Nov

6 2019

Author Visit with Julie Zuckerman, The Book of Jeremiah

7:00PM - 9:00PM  

Congregation Beth Israel 701 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06119

Contact Rabbi Howard Rosenbaum
860-233-8215
tmozingo@cbict.org
http://cbict.org

Julie Zuckerman’s moving and engrossing debut novel-in-stories, The Book of Jeremiah, tells the story of awkward but endearing Jeremiah Gerstler—the son of Jewish immigrants, brilliant political science professor, husband, father. Jeremiah has yearned for respect and acceptance his entire life, and no matter his success, he still strives for more. As a boy, he was feisty and irreverent and constantly compared to his sweet and well-behaved older brother, Lenny. At the university, he worries he is a token hire. Occasionally, he’s combative with colleagues, especially as he ages. But there is a sweetness to Gerstler, too, and an abiding loyalty and affection for those he loves. When he can overcome his worst impulses, his moments of humility become among the best measures of his achievements.
In a tale spanning eight decades and interwoven with the Jewish experience of the 20th century, Julie Zuckerman charts Jeremiah’s life from boyhood, through service in WWII, to marriage and children, a professorship and finally retirement, with compassion, honesty, and a respect that even Gerstler himself would find touching.
Copies of The Book of Jeremiah and are available for purchase ($15 each) in the CBI office so that you can read it before Julie’s visit. This program is sponsored by CBI’s Book Group and is open to the entire CBI community.