thank you to the group of true believers, the committee of lay leaders. But above all, we are thankful for the enthusiasm of readers like you, who come to the events, buy the books, spread the word and donate generously – you deserve the best!

DANA CAMIL HEWITT – Festival Director