Jewish Arts & Bookfest
In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, the Magnes will host its first Jewish Arts & Bookfest.
In the Magnes tradition of incubating Jewish cultural events such as the SF Jewish Film Festival and the Jewish Music Festival, the Arts & Bookfest will bring together authors such as Daniel Handler (A.K.A. Lemony Snicket) and Josh Tuininga, a reading by the Yiddish Theatre Ensemble, and presentations on topics including Jewish mothers, Russian Jewish Literature, and a special session with Jeff and Jodie Morgan of Covenant Wines discussing their cookbook “Food and Wine: A Jewish Journey.”
In person at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA
Adults: $20
Youth (under 18): $5
Students: $5
Museums for All: $5
Keynote
Bestselling Author Screenwriter, Playwright, and Musician. (A.K.A. Lemony Snicket)
Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and Bottle Grove. His new book on writing And Then? And Then? What Else? has been described as “fully captivating” by Kirkus and “dazzling” by Booklist.
As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award.
Photo by Meredith Heuer.
Featured Presentations
We Are Not Strangers
with Josh Tuininga
Inspired by a true story, the national award winning graphic novel, We Are Not Strangers follows a Jewish immigrant’s efforts to help his Japanese neighbors while they are unjustly incarcerated during World War II.
Food and Wine: A Jewish Journey
with Jeff Morgan
Sharing a personal history of how wine and food brought Jeff Morgan and his family back to Judaism, the winemaker will discuss the symbolism in Jewish foods and share snacks from his new cookbook with a bit of Covenant wine.
From Life to Novel: My Journey into The Anatomy of Exile
with Zeeva Bukai
Zeeva Bukai will present photographs, articles and documents from her family histories and talk about how these stories are woven into her debut novel that explores Jewish identity, Mizrahi – Ashkenazi marriage, and forbidden love between an Israeli and Palestinian.
Exhibitors
Afikomen will have a pop-up shop, wiht a selection of books featured in the Jewish Arts and Bookfest.
Ayin Press is an independent publishing platform and interdisciplinary creative studio rooted in Jewish culture and emanating outward.
The 11th Annual Bay Area Book Festival: Changing the Narrative in Downtown Berkeley May 31-June 1, 2025.
Ben Yehuda Press is a Jewish publisher who find the right books to reach more Jews where they are.
The Jewish Community Library provides the Bay Area with free access to a large collection of materials illuminating the Jewish experience.
Yale University Press biography series Jewish Lives will host a book signing with local authors Daniel Matt and Robert Alter.
J. The Jewish News of Northern California is a nonprofit publication with a website and biweekly print edition covering the full range of what it means to be Jewish today.
New Lehrhaus is the Bay Area’s non-denominational lifelong Jewish learning institution dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry, and cultural and religious pluralism.
For information about becoming an exhibitor, please reach out to magnesprograms@berkeley.edu.
Activities
Time Capsules Treasure Hunt
Learn more about some of the special objects in the collection-based exhibition, Time Capsules: Exploring the Permanent Collection, through this engaging, all-ages treasure hunt activity.
In Plain Sight Crossword Puzzle
Learn more about Sephardic and Mizrahi heritage as seen in the current exhibition, In Plain Sight: Jewish Arts and Lives, as you complete an engaging crossword puzzle.
Jewish American Heritage Month
This May marks the 19th annual celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, an opportunity for all Americans to connect with the vibrant and varied American Jewish experience.
Partners
Supporting Donor
Fran Quittel in loving memory of her sister, Helen Katz Lazer, and “Sista” Judy Becker, her cousin
Sponsors
Media Sponsors
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