Greetings!
On behalf of the J’s Cultural Arts Department, I am very excited to share our 2019-20 Festival lineup. You will have the opportunity to meet an array of incredible authors with BIG stories. From a mixed-race Jewish girl battling hate to a Palestinian activist promoting peace; from a legendary — and local! — New York Mets outfielder to the first woman ordained as a cantor in Jewish history; from Conan Doyle’s work on a murder case to Audrey Hepburn’s childhood in Nazi-occupied Netherlands; with each author, we strive to create a space that is engaging and meaningful for all.
Since its inception in 1979, the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival has become one of the largest and most well renowned in the United States. However, this Festival would not be possible without the incredible team of dedicated volunteers that work year-round to produce more than 25 events in 12 days. And that does not even include our Bookend events, which start in October and continue through spring. At the forefront of this powerhouse team are Co-Chairs Bob Germain and Barb Williams, whom I cannot thank enough for their passion, creativity and hard work.
We hope you will join us this fall for the 41st Book Festival, and throughout the year at our many Cultural Arts programs, where there is truly something for everyone!
Cheers to a great year,
Amy Bornstein
Director, Literary and Jewish Arts