Mensch and the Jewish Literary Festival (JLF) launch the Thought Readers Bookclub
The Thought Readers Book Club aims to activate and deepen our understanding of South African and global social issues through reading and peer-led discussion. Thought-provoking text-based learning is inherently Jewish, and provides us with an engaging learning opportunity to start in the New Year.
This collaborative project aligns with Mensch’s mission of conscientising, educating and empowering our community towards the positive transformation of South Africa; and the ethos of the JLF to promote constructive dialogue and discussion in the true spirit of Jewish life.
Clubs are run by a volunteer ‘Club Host’ who chooses a book and invites friends, family or the public to join a small group in reading the book over a month and meeting to discuss it. Mensch supports you in this process to get you started, suggest books, advertise your club and host.
Books can be fiction or non-fiction. Suggested topics and genres include South African or global social justice issues; Jewish texts linking our Jewish values to our role in society; South African History; Memoirs.
The Clubs launched this November with 3 groups who read The Promise by Damon Galgut, The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal and Dancing the Death Drill by Fred Khumalo.
This is what participants said about taking part:
“Encourage discussion, curiosity, debate & learning I found it so nice to get together with a diverse group of people,
some of whom I did not know, and to discuss their thoughts on this book. I was nervous at first, as being a host took me out of my comfort zone. I also chose a book to read which I normally would never have read if I had not been taking part in this initiative.”
– bookclub host Maxine Boyd on reading ‘Dancing the Death Drill’ by Fred Khumalo
“Being part of the TRC was an enriching experience. I enjoyed the lively discussion and the added dimension of interaction around the reading material. It was refreshing to learn and share ideas and responses in this way. Thank you Mensch and JLF for the opportunity to engage and grow!”
– bookclub participant Lisa Michalson on reading ‘The sunflower’ by simon wiesenthal
To join or host a club in 2022 email jodi@mensch.org.za for more info!
Jewish Literary Festival www.jewishliteraryfestival.co.za
Mensch – www.mensch.org.za | Mensch on Facebook | Mensch on Instagram
• Published in the PDF edition of the December 2021/January 2022 issue – Click here to get it.
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