Jewish Book Club discussion

This topic is for deaths, marriages, births etc of or to people in the Jewish world of books and writings

I just read this morning of the death of A. B. Yehoshua of cancer at age 85. His books were the subject of our poll last August 2021, and the winner was The Tunnel.

When I read his book, I knew he was of advanced age but nevertheless this is a sad surprise.

I read this this am in the NYT that author
Hillary Mantel passed away at the age of 70.
So sad..

Stacey B wrote: "I read this am in the NYT that author
Hillary Mantel passed away at the age of 70.
So sad.."

Edith Perlman, a writer of short stories who was "discovered" at age 74, has died at 86, according to this obit in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/01/ob...

I read her break-out collection, Binocular Vision: New and Selected Stories, with a former book club back in 2013. Actually I read a selection of the stories.

Her trajectory gives hope to late bloomers!

One story in the obituary caught my eye this morning -- a story named "Chance," said to be about a rabbi and cantor who meet to play poker weekly at a congregants' house under the pretense of a Torah study group. Ha!

Goodbye and thank you, Edith Perlman. I am happy your success arrived, even though belatedly.

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day, not Feb 27th as it says on my earlier broadcast.
Our heart goes out to those we lost.

My mother told me that Burt Bacharach- the famous American songwriter, composer, record producer and pianist, passed away today at 94.
"Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" and "What the World Needs
Now is Love Sweet Love" were two of his famous songs.
And yes, he wrote a memoir titled " Anyone Who Had a Heart..."
Such a talented gentleman. I wonder how many 2nd Gen would recognize his name.

Stacey B wrote: "My mother told me that Burt Bacharach- the famous American songwriter, composer, record producer and pianist, passed away today at 94.
"Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" and "What the World Needs..."

A lot of his songs are imprinted on my mental soundtrack without even knowing who sung (or wrote) them.

Austin Powers will sadly add his name to the list of friends who are no longer alive.

Jazzy wrote: "Austin Powers will sadly add his name to the list of friends who are no longer alive."

Do you mean the series? ...I fear I'm being dense once again....

This article may help you understand the reference:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/cele...

Jan wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "My mother told me that Burt Bacharach- the famous American songwriter, composer, record producer and pianist, passed away today at 94.
"Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" and "Wha..."

Sure you would-
Dionne Warwick
Dusty Springfield
Aretha

Jan wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "Austin Powers will sadly add his name to the list of friends who are no longer alive."

Do you mean the series? ...I fear I'm being dense once again...."
No your not. I have never seen the series so I'm not sure if Powers is the name of the series or Powers is a specific person. Maybe I should have kept that to myself :)

I get it now, Kszr! 😁
But on the other hand, you could say Austin Powers lives on after Burt Bacharach....

Please note - I had to google it to figure it out! :-)

oh in the film he was writing his friends, like Jimi Hendrix deceased and crossing him out, then Janis Joplin, deceased and crossed her name out and was sadly shaking his head.

Jan wrote: "I get it now, Kszr! 😁
But on the other hand, you could say Austin Powers lives on after Burt Bacharach...."

Love the px Jazzy!
I know Mike Myers, but not from this. I didn't even know Burt Bacharach played in that series many times.
Then again, I haven't been a TV lover for years.

It's not a tv show, but a trilogy of films xxx

Jazzy wrote: "It's not a tv show, but a trilogy of films xxx"

I know; tv is where my husband used to watch them. He was away when Austin Powers was mentioned. xoxoxo

Tradition.... Tradition

Tevye : A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy.

