People of the Book

Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her newest book, Remember to Eat and Other Stories was published in January. She is also the author of two award-winning novels, The Takeaway Men (2020) and Shadows We Carry (2023., The host of the podcast People of the Book, she is also the founder of the Facebook group Jews Love to Read! The group currently has more than 6,100 member...

Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her newest book, Remember to Eat and Other Stories was published in January. She is also the author of two award-winning novels, The Takeaway Men (2020) and Shadows We Carry (2023., The host of the podcast People of the Book, she is also the founder of the Facebook group Jews Love to Read! The group currently has more than 6,100 member...

Meryl chats with Jeff Weiss about his book, Fighting Back: Stan Andrews and the Birth of the Israeli Air Force, which he co-wrote with his brother, Craig Weiss. The book tells the story of Stan Andrews, an assimilated American Jew and World War II veteran, who became one of the first fighter pilots in the history of the Israeli Air Force. Jeff Weiss is the co-author of Fighting Back: Stan Andrews...

Meryl chats with Alex Kor about his 2024 memoir, A Blessing, Not a Burden, which chronicles his incredible journey as the child of two Holocaust survivors to his present day mission of keeping alive his parents’ legacy. They also discuss his mother’s controversial decision, as a Mengele twin, to forgive the Nazis. Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Alex Kor is the son of two Holocaust survivors...

Meryl chats with Sharon Gloger Friedman about historical fiction, and her recently released novel, The Other Emma. Set in the Gilded Age, a young girl assumes the identity of her wealthy adopted sister when she perishes in the Blizzard of 1888. The novel chronicles Rose’s journey from the despair of the tenements to the mansions of Fifth Avenue complicated by the weight of deception. Sharon was bo...

Meryl chats with Kitty Zeldis about her new novel, One of Them , a story about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II. It is a tale of secrets and lies, the knotty question of Jewish identity, and the complicated relationship of mothers and daughters. Born in Israel, Kitty Zeldis is the pen name of a Brooklyn-based author of nine novels and more than 35 books for children. Her n...

Meryl chats with A.J. Sidransky about his new memoir, Plums, Paprika & Ghosts . It’s a chronicle of the trip he took with his 27-year-old-son Jake to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, to discover their family roots. This “life changing” journey provided answers, as well as new questions, about their ancestors’ experience there for 300 years, and their fate during The Holocaust. AJ Sid...

Meryl Ain chats with Julie Brill, the author of Hidden in Plain Sight: A Family Memoir and the Untold Story of the Holocaust in Serbia. They discuss how Julie’s research and travel gave her a deep understanding of her family history in Serbia, especially her father’s childhood during The Holocaust. Julie Brill is the author of Hidden in Plain Sight: A Family Memoir and the Untold Story of the Holo...

Meryl chats with Marilyn Simon Rothstein about her new novel, Who Loves You Best. It’s the story of three very different grandmothers competing for the attention of their mutual granddaughter. In addition, Marilyn discusses her approach to combining humor with serious issues in her books, and shares insights into her character-naming process. Marilyn is the author of four novels: Crazy to Leave Yo...

Meryl chats with Julie Metz about her memoir, Eva and Eve, which chronicles her research journey to discover her mother’s hidden past in Nazi-occupied Austria. They also discuss how researching and writing about her mother’s experience has impacted her own life and the life of her family. Julie Metz is the author of PERFECTION, a New York Times bestseller. Her latest release is EVA AND EVE: A SEAR...

Meryl chats with Jacqueline Friedland about her new novel, Counting Backwards (March 2025), a dual-timeline novel which explores fertility, inequality, reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy. It’s told from the perspectives of Jessa Gidney, a modern-day lawyer fighting for her immigrant client, and also Carrie Buck who is the plaintiff in the actual 1927 Supreme Court Case, Buck v. Bell. In the...

Meryl chats with Kim Salzman about her historical fiction novel, Straddling Black and White , the story of fourteen-year-old Azmera, who takes part in the mass immigration of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel in the 1980s. Theyalso talk about the current war in Israel and its impact on Kim, her family,and friends. Kim was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. After receiving a degree in psychology from Colum...

