Literature

'A Life of the Mind': New biography reexamines the mind of Hannah Arendt - review

Recently discovered archival material and underutilized sources in German to illuminate her experiences and ideas, about antisemitism and Zionism as well as philosophy.

Hannah Arendt in 1958.
Dinaw Mengestu attends the PEN America 2026 Spring Literary Gala at American Museum of Natural History on May 14, 2026 in New York City.

PEN America president resigns after report warns of threats to Jewish, Israeli authors

Rare medieval Sefardi Torah scroll from the late 13th or early 14th century on display at ANU, Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv.

'Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land': America’s relationship with the Torah - review

Kim Philby, 1955

'Stalin’s Apostles': The Cambridge Five and the lost world of Jewish Communism - review


Technological fantasy: The new vision from audiobook producer Canarit Audiobooks

Israel’s Canarit Audiobooks partners with renowned fantasy author Nica to create cinematic multi-cast adaptations of her popular novels for the Israeli and global markets.

 Nica

Authors and entertainers sign CCFP letter against Israeli literature boycott

The Creative Community for Peace letter comes during a year when antisemitism is on the rise worldwide and Israeli and Jewish writers have been the targets of boycott calls.

 ANTI-ISRAEL BOOKS outnumber pro-Israel books in the Middle East section of the Harvard University bookshop.

A call to boycott Israeli literature by international authors

Among the signatories are such well-known writers as Sally Rooney, Booker Prize-winning novelist Arundhati Roy, and Percival Everett.

 SALLY ROONEY

Scribing the future: Matan’s fellowship paves the way for women’s Torah literature

Matan’s Kitvuni initiative is allowing women Torah scholars to produce high-level books of Torah scholarship.

RABBANIT ADINA STERNBERG at the launch of her Kitvuni book.

Jagged wounds bleed orange rust: Family dysfunction viewed through art - review

This is a well-written, offbeat, and powerful memoir, deserving of consideration.

 CONCRETE BUILDING frames. ‘Walking in a neighborhood of seriously deteriorated concrete is as sobering an experience as watching a marriage fall apart,’ the author of ‘Dwell Time’ states.

'Making sense of God' through Norman Solomon's new book - review

Solomon’s aim is not to indoctrinate or convert but rather to provoke thought and stimulate discussion.

 A man stands under the starry sky (Illustrative)

'After Camus: A Novel': The ghost of Camus haunts an American couple

An interesting, though bizarre book, and a nod to the writings of Camus about the survival or death of love and friendship.

 GRAVESTONE OF Albert Camus, a philosopher of the absurd

The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: the Talmud and feminine dichotomy

'The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic' discusses the six women in the Talmud who are cited by name, and matches them with six paradigms of the female.

 THE AUTHOR references ‘madwoman in the attic’ from Charlotte Brontë’s Gothic-style classic ‘Jane Eyre,’ connecting her to Talmudic stories about women.

Bestselling author John Irving makes appearance at the Jerusalem Writers Festival

The author, who appeared on Zoom because he had just caught a case of COVID, had planned to attend the festival in person – and promised his interviewer to come to Israel when his health permitted.

 JOHN IRVING (on screen) is interviewed by Ari Folman this week at the Jerusalem Writers Festival at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.

Jessica Cohen: Go-to English translator of contemporary Israeli literature

In addition to being bilingual, “she has a super sensitive ear for the texts she translates, and she strives to find the right English words and the right register for each book."

 Jessica Cohen has translated more than 30 books and dozens of shorter works by some of the most renowned Israeli writers.