The Jerusalem Post - The Jerusalem Post Magazine
London’s Jewish Book Week goes livestream
‘Igrew up in an atmosphere of books,” says Eduard Shyfrin. “In our family, the book was the queen.” Shyfrin is the international sponsor of Jewish Book Week, the well-known literary festival held annually in London. This year’s festival, from February 27 through March 7, is being held entirely online.
Shyfrin has long appreciated the importance of books, both in his own life and in Jewish tradition. His parents were devoted readers and amassed a library of some 7,000 books. Eduard himself was a voracious reader and recalls reading daily during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“From early childhood, I was surrounded by books,” he recalls.
Judaism, adds Shyfrin, has always valued reading and study, not only for its own sake but as a means of ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people.
“The book is the spiritual home of the Jewish people, because we didn’t have a physical home. The spirit of our ‘house’ is stronger than those of physical empires. The great nations – the Romans, the Assyrians, the Egyptians – all disappeared. We are still here, because we have the Book.”
Shyfrin is much more than an admirer of the written word. He is the author of Travels with Sushi in the Land of the Mind, the popular children’s book that received the 2020 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for juvenile fiction, as well as From Infinity to Man: The Fundamental Ideas of Kabbalah within the Framework of Information Theory and Quantum Physics. On February 18 at 6 p.m. GMT (8 p.m. Israel time), Shyfrin will be discussing Travels with Sushi in the Land of the Mind at Jewish Book Week, in association with The Jerusalem Post. The session will be broadcast live on the Jerusalem Post website.
CLAUDIA RUBENSTEIN, director of Jewish Book Week, explains that this year’s festival, held in the shadow of COVID-19, will be unlike any other in the organization’s 69-year history. Each year, the festival brings together writers and speakers – from the
‘The book is the spiritual home of the Jewish people, since we didn’t have a physical home’
most eminent to the first-time published – from the worlds of history, journalism, philosophy, science, art, music, poetry and fiction in a celebration of ideas. The festival features Jewish themes and writers, and discussions on the most important issues of the day. In previous years, the festival has been a bustling event held in a packed venue, with thousands of people meeting and participating, listening to speakers and purchasing books.
This year, the festival is being held entirely online, and will feature more than 50 live-streamed presentations and panels on a wide variety of subjects, including modern Jewish literature, antisemitism, cancel culture, the modern Middle East, Jewish culture, Jewish travel through the ages and many more. Rubenstein says conducting Jewish Book Week online will significantly extend the reach and influence of the event.
“One of the only good things to come out of the pandemic,” she explains, “is that we’ve managed to go online. We’ve reached new audiences all over the world – in Israel, the United States, Canada and South Africa. In that sense, we’ve truly become an international festival now. It’s very exciting.”
In addition to attracting viewers from around the world, the festival has also partnered with other organizations, including the National Library of Israel, the Jewish Book Council in New York, and other international groups.
Rubenstein adds that the livestreaming of sessions enables the audience to engage with speakers via online chat, both to ask questions and to comment. Additionally, she notes, many online participants will contact the speakers after the event by email and continue the dialogue.
“We really value our audience, and we are very proud that our speakers want to connect with them.”
Rubenstein points out that the live program, though it is online, is extremely beneficial for those who are isolated because of COVID.
“We are offering a full program, and that is incredibly important for people during this time. We have heard from many of our audience who are isolating or feeling vulnerable and cannot go outside. These events fuel the soul with books and ideas and knowledge. I think that now more than ever, we need to continue to connect with these ideas and to connect with people. The live element is so important, because you come along to a digital event and still feel that you can engage with the audience.”
SHYFRIN HIMSELF will be connecting with virtual participants when he discusses Travels with Sushi in the Land of the Mind online. The book follows the adventures of young Aaron and Stella, siblings transported to The Land of the Mind, a fantasy kingdom based on mathematical principles and quantum physics. Travels with Sushi introduces children to positive values such as hope and courage and helps them deal with fear, indifference, and pride. The book presents moral lessons and life choices subtly, within the context of the story.
“It is much more effective to hide the lessons inside an interesting story,” he says.
Shyfrin says that he wrote the book to help children make the right choices in life.
“We don’t know what our children will become, but it is our duty to introduce the world to them so that they can make the right choices,” he says.
To reinforce his point, he recalls speaking at a Chabad conference in Moscow.
“One of the participants asked me, ‘How will studying Torah and Talmud help me decide which profession to choose?’ I replied, ‘The Torah does not tell us if we should become engineers, economists, or writers, but by studying Torah, we will develop the correct attitude to the world around us and develop the ability to make the right judgments and correct choices.’ That is the point of my book.”
Rubenstein is optimistic about the future of books, particularly for children.
“I see it through the prism of my own children. When a story or book inspires them, they remain voracious readers. There is of course a balance to maintain with their other activities. My 10-year-old is reading a six-part book and he can’t put it down. If stories are powerful enough, they will continue to capture children’s imaginations, as Eduard has done with Travels with Sushi. They need some parental guidance as well, but with continued quality, books will continue to hold an important place in their lives.”
She adds that Jewish Book Week has a thriving school program where authors speak to children online about their books. “Children are continuing to engage with books and authors,” says Rubenstein. “We want to inspire them while they are young.”
Jewish Book Week promises to be a fascinating event for anyone – young and old – who is interested in books, reading and ideas. Tickets to the livestreamed events can be purchased at jewishbookweek.com. All online sessions will be recorded, and weekday lunchtime events are free.
This year’s Jewish Book Week will be unlike any other in the organization’s 69-year history