Chaim Topol (Hebrew: חיים טופול; September 9, 1935 – March 9, 2023), also spelled Haym Topol,[1] mononymously known as Topol,[2] was an Israeli actor, singer, and illustrator. He is best known for his portrayal of Tevye, the lead role in the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof and the 1971 film adaptation, performing this role more than 3,500 times from the late 1960s through 2009.[2]

Literary and art career
His autobiography, Topol by Topol, was published in London by
Chaim Topol (Hebrew: חיים טופול; September 9, 1935 – March 9, 2023), also spelled Haym Topol,[1] mononymously known as Topol,[2] was an Israeli actor, singer, and illustrator. He is best known for his portrayal of Tevye, the lead role in the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof and the 1971 film adaptation, performing this role more than 3,500 times from the late 1960s through 2009.[2]

Topol illustrated approximately 25 books in both Hebrew and English.[20] He also produced drawings of Israeli national figures. His sketches of Israeli presidents were reproduced in a 2013 stamp series issued by the Israel Philatelic Federation,[20] as was his self-portrait as Tevye for a 2014 commemorative stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the Broadway debut of Fiddler on the Roof.[57]

I did hear about that. Thanks for posting, Stacey. May his memory be for a blessing.

Jan wrote: "I did hear about that. Thanks for posting, Stacey. May his memory be for a blessing."

So sad.
He was an icon.

How sad! He was only 28 when he played Tevya

Jazzy wrote: "How sad! He was only 28 when he played Tevya"

I know. :(
Just as sad is that Zero Mostel, Theodore Bikel, Herschel Bernardi, and now Topol- were all part of the culture and tradition behind the play and movie Fiddler on the Roof. I can't even begin to think who could play this part in a revival?

Stacey B wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "How sad! He was only 28 when he played Tevya"

I know. :(
Just as sad is that Theodore Bikel, Herschel Bernardi, and now Topol- were all part of the culture and tradition behind the ..."

The end of an era.

Kszr wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "Jazzy wrote: "How sad! He was only 28 when he played Tevya"

I know. :(
Just as sad is that Theodore Bikel, Herschel Bernardi, and now Topol- were all part of the culture and trad..."

Kzar,
Yes, most definitely! Hallmark would say that's what memories are for. But it goes way beyond. Having no control, it feels like a piece of history became erased.
It hits home...
" A life of uncertainty is as precarious as a fiddler on a roof". :(

Our hearts remember the memory of author Meir Shalev who passed away yesterday at the age of 74. " A Pigeon and a Boy" was just one of his many books.
You will be missed.

Thanks for letting us know. Very sad, he was a masterful writer

Michelle wrote: "Thanks for letting us know. Very sad, he was a masterful writer"

Michelle,
He really.. "was a masterful writer".
74 is so young which makes it even more saddening. :(

Rabbi Harold Kushner, may peace be upon him, who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People and many other books, has died at 88. Here is a write-up from Religion News Service: https://religionnews.com/2023/05/01/r...

What a pioneer in helping people with grief.

Kszr wrote: "What a pioneer in helping people with grief."

Kszr, he certainly was, and then some.

Jan wrote: "Rabbi Harold Kushner, may peace be upon him, who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People and many other books, has died at 88. Here is a write-up from Religion News Service: https://religionnew..."

He bat mitzvahed me. I was heartbroken to see this. zikhrono livrakha.

Deena wrote: "Jan wrote: "Rabbi Harold Kushner, may peace be upon him, who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People and many other books, has died at 88. Here is a write-up from Religion News Service: https:/..."

Deena,
Honestly, you really must be heartbroken. Spending so much time
with him you probably got to know him so well. I'm so sorry.

Stacey B wrote: "Honestly, you really must be heartbroken. Spending so much time
with him you probably got to know him so well. I'm so sorry.."

Well, it was a very long time ago - but he was the first person I knew in my world to be truly good. He was also infinitely patient, at least with students (as was our poor cantor). But he was 88, and his wife died last year, so perhaps he felt it was time to go. But he left us a great deal to learn from, so he will be remembered.

In memoriam of Joe Lieberman
who passed away March 27th 2024 at the age of 82.
He was an American politician, lawyer, and author who wrote over seven books;
one of them being "The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath".
Lieberman was married to Hadassah Lieberman who was the daughter of Holocaust survivors.
Israeli officials joined their US counterparts in paying tribute to longtime US senator and first Jewish vice presidential nominee Joseph Lieberman, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82.
"Lieberman was a matchless champion of the Jewish people and the Jewish state,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement."

