The Bookhers are part of the People of the Book

UJC Book Club Summer Reads

Join us for warm conversation, thoughtful discussion, and meaningful exploration of Jewish stories, ideas, history, and culture.

Are you passionate about reading, lively discussion, and connecting with fellow bibliophiles? The Bookhers is our vibrant book club, and we welcome you to join us on a journey of discovery, friendship, and shared learning. As in the past, The Bookhers have chosen two books (one fiction and one non-fiction) to read over the summer.

For non-fiction, we will read Rabbi Angela Buchdahl’s autobiographical Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging. Particularly relevant to our Asian congregation, Rabbi Buchdahl’s book tells how she became the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, a stirring account of one woman’s journey from feeling like an outsider to becoming one of the most admired religious leaders in the world. The New York Times praised this book as a lens into modern “galut” (the Jewish concept of exile) and noted her deeply inspiring trajectory as an insider/outsider.

You can find this book online on Amazon, on other book sites, and in libraries.

For our fiction title, we will read James Michener’s classic saga of the Holy Land, The Source. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.

The New York Times said of The Source, “Fascinating . . . stunning . . . [a] wonderful rampage through history . . . Biblical history, as seen through the eyes of a professor who is puzzled, appalled, delighted, enriched and impoverished by the spectacle of a land where all men are archaeologists.”

You can find The Source at libraries, on Amazon, and at many free online sites.

Mark your calendars!!  On Saturday evening, 5th September at 7:00 PM Hong Kong time Rabbi Kudan and Cantor Shore will lead us in Havdalah followed by a special Selichot Service, a traditional occasion for ritual and reflection to prepare us for Rosh Hashana.  Selichot includes a late-night study-session, so at 8:00 PM we will begin our discussion of Rabbi Angela Buchdahl’s Heart of a Stranger, allowing us to focus on our own personal identities and to reflect on the ways in which we embrace multiple cultural heritages in our own personal and family lives. We will conclude the evening with a desert reception with holiday treats.

On Tuesday, 13th October, Bookhers will commence at 8:00 PM Hong Kong time at the Rabbi’s apartment to discuss Michener’s The Source. Both sessions will be available in person (with yummy treats) and on Zoom.

We are the people of the book! Let’s celebrate our love of Jewish literature, deepen our community connections, and discover new worlds together. Grab a summer read with The Bookhers!

Ready to turn the page and join The Bookhers? Simply email Garry Stein at gstein888@yahoo.com, and we will add you to our chat group and mailing list. New members are always welcome!