The Promised Land? Authors in Israel Post 7 October
How has Israeli identity, life and literature been shaped by the seismic events of 7 October and their aftermath? Journalist and author Jenni Frazer leads a thought-provoking conversation about resilience, creativity and the enduring power of words with three outstanding Israeli writers: journalist Amir Tibon, whose The Gates of Gaza is the story of his family’s rescue from Kibbutz Nahal […]
New Fiction Voices
Three of the most compelling novelists to emerge in recent years join us to discuss their work and shared themes of family tensions, British Jewish life, and coming of age. Journalist Tom Lamont’s Going Home, named an Observer Debut of 2024, follows three men and a female rabbi who step in to raise a toddler. […]
Robert Popper: The Elsie Drake Letters
“Robert Popper is not only certifiably one of the Funniest People in the World™, but also the loveliest 104-year-old woman you could ever hope to meet.” Weird Al’ Yankovic With Friday Night Dinner, Robert Popper created one of the most beloved sitcoms of the century, cementing his place as a comedy genius. His impressive portfolio […]
Greg Doran: My Shakespeare
Sir Greg Doran reflects on his extraordinary journey through the works of the Bard, having directed or produced all 36 plays in Shakespeare’s First Folio, in conversation with Sir Anthony Seldon. Beginning his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company as an actor in 1987, Doran later served as Artistic Director from 2012 to 2022. In […]
The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading
Do you remember the first time you fell in love with a book? The stories we encounter in childhood shape us profoundly, offering glimpses of the past—both personal and collective—while inspiring dreams of new futures. In his groundbreaking exploration of the children’s literary canon, Sam Leith journeys from Aesop’s ancient fables through the Brothers Grimm, […]
Joe Dunthorne: Children of Radium
Joe Dunthorne’s great-grandfather, Siegfried, was a legendary figure in his family’s history: a Jewish refugee who daringly returned to Nazi Germany during the Berlin Olympics to stage a heist on his own home, and the eccentric inventor of radioactive toothpaste. But when the Submarine author became the first descendant to read Siegfried’s unpublished memoir, he […]
An Evening with Elif Shafak
One of the most acclaimed writers of our time, Elif Shafak returns to Jewish Book Week as her latest acclaimed global bestseller is published in paperback. Winner of the British Academy’s President’s Medal, Shafak’s work has been translated into 56 languages. Following the Booker Prize-shortlisted 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World and the […]
Genesis Emerging Writers
The fourth edition of the Emerging Writers Programme, in partnership with the Genesis Foundation, culminates in this popular panel event. This year’s talented cohort include Alison Green, Megan McKeown, Marianne Paget, Hannah Silver and Lucy Thynne (fiction); Sabine Casparie, Aleph Ross and Sam (non-fiction); Timothy Fox and Charlotte Salkind (poetry). They are mentored by Adam […]
Beyond Dispute
In our age of seemingly irreconcilable differences, argument is increasingly seen as a plague to be avoided or a contest to be won. Daniel Taub, an experienced peace negotiator and diplomat, argues that ancient Jewish wisdom offers a third way. Drawing from this tradition, and from his own experience at the heart of some of […]
Jewish Languages and Book Culture
Join us for a fascinating exploration of Jewish languages and book culture with Judith Olszowy-Schlanger, President of the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and César Merchán-Hamann, curator of the Bodleian Library’s Hebraica and Judaica collection. In conversation with Dr Samuel Fanous, Head of Publishing at the Bodleian Library, they will uncover how Jewish communities – from […]
Inside the Wingate: A Literary Showcase
Join us for a special celebration of the Wingate Prize, featuring readings from the shortlisted authors and a deep-dive into the Prize – awarded annually to the best fiction or non-fiction book that conveys the idea of Jewishness to the general reader. The event is a unique chance to hear from the authors themselves and […]
Foundation Course 4: The Jews and the Crisis of Modernity: The Shoah and its Impact: Israel and its Place in the Jewish World
Over the past 200 years, the Jewish world has undergone profound transformations. This short, overview course explores the complex journey of the Jewish people from the era of Enlightenment, which introduced ideas of emancipation, liberalism, and tolerance, to the present day, where those very forces have, in some cases, turned against them. Historian and educator […]