Stacey B wrote: "In memoriam of Joe Lieberman
who passed away March 27th 2024 at the age of 82...."

I remember when he ran for president I was terrified he'd be assassinated.

Deena wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "In memoriam of Joe Lieberman
who passed away March 27th 2024 at the age of 82...."

I remember when he ran for president I was terrified he'd be assassinated."

Me too Deena.
If my memory is correct, he was the first
jewish politician to run as a candidate for Presidency of the US.
Right??

Stacey B wrote: If my memory is correct, he was the first
jewish politician to run as a candidate for Presidency of the US.
Right?"

Certainly the first from a major political party. There may have been someone from a third party before Joe.

Also, Daniel Kahneman, psychologist, professor, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and author of wonderful book Thinking, Fast and Slow. Unusual for a book like that to hit the bestseller list. Made a big impact on me!

Jan wrote: "Also, Daniel Kahneman, psychologist, professor, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and author of wonderful book Thinking, Fast and Slow. Unusual for a book like that to hit the..."

Oh no... I didnt see that. Thank you for adding it.
Such a smart man. Israeli -American. I looked him up and found
this below :

From Google 3 days ago:

""Kahneman described for lay audiences in his best-selling 2011 book “Thinking, Fast and Slow” — focused on how much decision-making is shaped by subterranean quirks and mental shortcuts that can distort our thoughts in irrational yet predictable ways. ""

Jan wrote: "Also, Daniel Kahneman, psychologist, professor, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and author of wonderful book Thinking, Fast and Slow. Unusual for a book like that to hit the..."
That's an excellent book. I have a small apartment so I can't keep all the books I read, but I kept that one.

It’s one I keep meaning to read. I’ll add it for the summer.

Paul Auster died last month at 77. I'm sad to admit I read just one of his, about 25 years ago. Timbuktu Can't remember much about it now but it struck me as very good. Wait! I think I did read another one on the basis of that 1st one, and it just didn't do it for me. So that was it. If you are an aficionado, which one would you recommend?

Jan wrote: "Paul Auster died last month at 77. I'm sad to admit I read just one of his, about 25 years ago. Timbuktu Can't remember much about it now but it struck me as very good. Wait! I think I d..."

I was very sad to read this. I admire Auster, also Siri Husvedt (his wife) and Sophie Calle, the photographer who appears as a character in one of his books and a real life collaborator.

I think Auster was more ambitious than other novelists, always wanted his books to do a little bit more. It doesn't always work for the reader but when it does it is admirable. I think Leviathan may have been the one that struck me as best-crafted, though I read it closer to when it came out. This may be a good time for a re-read.

Robert wrote: "... I think Auster was more ambitious than other novelists, always wanted his books to do a little bit more. It doesn't always work for the reader but when it does it is admirable. I think Leviathan may have been the one that struck me as best-crafted, though I read it closer to when it came out. This may be a good time for a re-read."

Thank you, Robert. I'm going to keep Leviathan in mind.

Robert wrote: "... I think Leviathan may have been the one that struck me as best-crafted"

Just finished Leviathan, Robert, and thought it was great! Thanks for the recommendation

I am remiss in not mentioning the death of Kinky Friedman last month. This seems to have been passed over by most of the media; too bad. Seeing his name on a list of humor winners reminded me to post. I think I read one book by him: Armadillos and Old Lace. He was quite a character!

I had read that he died but I wasn't really familiar with him. So thanks for the heads up, I just bought Armadillos.

Dvora wrote: "I had read that he died but I wasn't really familiar with him. So thanks for the heads up, I just bought Armadillos."

Im glad you recorded this Jan. Sad when we lose authors.
-- Geez, I must be some moderator- I have never heard of him.
Only Kinky Boots :(