St. Cloud State University

“Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” series

For the second year, St. Cloud State University has been awarded a grant from the American Library Association and Nextbook to host the “Let’s Talk About It” series on Jewish novels.

• The library will accept 40 participants on a first-come, first-served basis
• Participants from across Central Minnesota, high school age or older, are welcome
• Preference will be given to people new to the book discussion series

Those willing to commit to participating in all five discussions will receive copies of the five novels. The library will send the first book to you in advance of the first session.

The theme of the series is “A Mind of Her Own: Fathers and Daughters in a Changing World.”
The books that participants will read and the dates of the discussion groups are:

• “Tevye the Dairyman and The Railroad Stories” by Sholem Aleichem – 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6
• “Bread Givers” by Anzia Yezierska – 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27
• “O My America” by Johanna Kaplan – 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18
• “American Pastoral” by Philip Roth – 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8
• “Bee Season” by Myla Goldberg – 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29

Meetings will take place in Atwood Memorial Center and last about an hour and a half.

Joseph Edelheit, SCSU director of Jewish Studies and professor of philosophy, will lead the discussion of each work and provide readers with context and setting for each novel. Edelheit, who did his doctoral work at the University of Chicago Divinity School, has taught Jewish literature, spirituality, culture and history at several universities in Minnesota.

Those interested in participating should contact Susan Motin by
•  Sending mail to Miller Center 130C, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301
•  Sending e-mail to smotin@stcloudstate.edu
•  Calling her at (320) 308-4996.

St. Cloud State’s library is one of 95 public and academic libraries across the country that the American Library Association selected to participate in this exploration of Jewish literature. “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” has been made possible through a grant from Nextbook and the American Library Association. The St. Cloud State Jewish Studies program also provided funding to support this project.

More information about “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature” is available on the following Web sites:
• American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/letstalkaboutit/letstalkaboutit.htm
• Nextbook: http://www.nextbook.org/ala/index.html