SPECIAL EVENTS

The Jewish Community Center of Houston presents a stellar lineup at the 37th Annual Jewish Book & Arts Fair. CELEBRATE OUR 37th YEAR! 36 Authors - 3 Concerts - 5 Films.  Come be a part of it!  The JCC event is a true Houston jewel that draws attendees from across the city, and is a two week event that runs from November 1st through November 15th.  The 37th Annual Jewish Book & Arts Fair promises to be unlike any other bringing the most prominent and emerging writers in literature, philosophy, arts, theology, history, women’s issues and current events to the Jewish Community Center of Houston.

The JCC's Annual Jewish Book & Arts Fair is one of the city's leading cultural and literary events, attracting a large and varied audience of over 10,000 people of all ages and is recognized as one of the largest Jewish Book & Arts Fairs in the nation. This highly popular community-wide event brings together prominent and emerging writers in literature, the arts, philosophy, theology, history and current events to speak during this two-week literary event.

As one of the largest Jewish Book and Arts Fairs in the nation, it is designed to educate, enlighten and enrich the Houston community with high quality programs including conversations with the authors, book signings, a special needs inclusion day, concerts, films, art exhibits, bookstore and a community-wide book read.

The Book & Arts Fair opens with notable foreign policy expert Dan Senor, Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle (McClelland & Stewart). Other authors include former Houstonian, Sam Apple, American Parent: My Strange and Surprising Adventures in Modern Babyland (Random House), Chris Bohjalian, Skeletons at the Feast (Three Rivers Press) and A.J. Jacobs, The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment (Simon & Schuster).

The book fair will feature dozens of notable authors including Daniel Gordis, author of Saving Israel: How the Jewish State Can Win a War That May Never End; Lev Raphael, My Germany; and David Eagleman, SUM: Forty Tales from the Afterlives.  The Fair will also  present the Houston premiere of The Dybbuk, a chamber opera composed by Ofer Ben-Amots and based on the celebrated Yiddish play of the same name written by S. Ansky during the turbulent years of 1912 - 1917.

Click here for a detailed schedule and description of events.

Each year, over 40 programs are selected from the following areas:

Biographies • Business • Children's Interest • Celebrities • Culinary Arts • Emerging Authors • History • Holocaust • Israel • Literature Music • Parenting • Photography • Poetry • Politics • Pop Culture • Sephardic Heritage • Spirituality • Sports • Teens • Text • Yiddish Culture • Young Adult • Films.

Admission is charged for most events. Season passes and tickets are available at the JCC or online during the months of October and November. You can also join us for our entire Arts & Culture Season and become a Patrons of the Arts.

• Book and CD signings following all presentations
• A bookstore featuring 4,000 titles available for purchase

The JCC 37th Annual Jewish Book & Arts Fair continues to forge new partnerships and create new initiatives in an effort to broaden its reach.

• “Inside the Authors Studio”, launched last year as a private event for young adults ages 21-35 returns.

• “One Book, One Jewish Community: Connecting People One Book at a Time” is the theme of the new and expanded community read with public programs leading up to the author appearance at the Fair.

• Niche Marketing activated members representing a diverse cross-section of the community to promote author appearances in new and creative ways.

• Three books will be “radio read” for individuals with visual, physical, or learning disabilities through our partnership with Taping For The Blind, Inc.

• JCC auditory equipment is available for assistance to clearly hear programs. Captioning will be available at numerous programs.

• The Bubbe’s Bag is back to be filled with fabulous children’s books and cd’s.

• A “Teen Read” brings Jewish teens together to read and discuss a single book and hear from the author.

• Book Fair Bucks become a great way to gift people books or attendance to programs.

• The Fair “goes green” with reusable bags available for purchase at .99 to carry home newly purchased books.

And don't miss Jewish Book & Arts Fair Family Day for a concert by Mama Doni, various authors, and tons of fun! November 8th, 9AM-4PM