News on Relevant Science: 20 Essential Novels for Jewish Studies Students

With Judaism’s ancient roots and subsequent millions upon millions (perhaps billions?) of stories and experiences, it’s inevitable that some of the literary world’s most compelling narratives spring directly from it. Anyone partaking of Jewish studies courses as a major, minor, or simply an elective of interest might want to supplement their lessons with some highly influential, insightful fiction. Each one peeks into a different element of the religion and ethnicity’s history, culture, or both and provides sometimes hopeful, sometimes tragic commentary worth exploring.

The Rise of David Lavinsky (1917) by Abraham Cahan

In this fictional autobiography, the titular immigrant pursues the American Dream while struggling with his religious and cultural identity. Considered a landmark work of Jewish-American literature by the founder of Jewish Daily Forward, the novel chronicles how he climbs his way through socioeconomic levels, starting as a humble, impoverished laborer. But David Lavinsky’s success ultimately requires some rather unfortunate sacrifices.
Bread Givers (1925) by Anzia Yezierska

Jewish studies students who enjoy a good coming-of-age novel or two might enjoy reading this story of Sara Smolinsky. Major cultural clashes between Eastern European and American values and norms pull to the forefront, making it a particularly useful read for audiences hoping to explore early 20th century immigrant tug-of-wars. Little Sara finds herself at an impasse between what she wants and what’s expected of her, which causes cracks to form between her and her beloved family.
Odessa Tales (1931) by Isaac Babel

Although a collection of short stories, all of the Odessa Tales tie into one another enough to warrant inclusion here. The era shortly before the Russian Revolution impacts a small, Jewish settlement based in Odessa, a city in what is now Ukraine — particularly the criminal element led by Benya "The King" Krik. It provides a stirring, painful glimpse at what life looked like before totalitarianism completely overtook most of Eastern Europe.
The Brothers Ashkenazi (1936) by I.J. Singer

I.J. Singer covers major political, social, and economic transitions in Lodz, Poland, from the turn of the 20th century to the time before World War II’s inception. Once again, pressures between traditional ideologies and lifestyles and the more modernized, industrial sloughing off of the past begin burbling to the surface — represented here by a pair of brothers. Tempted by the capitalistic opportunities the Industrial Revolution offers, one renounces his Jewish background and winds up weighing whether or not the resulting filial isolation proved worth it.
As a Driven Leaf (1939) by Milton Steinberg

Highly controversial rabbi Elisha ben Abuyah served as the inspiration for Milton Steinberg’s reflections on the history of Rabbinic Judaism. It obviously takes some liberties with history, but nevertheless offers some fascinating commentary on finding solace in Greek philosophy at a time when doing so was an utmost heresy. Although the novel takes place in the first century BCE, many of its themes regarding culture class resonate through time and geography.
Night (1955) by Elie Wiesel

Night is considered one of the most chilling nonfiction novels of all time, as well as an essential (and among the first) staple of Holocaust literature. The human rights atrocities committed at Buchenwald and Auschwitz — pulling directly from the author’s and his father’s experiences — are depicted here with visceral detail. Research its less-frequently-read successors Dawn and Day for the complete story and a wider look at a horrific period of Jewish history and its aftermath.
Remember Me to God (1957) by Myron Kaufmann

At Harvard (not exactly what most consider a bastion of Judaism in American) a first-generation son of immigrant parents bounces between his heritage and the surrounding WASP nest. While published after the Holocaust, the novel’s setting takes place before it sprung to American consciousness and focuses on how the dominant culture starts impressing itself upon and suppressing the minority. Central character Richard Amsterdam weaves in and out of assimilating behaviors, initiating rifts and raising some serious questions about anti-Semitism in allegedly intellectual, enlightened spaces.
The Fixer (1966) by Bernard Malamud

Menahem Mendel Beilis’ arrest and subsequent imprisonment under false murder charges led to global outrage that eventually led to the Tsarist Russians setting him free. This Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award recipient fictionalizes these very real events, focusing on the titular fixer, Yakov Bok, and the events leading up to his trial for allegedly spending his Passover murdering a Christian kid as a religious rite. Suffice it to say, it makes for a particularly revealing read when it comes to the history of Jewish persecution that allowed the Holocaust and other terrors to eventually happen.
The Chosen (1967) by Chaim Potok

Although so much prominent Jewish literature dissects push and pull between vastly different cultural norms, students must also look into how the community itself throws up divides. The Chosen is often cited as a perfect example highlighting the departures between Hasidic and Modern Orthodox approaches, relaying them through the experiences of two young boys. It follows their mutual coming-of-age, particularly at the spiritual level, and changing perspectives regarding faith, secularism, and whether or not the two could ever share the same body.
Badenheim 1939 (1978) by Aharon Applefeld

