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One Book, One Community is a community-wide program designed to enhance Jewish learning and encourage participation throughout northern New Jersey. Synagogues, agencies, and other Jewish communal organizations join together in shared conversations and events centered on one selected book and its themes. Each group can use the book in its own way, as a springboard for conversation, study, and celebration not only of the book but of the issues, the culture, and the ideas it raises.

One Book, One Community’s first two years have been a resounding success. Congregations, Jewish institutions and agencies, and even some local books groups created programs and events around the featured titles (My Father’s Paradise, by Ariel Sabar and The Zookeeper’s Wife, by Diane Ackerman). More than 400 people enjoyed our April 2013 culminating event with author Diane Ackerman at the Jewish Community Center of Paramus (check out the photos at https://www.facebook.com/SynagogueLeadershipInitiative).

The Title Selection Committee for 2013-2014 chose By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan.

Join us for this year’s conversation! Here’s what you need to know.

Mitchell James Kaplan's compelling novel, By Fire, By Water,is set in turbulent 15th- century Spain. Focusing on the story of Luis de Santangel, chancellor to the king of Aragon and a converso (a Jew whose family was forced to convert to Christianity), the novel combines a passionate love story with a religious mystery, as it explores the crises of faith and politics at the heart of the Inquisition.

"Beautifully written, By Fire, By Water is a powerful story of religion, love, and violence--timeless themes honed by Kaplan into an enthralling narrative that doesn't let up until the last sentence."-- Simon Read, author of War of Words

 l    2011 Independent Publishers Book Award
 l New York Book Festival Award
 l Eric Hoffer Award
 l Goodreads Choice Award
 l Winner, 12th "Adelina Della Pergola Prize" for Students

WHEN: Sign up for a free teleconference to learn how you can participate in this exciting community program.

  Date: Monday, May 20
  Times: Choose your time: 12:00 noon or 7:30 pm
   Dial-in: (209) 647-1075; participant access code: 846852#

WHY: One Book, One Community is a high-profile program that will draw attention to your institution.

  &  The program is free and comes with resources and ideas from SLI.
  &  SLI will order the books and take care of the shipping charges.

There will be an exciting community culminating event in Spring 2014.

Connect with the greater northern New Jersey Jewish community.

RSVP to Nancy Perlman, Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement
NancyP@jfnnj.org ; 201-820-3904
Synagogue Leadership Initiative Team 

Lisa Harris Glass
Director
LisaG@jfnnj.org
201-820-3941

Stephanie Hausner
Synagogue Change Specialist
StephanieH@jfnnj.org
201-820-3901

Nancy Perlman
Manager Community
Outreach and Engagement
NancyP@jfnnj.org
201-820-3904

Be on the same page. Be part of One Book, One Community.