After evening minyan on the last Monday of every month, Rabbi Benjamin Scolnic of Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden leads an engaging book club discussion over Zoom.   

Book selections cover a wide range of subjects in a variety of genres, including fiction, memoirs, historical novels, non-fiction and, notably, books that have been banned in some parts of the US, such as The Hate U Give. Other recent titles have included The Lincoln Highway, Crying in the H Mart, The Wager, Demon Copperhead, Hello Beautiful and Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Up for discussion this fall:

August -- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

September -- "The Hill We Climb" by Amanda Gorman 

October-- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

 

Participants say Rabbi Scolnic's brilliance adds to the enjoyment of the diverse contributions. As one Book Club member put it, “Rabbi Scolnic initiates the discussions with insightful questions that stimulate enthusiastic conversation. Sometimes, a title might not have initially inspired me, but by the end of the Book Club discussion I've gained new insights that enhance my understanding and enjoyment. It's truly the best book club I've ever attended!”

 

Stay updated with what's hot in the literary world and engage in stress-free conversations about books by joining us on Zoom. Participants are welcome to actively participate in the conversation or simply sit back and listen to the thoughts shared by others.

 

*Note from Wikipedia: "The Hill We Climb" is a spoken word poem written by American poet Amanda Gorman and recited by her at the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021. The poem was written in the weeks following the 2020 presidential election, with significant passages written on the night of January 6, 2021, in response to the storming of the US Capitol.