Aharon Applefeld’s highly controversial novel takes readers to the eponymous (and completely made-up) Austrian town and depicts its slow crumble thanks to the encroaching Nazi enforcers. Rather than banding together to fight tyranny, the citizenry decides to channel its rage into tearing each other apart before the Germans and their supporters arrive or, in some cases, denying that anything is actually happening. This constitutes the main source of the novel’s criticism, although such things should certainly pique the curiosity of eager students.
Inside, Outside (1985) by Herman Wouk

From Russia to America, four generations of a Jewish family witness actual events and encounter real people like the Gershwins, Ernest Hemingway, Marlene Dietrich, and more. Partly autobiographical, a low-level bureaucrat of the third generation begins drifting back to the Orthodoxy he once dismissed as a culturally pressured youth. He turns towards memoir writing at the height of Watergate in order to start making sense of all the ch-ch-changes.
Maus (1986) by Art Spiegelman

Like Night, the only comic to ever win a Pulitzer (so far) spins nonfiction into a novel structure — and wound up one of the greatest works of Holocaust literature ever published. Art Spiegelman started out penning his father’s memoirs of Poland before and during World War II as well as his horrific stint in Auschwitz. And he ended up with both a heartwrenching reflection on family, the anxiety of experience, and how the human spirit doesn’t always entirely triumph over adversity.
American Pastoral (1997) by Philip Roth

Yet another heavily respected Pulitzer winner, American Pastoral offers up as much commentary on the Jewish-American experience as it does the confining stranglehold middle-class existence entails. Central figure Seymour Lvov, once a conventional high school sports star who graduated into the requisite business career, marriage, and kids, finds himself suffering thanks to the ’60s countercultural and Vietnam protests. Radical daughter Merry’s ultimately fatal antics leave him mentally unraveling and attempting to forge another "normal" life.
The Puttermesser Papers (1997) by Cynthia Ozick

Five short stories about the fictional Ruth Puttermesser merge together into one bright, brilliant tale following a Jewish intellectual through her sparkling New York home. She cares little for love and quells her hopes for a daughter by whipping up a golem of her very own — interestingly enough, a truly rare female example. Magic realism and fantasy buffs might find the way her own imagination manages to overwhelm her and her beloved city alike fascinating.
Kaaterskill Falls (1999) by Allegra Goodman

Orthodox Judaism and WASPy upstate New Yorkers collide in the titular town, with each family harboring its own unique set of secrets and tragedies. It’s a comparatively quiet read, but one with an inherent humanity that launched the novel to the bestseller list. Multiculturalism, traditional roles and perspectives, and varying experiences all challenge the residents of Kaaterskill Falls to try and eke out the most stable possible community.
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (2000) by Michael Chabon

Jewish artists and writers were almost singlehandedly responsible for launching the popularity of comic books in America, specifically the superhero genre. Michael Chabon channels this historical and cultural fact into a stellar work of multiple award-winning fiction, where a pair of cousins — one born in the Czech Republic, the other in America — revolutionize the cape-and-spandex literary and artistic scene. Through their breakaway character The Escapist, they reflect their own struggles with homosexuality, love, aspiration, and running away from Nazi-occupied Europe.
The Ladies Auxiliary (2000) by Tova Mirvis

Tova Miris only recently started making waves as a Jewish-American author, with The Ladies Auxiliary usually spoken of as her most notable work thus far. Here, the eponymous organization, based in Memphis, winds up baffled at the assimilating antics of their teen daughters. Although obviously Jewish in its emphasis, what the book says about the constant battles between moms and their ladykids could be considered a near-universal theme.
Ravelstein (2000) by Saul Bellow

The twin themes of death and dying and Jewish experiences converge in game-changing, Nobel-winning author Saul Bellow’s final novel. More haunting than his previous offerings, Ravelstein ramps up the rad bromance narrative of Humboldt’s Gift to more immediate, tragic, and topical levels. It follows a pair of erotically-charged intellectuals, with one dying of AIDS and wishing the other would tell his story to the world after his passing.
Everything is Illuminated (2002) by Jonathan Safran Foer

Sometimes wacky, sometimes, well, illuminating, this debut novel by Jonathan Safran Foer bounces between time periods and focuses on Ukrainian Jews and their eventual American descendents. As a character in his own novel (meta!), the author hopes to better understand specific events in his family’s history. Specifically, to track down the woman he thinks might very well have rescued his grandfather from subjugation, torture, and maybe even murder at the hands of the Nazis.
Seven Blessings (2004) by Ruchama King

Matchmaking, considered a noble and essential profession in some Jewish circles, receives a right fair amount of dissection here. In Israel, a quintet of lonesome singletons try to find partners with the same amount of aching passion as they do faith. Because matchmakers still receive business in some circles these days (and, of course, played an integral role historically), Jewish studies students unfamiliar with their practices will probably find this quite an educational read.