Meryl chats with Alex Kor about his 2024 memoir, A Blessing, Not a Burden, which chronicles his incredible journey as the child of two Holocaust survivors to his present day mission of keeping alive his parents’ legacy. They also discuss his mother’s controversial decision, as a Mengele twin, to forgive the Nazis. Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Alex Kor is the son of two Holocaust survivors...

Meryl chats with her bibliophile cousin, 99-year-old Arthur Fischman, about his love of reading. During the past three years, he’s read 235 books on audio due to diminished eyesight. They also talk about family, and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude as we age. Arthur Fischman was born in Newark, New Jersey, and graduated from N.Y.U. with a degree in business and finance. He was pre...

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon’s Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemitism then and now. Michelle Cameron is the author of Jewish historical fiction, w...

Meryl chats with Judy Gruen about her 2024 memoir, Bylines and Blessings, which chronicles her journey to pursue a career in journalism with an Orthodox lifestyle. They talk about balancing motherhood with both a career and a commitment to Jewish values. They also discuss the current wave of antisemitism and its impact on writers. Judy is an award-winning columnist for the Jewish Journal and the a...

Meryl chats with Meryl Frank about her new memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust. They discuss the author’s multi-year, multi-country research journey to unravel the story of what happened to her cousin, Franya Winter, a celebrated actress in the Yiddish Theater who perished during The Holocaust. They talk about the resurgence of...

Meryl chats with Esther Goldenberg about her new novel, The Scrolls of Deborah, Book One in the Desert Songs Trilogy. They discuss how Esther came to write about this Biblical narrative, and how she melded Bible stories with a feminist perspective. They also talk about historical fiction, Esther’s writing and research process, and the scope of her three-book series. Esther Goldenberg is an author,...

Meryl chats with Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Dr. Ora Horn Prouser about their new collection of High Holiday supplemental readings that were written in response to last October 7’s Massacre in Israel when 1,200 were killed and 251 were kidnapped and held hostage. Contributors to the book include rabbis, academics, poets, Americans, Israelis, and scholars and students of the Academy for Jewish Reli...

Meryl chats with Gila Green about her new novel, With A Good Eye. The book tells the story of 19-year-old Luna Levi and her struggles with her dysfunctional family, including a father who has PTSD from Israeli military service and a mother who suffers from narcissistic personality disorder. They also discuss the writing process, the importance of location, and the impact of the war in Israel. Gila...

Meryl chats with Talia Carner about her new novel, The Boy With the Star Tattoo, including the top secret Israeli operation that took place in Cherbourg, France in 1968-69. They also discuss the issue of hidden children during and after the Holocaust. In their conversation, Talia candidly speaks about the antisemitism that was leveled against her new novel. Talia Carner is a proud seventh-generati...

Meryl chats with Robert Yaffe about his 2024 memoir, Relinquished, which chronicles his 30-year search to discover his closed adoption roots. He shares his emotional and circuitous journey, its impact on his Jewish adoptive parents, and the new family he ultimately discovered. Robert is a native of Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a BA from the University of Nebraska and graduated from Creighton Law Scho...

To celebrate the one year anniversary of SHADOWS WE CARRY, please enjoy this encore presentation of Meryl Ain in conversation with avid readers and activists in the Jewish community, Randi Brenowitz and Bayla Lovens. Shadows We Carry is the sequel to Meryl's award-winning debut novel, The Takeaway Men. Randi Brenowitz has just been elected to her second term as the International President of t...

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity (September 12, 2023). They discuss how Michelle came to write about the Biblical saga of the Babylonian exile, and its meaning for today. They also talk about historical fiction and Michelle’s writing and research process. Michelle is the award-winning author of several works of historical fiction and poetry includ...

Enjoy this encore presentation: Meryl chats with Rabbi Menachem Creditor about his insights as part of the recent UJA-Federation mission to Israel, the impact of October 7 on Jews throughout the world, and the global increase in antisemitism. They also discuss his new book, Am Yisrael Chai: Essays, Poems, and Prayers for Israel, which was published on October 17. Rabbi Menachem Creditor serves as...