Read ‘By Fire, By Water’ for book month events

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article created on: 2011-09-01T00:00:00

Come November, Portland’s Jewish community will be buzzing with conversations about the Spanish Inquisition, Jewish identity and books—or at least one book “By Fire, By Water.”One Book, One Community is the theme of the inaugural year of Portland Jewish Book Month.

When Marge Congress moved to Portland in 2006, she was disappointed her new hometown did not have a community-wide celebration of Jewish Book Month such as she had enjoyed for many years in Hollywood, Fla.

This year, Congress contacted Jewish congregations and organizations around town to expand Jewish Book Month here. The resulting Portland Jewish Book Month Committee has planned a full slate of events—all centered on the book “By Fire, By Water,” by Mitchell James Kaplan.

Six congregations, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Multnomah County Library have planned programs around By Fire, By Water—the award-winning, historical novel which traces the story of a powerful, converso courier as he traverses the political and religious complexity of Spain during the Inquisition.

Congress encourages people to watch “an excellent two-minute synopsis of the book told by voice and beautiful art of the period” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRuSyxi0ANE.

The community is encouraged to read this award-winning novel set during the Inquistion in Spain that focuses on powerful historic figure Luis de Santángel, a converso who persuaded King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to finance Columbus’ voyage.

Though the Jewish Book Council designates the month leading up to Hanukkah as Jewish Book Month, celebrations for the annual event are often held throughout November. In Portland, events run Nov. 1-17.

On Nov. 1, Beit Haverim will host a book discussion with Lake Oswego United Church of Christ at 1111 Country Club Road, where both congregations meet.

“Piece by missing piece: Recovering the Sephardic legacy of Spain,” is the title of Congregation Beth Israel’s Nov. 4 program. Drs. Regan and Warshawsky will lead the program after 6 p.m. services at Beth Israel, 1972 NW Flanders, Portland.

Congregation Shaarie Torah will host a book discussion from 6-8 p.m., Nov. 8, at Sip Divine, 7829 SW Capitol Hwy., in Multnomah Village.

At 7:15 p.m., Nov. 11, Congregation Shir Tikvah invites the community, especially those on the eastside, to join a book discussion led by Rabbi Ariel Stone as part of her erev Shabbat d’var Torah. The theme will be history, identity and belonging. The program will be in the Bridgeport Building at 621 NE 76th Ave.

The One Book, One Community program continues Nov. 15 when Congregation Neveh Shalom and Multnomah County Library sponsor a 6:30-7:30 p.m. discussion at the Hillsdale Library, 1525 SW Sunset Blvd. The discussion will begin with a short DVD by Mitchell Kaplan about how he wrote the book.

The month’s celebrations conclude Nov. 17 when Oregon Jewish Museum shows “Expulsion and Memory” at 7 p.m. The film traces the descendants of conversos forced to flee Spain in the 15th century. The film includes interviews with families and music provided by Placido Domingo. The film will be shown at OJM, 1953 NW Kearney St. Tickets are $8 OJM members, $10 non-members.

For more information on Portland Jewish Book Month One Book, One Community programs, email portlandjbm-books@yahoo.com.