The A to Z Challenge asks bloggers to post 26 articles on a themed topic. It’s supposed to be every day except Sundays during the month of April but I find that too busy and decided to post mine ‘about’ once a month. Yes, it’ll take me a couple of years. Sigh.
My topic, like the last three times, will be writing genres.
This genre:
Jewish Fiction
Definition
fiction written about Jewish themes, religions, concerns
Tips
- The story must speak to the Jewish experience, clarify and enhance the Jewish identity.
- The story should work toward understanding the Jewish community.
- The Jewish community is diverse, international, and multi-continent.
- The story should display a deeply rooted belief in the power of words to create and re-create reality.
- There is no ‘right’ way to develop Jewish characters, plots, and stories because they are so diverse but there are ‘wrong’ ways. See above.
- Understand how religious your character is. That will make a big difference in how s/he is portrayed in the story.
- You may want to know where your characters came from originally. For example, Sephardi Jews (from Spain, Southern Europe, Middle East) have different customs from Ashkenazi.
- Be aware of Jewish stereotypes, like the rich Jewish financial CEO. It will sound like a stereotype so approach it carefully.
- Judaism is culture and religion.
Popular Books
- Tevye The Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem
- Rabbis and Wives by Chaim Grade
- The Chosen by Chaim Potok
- The Pagan Rabbi and Other Stories by Cynthia Ozick
- Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
- The Big Book of Jewish Humor by William Novak and Moshe Waldoks
- Herzog by Saul Bellow
- The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
BTW: If the book you’ve written fits into any of these genres, let me know in the comments and I’ll include you, the book title, and where to purchase it.
Click for complete list of these 26 genres
Click for a complete list of all genres I’ve written about
More J Genres:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Man vs. Nature saga, and the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature, July 2021.
None of these are by me, but …
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O’Brien
The Hereville graphic novels by Barry Deutsch, which star Mirka, “yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl”
Golem by David Wisniewski (a kids’ book)
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
Maus by Artie Spiegelman (a Holocaust book)
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom stars Corrie and her family, who are goyim, but it does have some delightful Jewish characters, notably Meyer Mossel
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What a great list. Thank you, Jennifer.
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Hi Jacqui, I have not read Jewish fiction other than stories about WWII which are very upsetting. Fiddler on the roof is one of my favourite Broadway performances. This is my favourite song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw. Do you know this production? There is also a movie.
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That is an iconic song! 6 million viewers of that video. You picked a good version of it!
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I just love it, Jacqui.
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I was unaware that Jewish Fiction existed. Thanks for sharing, Jacqui. It’s a dull day when you don’t learn something new. 🙂
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But it makes sense, doesn’t it? A great way to explain the religion without having to read the Torah. I’ve tried reading religious tombs (like the Koran) and usually fail quickly.
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No conocía ese genero. Por lo general escribo paranormal. Te mando un beso.
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Ah. This is far from paranormal, isn’t it! I actually don’t know anyone who writes in this genre.
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I’m another one that didn’t know this was a genre. One of the characters in the story I’m working on right now is an Arab American kid whose family practices Islam. I know you are someone who puts in a lot of research into her stories, and I’m finding myself having to do that quite a bit. I’m trying to be factually accurate without being stereotypical.
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Great to do that, Pete. And if you’re like me, you come away with a wonderful understanding of the topic, and your character. The story sounds interesting.
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Thanks for sharing, Jacqui.
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My pleasure. I really enjoy groups who are proud of a part of their lives, including their religious beliefs.
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Hi Jacqui – I certainly don’t know very much at all about this genre, nor about the authors – though have heard of a couple and one book … but fascinating to have your details here and recommendations – thank you … cheers Hilary
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This is a pretty serious genre so I’m not sure how I’d do reading any of the books but twere I this serious person, this would be a wonderful genre.
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Thanks for the book suggestion list.
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Not light enough for summer reading but highly enjoyable.
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I always learn so much from you. This genre is very interesting!
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Pretty interesting genre, don’t you think? I haven’t read any of the books but I’m going to.
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Yes, I do agree. I haven’t read any of them either, but I would definitely like to.
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This is a genre I have never heard of. Thank you for sharing, Jacqui!
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There are a few religious genres, unique to their specific beliefs. And they do make a lot of sense. At least, to me.
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I had no idea this was a genre. I’ve read a number of books with Jewish characters that touched on lifestyle and beliefs, but not one specifically built around religion.Most interesting, Jacqui!
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I agree. I can see why it’s delineated as a genre–people who like that theme can easily find them. It definitely intrigues me.
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My sister used to work at a Jewish newspaper. One of her duties was as their book reviewer, and they read and reviewed exclusively Jewish literature. Other than that, this is the first I’ve seen anyone mention the genre. Nice to see it referenced again.
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That’s interesting. That is a real service to readers, to find interesting books in their religion. I’m impressed.
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Years ago, I read a lot of Jewish fiction, more short stories than novels, if I recall correctly.
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I need to read a few of these. I’ve read a lot of Russian literature and they always include struggle, sadness, introspection, failure, loss with the fiction (Solzhenitsyn comes to mind). I suppose Jewish literature is the same–with certain underpinnings that always appear. Is that true?
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It depends on what writer you’re reading. That legacy of struggle and loss is always there, but it manifests in different ways.
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That is true. Not something I tend to focus on. It plays havoc with my positive attitude!
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In this day and age, we need all the positive attitude we can muster!
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I read ‘The Chosen’ about 40 years ago. Great novel – it must be if I remember it after all this time.
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I haven’t read it but I would like to read a few on that list. There’s another ‘The Chosen’, a series of videos about the life of Christ. Interesting it has the same name as this one and they’re both themed with religion.
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Don’t think I have ever read any Jewish literature. I have read books by Israeli authors but not Jewish literature. Wait…I hope I am not making a faux pas here. One of the last books I read was Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, who calls himself an Israeli historian. Does that also make his Jewish? I suppose not. I suppose I need to find out 😦
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For this genre, the book must be themed to the religious struggle. I’ve read Sapiens–an excellent book by a well-qualified author. It wouldn’t fit this genre. I like reading literature about struggle and survival so most of these would qualify (I think–I haven’t read any of them).
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I love, love, love Chaim Potok’s novels and read every one. I cried when he died because there’d be no more Potok books.:-(
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That is good to hear. Now I know where to start, on this list.
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I have recently read three stories (one of which was a memoir and one based on a true story and the other fiction but based on fact) of the Jewish experience in World War II. I guess they qualify.
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I know from experience that is painful reading. It is heart-breaking, but these books keep it alive so it never happens again.
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I certainly hope so. The last one I read was a memoir of a centenarian Holocaust survivor called “The Happiest Man on Earth”. He made the decision to be happy every day and his book is filled with hope. It’s an incredible story of resilient and positive attitudes.
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I love hearing that, Norah. I will have to check that out.
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If you do, Jacqui, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Some of it is rather heart-wrenching though.
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Thanks for sharing, Jacqui.
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My pleasure, Jill. This genre is definitely heavy reading.
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I know some Jewish authors but their books are not Jewish theme or religion.
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Me, too. I’ve spotlighted several other religious genres so this one made sense.
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