Close reading makes close friends

Members of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El’s Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club with author Allison Epstein (front left) and Rachel Kamin (front center). (Photo courtesy of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El).

For Jewish book club members, reading together opens new chapters of Jewish history, culture, and their own lives. Whether they gather in living rooms, local diners, or synagogues, many members join for the books but return for the connections. 

Al Gimpel, a longtime participant in Rachel Kamin’s group at McHenry County Jewish Congregation, values both the relationships and the learning that come with reading together. 

“Some people in the book club have been friends of mine for a long time,” he said. “Every time I go, it’s an educational experience. [Rachel] starts out the first 10 minutes going into the author’s background and style. We’ve even had Zoom sessions with authors we are reading.” 

Kamin, Director of Learning at North Suburban Beth El in Highland Park, also facilitates its Sisterhood Torah Fund Book Club on Shabbat afternoons, and runs groups at Etz Chaim in Lombard and Or Shalom in Vernon Hills. 

She has introduced participants to new Jewish authors including Allison Epstein, Shelley Jay Shore, and Emmet Hirsch Picoult. From nonfiction and family dramas to romance and spy thrillers, her book selections appeal to a variety of literary tastes. “I always tell people that it’s 

important to have a balanced literary diet,” Kamin said. “Treat yourself to some ‘candy’ sometimes, and challenge yourself, too.” 

At Congregation Kneseth Israel in Elgin, participants leave political differences aside; the only election they concern themselves with is when they vote on the year’s 12 new books. 

Participant Judi Tepe is partial to love stories, while fellow member Chuck Zimmerman appreciates mysteries. Both have had their suggestions added to the group’s reading list. 

One of her favorites, Light Fell by Israel-based author Evan Fallenberg, explores love and infidelity, family and forgiveness. While the novel wasn’t a hit with everyone, it led to an 

interesting discussion on Jewish symbolism. “We talked about light in Judaism and how it’s representative of so many of the traditions. On Shabbat, there’s the everlasting light (ner tamid), and the lighting of candles on Chanukah,” she said. 

For Betsy Katten, the most interesting conversations extend beyond the pages of a book. A member of Wilmette’s Congregation Sukkat Shalom’s evening book club, she has hosted several discussions at her home. “The book is the catalyst for discussions about our own lived experiences,” she said. 

One conversation about Not From Here: The Song of America was especially moving. The way that author Leah Lax weaves refugees’ stories with her own exploration of Jewish family history made an impact on two women in the group. They talked about how their mothers survived the Holocaust. 

Katten shared photographs of her grandfather, Bert, as a young boy in Germany, and aboard the ship that brought him to the United States in 1926. His sister and niece later perished at Auschwitz. “We all shared very personal stories with other members of the congregation that we might have known only in passing,” she said. 

Leah Frydman, a JUF PJ Library Ambassador, started City Parent Book Club in spring 2025 to motivate herself to read and connect with other parents. From Jewish delis to neighborhood diners, the group gathers over coffee and comfort food at local spots near members’ homes. “It’s a great jumping-off point to start a conversation with somebody new,” Frydman said. 

Conversational detours are welcome and can include schools, vacation plans, and holidays. “We start talking about the book but end up discussing parenting,” Frydman explained. “It’s a way for us to get time to ourselves with other adults, which I think those of us with little kids are craving.” 

Part of the appeal of Temple Sholom of Chicago’s quarterly Book-a-Season Club is bringing women from different generations together. Dana Bulan and Paula Pergament launched the group earlier this year, highlighting Jewish authors like Elyssa Friedland. A discussion of Friedland’s book, Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, brought the Catskills’ place in Jewish American culture to life. One member who visited the resort area as a young woman shared her memories with the group. 

“The younger women are learning from the older women, and older women are learning from the younger women,” Bulan said. The group has started small but hopes to expand. “We can always build a bigger table. There’s room for everybody,” Pergament added. 

Jennifer Brody is a freelance writer living in the Chicago area.