Jewish Books

The Jewish culture is rich and the Jewish spirit is unbreakable. It is the resilience of the Jewish people that has kept the community alive and blessed the world with the renowned Jewish sense of humour. Their food, their intellectual prowess, their rich culture and painful history—together make Jews an interesting people with some of the most interesting and moving stories. 

Jewish books therefore are a treasure trove of good quality literature and details about their faith. Jewish writers have an interesting way of delving into details about their beliefs regarding life and death. Precisely why we at Books2Door have curated a collection of the best Jewish books to read; perfect for anyone that is interested in learning about Judaism, the Jewish lifestyle, religion and history. We have tried to pack this collection to the brim with books suitable for every age range too.

For children

Out Of The Hitler Time by Judith Kerr is a set of 3 semi-autobiographical books for children aged 9 plus. The titles in the set include; When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Bombs on Aunt Dainty and A Small Person Far Away. Each book in the set is about the plight of jews during war and their respective struggles as refugees.

The first book in the set; When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit is an unforgettable story of a Jewish family fleeing from Germany before the start of the Second World War. This internationally acclaimed story of one Jewish family’s flight from Hitler’s Germany has become a much-loved classic, and has been in print since its debut 45 years ago. 

Bombs on Aunt Dainty follows the life of Anna through a war-torn Germany, to London during the Blitz and her return to Berlin to discover the past. If it wasn’t hard enough being a teenager in London during the Blitz, Anna also finds herself wondering every waking second; whether she will survive the bombs. Can she and her beloved refugee family possibly survive? 

A Small Person Far Away is the third book in the set and is yet another story of survival against all odds during Hitler’s reign and the life of refugees in London. Berlin is where Anna lived before Hitler, when she was still a German child; before she spoke a word of English, before her family had all become refugees. Long before her happy new existence in London. But her mama is there, dangerously ill. Anna is forced to go back, to deal with questions of life and death, to face old fears, and to discover the past which she has so long shut away.

For Young Adults 

Maus I & II Paperback Box Set by Art Spiegelman is a special-edition box set created to celebrate the Pulitzer-Prize winning Graphic Novel’s 40th anniversary. Arguably the best jewish book for young adults; Maus is also widely hailed as the greatest graphic novel ever written and the most famous jewish book to read. MAUS recounts the chilling experiences of the author's father during the Holocaust, with Jews drawn as wide-eyed mice and Nazis as menacing cats. Maus is a haunting tale within a tale, weaving the author's account of his tortured relationship with his ageing father into an astonishing retelling of one of history's most unspeakable tragedies. If you are a Maus fanatic or someone that has thoroughly enjoyed reading Maus; this box set will make a treasured addition to your bookshelf.

For adults

3 Books Collection Set by Joseph Roth This collection of Peter Owen modern classics by Joseph Roth contains—Flight Without End, Weights and Measures and The Silent Prophet. All these books by Joseph Roth, an Austrian-Jewish journalist and novelist, delve into very dark themes about the complexity of life in a war-torn world. 

Flight Without End tells the story of a young ex-officer of the Austro-Hungarian army in the 1914-18 War, who makes his way back from captivity in Siberia, only to find that the old order that shaped him has crumbled and there is no place for him in the new "European" culture. Whilst the second book in the series; Weights and Measures follows the life and experiences of Eibenschütz who leaves his job as an artilleryman in the Austro-Hungarian army for a civilian job as the Inspector of Weights and Measures. Now in a remote territory near the Russian border, he finds his principles at odds with a host of smugglers and crooks. A fable about the disintegration of a good man, Weights and Measures deep dives into moral dilemmas and conflicts.