The Book of Life is an interview-format podcast about Jewish kidlit, mostly, with occasional coverage of Jewish YA/adult books, music, film and web, established in December 2005.
Host: Heidi Rabinowitz
Sponsors: Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel of Boca Raton, Florida & the Association of Jewish Libraries
The Wolf from Baghdad graphic novel reveals a slice of little-known Jewish history, based on the Iraqi family of author/illustrator Carol Isaacs. She's an Jew who grew up in England, but she describes her home life as "Little Baghdad." Her graphic novel explores Jewish life in Iraq before the Farhud, the ethnic cleansing of Baghdadi Jews in 1941. Carol combines fascinating history with atmospheric art and traditional music in this amazing interview!
NEWS
Read Yad Mizrah Magazine, the first and only Sephardic and Mizrahi literary magazine. READ HERE
My "Jewish Joy" series continues on Multicultural Kid Blogs. Here's my interview with past Book of Life guest Rachelle Burk. READ HERE
CALLS TO ACTION
Virtual book launch for The Garlic Eaters: a conversation with Madison Safer and Suzy Ultman moderated by Jessica Tamar Deutsch, Thursday, October 22, 7PM ET. REGISTER HERE
A free 6-hour virtual event for Jewish authors is being held by 70 Faces Media on Wednesday, October 28, 12-6pm ET. REGISTER HERE
SHOW NOTES
Transcript
Carol Isaacs' website, The Surreal McCoy
Buy The Cloak from Baghdad (https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9798765670231) or The Wolf of Baghdad (https://www.thesurrealmccoy.com/shop/)
Download reading/teaching guides for The Cloak from Baghdad or The Wolf of Baghdad
Credits
Music from 3yin shared by permission.
1 Oct 2026
JBI Library for the Blind
A few years ago at an Association of Jewish Libraries conference, Jill Rothstein gave a talk about the work of JBI Library, which provides Jewish services and materials to blind, low vision, and print disabled people. I was absolutely blown away by the ingenious devices she described and moved by JBI's dedication to ensuring access to ALL book lovers, no matter what barriers they face. I'm so glad to finally have Jill join me on the podcast!
Jill invites us to make tactile Chanukah cards that JBI will send to low-vision patrons to enjoy with their sense of touch. See the Show Notes to order free supplies by October 12!
NEWS
The Association of Jewish Libraries has published its Holiday Highlights list for Fall 2026.
Read about PJ Library's Sephardic Stories Initiative in this article in The Forward
CALLS TO ACTION
Join over 6,000 leaders in signing an open letter rejecting the "genocide" libel against Israel, sponsored by Creative Community for Peace. ADD YOUR NAME
Webinar "October 7 in Graphic Novels," with Israeli cartoonist Asaf Hanuka, co-creator of The Day Everything Changed: Ten Stories from October 7th, and writer and actor Omri Rose, co-author of Echoes of October, Tuesday, October 13, 1:30PM ET. REGISTER HERE
A free 6-hour virtual event for Jewish authors is being held by 70 Faces Media on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 12-6pm ET. REGISTER HERE
SHOW NOTES
Transcript
JBI Library's website (https://jbilibrary.org/)
Watch a video of a refreshable Braille display in action (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12kzjuPro5k)
Jill's Tikkun Olam suggestion: Watch these short videos to help increase awareness, understanding and comfort with working with people with disabilities!
Heidi's Tikkun Olam suggestion: Make a plan to vote in the US Midterm Elections using the tools at NoKings.org
Book of Life episode about (http://res-hereville.html) Hereville, the graphic novel available from JBI with audio description
Order tactile Chanukah cards by October 12 and watch this video to get ideas for decorating your cards
Credits
1 Sept 2026
Sukkot x 3
Like most Jewish holidays, the meaning of Sukkot is multi-layered: it commemorates the ancient harvest pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, but it also represents the temporary dwellings used during the Exodus from Egypt. In modern times we tend to think of it as a chance to reconnect with nature, gives thanks for our blessings, and gather with community.
In terms of kidlit, Sukkot is the winning-est holiday of the season this year, with multiple titles coming out at the same time! We expect lots of books each year for Passover and Hanukkah, but it's unusual for Sukkot to be so well represented. I couldn't choose, so I invited three authors into my virtual sukkah for a group discussion.
NEWS
On the Jewish Book Garden we've released a Fall 2026 Preview of Jewish Kidlit, August through December. READ HERE (https://jewishbookgarden.substack.com/p/fall-2026-preview-of-jewish-kidlit)
Interview with Jewish author Judy Blume on NPR LISTEN HERE
The Jewish Comics Library of Seattle collects works on Jewish themes and by Jewish comics artists. The collection is available to the public at a regularly scheduled pop-up library on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at the Couth Buzzard Bookstore from 11AM-3PM. You can also subscribe to their Substack newsletter, Graven, HERE (https://jewishcomicslibrary.substack.com/).
CALLS TO ACTION
SCHTICK: Reading and Creating Jewish Graphic Novels is an online course running September through April. They charge tuition but scholarships are available. LEARN MORE HERE
Hanukkah Cards for the Blind: request supplies from JBI Library by October 12 to make tactile cards; return cards for distribution by November 12, 2026. LEARN MORE HERE
SHOW NOTES
Transcript
Amy Fellner Dominy's website (https://amydominy.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amydominy/), Facebook
Barbara Lerman-Golomb's website, Instagram, Facebook
Sidura Ludwig's website (https://siduraludwig.com/), Instagram, Facebook
Buy A House with No Door (https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9798765670569) | The Sukkah Hop (https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781805001409) | Our Spectacular Sukkah (https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781536235104) | or A Purr-fect Sukkot (https://bookshop.org/a/2507/9781681157306) (another book published this year that I found out about too late)
Tikkun Olam suggestion: Support the American Library Association
View Amy's, Barbara's, and Sidura's favorite illustrations
Lesléa Newman's Guest Post about The Last Flame Last
Info about Hanukkah cards for the blind at JBIlibrary.org
Share Your Shelf bonus segment with Amy, Barbara, and Sidura
Credits
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
19 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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