SJM Book Club
More and more people are discovering SJM’s amazing online book collection, curated by our very own bookworm, Hephzibah Louise Bersten.
Join the Club for book reviews and future book events. SJM Book Club newsletter coming soon.
Book Reviews
Hidden Jews, High Seas : Was Christopher Columbus Jewish?
27 July 2026
While no definitive proof exists, many scholars have suggested that Columbus may have been a converso - a Jew or descendant of Jews, forced to convert to Christianity during the Spanish Inquisition but who continued to practise Judaism in secret.
More Than a Cookbook: The Story of Russ & Daughters
20 July 2026
Don't pass over this book thinking it's simply a cookbook. Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House That Herring Built is a rich and engaging family memoir that also happens to have some recipes.
Golems, Grit and Good Stories
15 July 2026
Three works of fiction that draw on the legend of the Golem to examine Jewish identity and survival across vastly different eras and times.
When Bashert Goes Bad: A Journey into Jewish Noir
6 July 2026
A collection of short stories by predominantly Jewish authors (with a few non-Jewish contributors) who explore the themes and sensibilities of noir fiction.
Beyond the History Books: Two Novels That Bring History to Life
22 June 2026
Historical fiction offers something that traditional history books often cannot: the opportunity to step inside the emotional lives of people from the past.
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