Jewish Learning Venture (JLV) and Gratz College are pleased and excited to announce that as of February 2019 One Book, One Jewish Community (OBOJC) will be housed at Gratz College. JLV empowers families to make Judaism more relevant and meaningful for themselves. Gratz is the nation’s oldest independent Jewish college.

Since Jewish Learning Venture launched OBOJC twelve years ago Gratz has been a key partner. A committee of dedicated community volunteers will continue to support OBOJC at Gratz with the annual book selection, resource guide and other related activities.

JLV and Gratz will jointly sponsor the kickoff event for the 2018-19 selection, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, by Michael David Lukas, at 3 pm on Sunday, January 13, at Gratz College (7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park, PA). This community event is open to the public and includes a presentation and book signing with the author. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Lukas also is the author of the internationally best-selling novel, The Oracle of Stamboul, which was a finalist for the California Book Award and the Harold U. Ribalow Prize. It has been published in 15 languages. He is a graduate of Brown University and was a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey and a student at the American University of Cairo. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and he works at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is a fascinating, multi-generational novel about Joseph, a man who seeks to unravel a centuries-old family secret that ties him to both the Muslim men of his family and his American Jewish mother. Connecting with his family in Egypt, Joseph learns about the family “business” of serving as watchmen of the ancient Ibn Ezra Synagogue. The story includes the fascinating discovery of the Cairo Genizah, a treasure trove of medieval Jewish documents, including the “Ezra Scroll.” British sisters and scholars, Agnes and Margaret Smith, and rabbi and educator Solomon Schechter are the main characters in this chapter in history. Among many other things, this is a story of family, cultural identity and the role of women in academia.

Jewish Learning Venture’s CEO, Rabbi Philip Warmflash said, “One Book has been a signature program of Jewish Learning Venture for 12 years – and now we are so pleased that Gratz College will continue to share important Jewish books with our community. We look forward to the additional opportunities that Gratz can also make available as features of OBOJC in the future.”

Dr. Paul Finkelman, President of Gratz College, noted that this transition fits with Gratz’s historic commitment to adult education and Jewish education. “I am delighted that Gratz can help continue this program throughout Jewish Philadelphia,” he said. “As an online college, we also have the capacity engage our students and alumni from across the region, the nation -- and the world -- in One Book, One Jewish Community.”

CONTACT:
Alyse Unterberger, Director, Special Initiatives, Jewish Learning Venture
aunterberger@jewishlearningventure.org
Alysa Landry; Communications Liaison, Gratz College
alandry@gratz.edu
Naomi Housman; Director of Institutional Advancement, Gratz College
nhousman@gratz.edu