A book takes us on adventures we would otherwise never experience, sending us to countries where we would never travel and introducing us to people we would never meet. A book enables us to climb mountains and dive to the depths of the ocean.

Whether your idea of reading is curling up on a rainy day with a great book or lying on a beach with your electronic reader, a story has the power to transform.

The 60th Annual Diamond Jewish Book Fair invited remarkable authors who will expand our world and bring our community closer together. Through business professionals, we will hear how we can strengthen and prosper. Some authors will advise how to protect the health of our bodies and our minds, while other authors will help us share their challenges and hopes. Our travels will lead us to unfamiliar cultures and help us better understand our own. People and places in history will be illuminated.

We will be given the opportunity to laugh, cry and be touched by literature, science and art. I invite you to join the 60th Annual Diamond Jewish Book Fair as we remember the past and inspire the future!

Best,
Sue Lutz

Celebrating the past and looking toward the future! One can only imagine what Irwin Shaw was thinking 60 years ago as he began the Jewish Book Fair. My guess is that he could not have imagined his little book fair blossoming into the world-class event it is today.

In 1951, the typical family’s annual income was $3,700, gas was 19 cents a gallon and a house cost, on average, $2,115. That same year, the term “rock & roll” was coined by a D. J. in New Jersey and 11,000 new books debuted. James Jones’ novel, From Here to Eternity, was published, as was as J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and the Pulitzer Prize winner, The Caine Mutiny, by Herman Wouk.

For those of you who may not know, Irwin Shaw was born in Detroit in 1912. As a child, he spent most of his time at the library. He began teaching in the Detroit Public Schools while spending his summers as director of the Fresh Air Camp. In 1951, Irwin Shaw became the executive director of the Jewish Community Center, where he remained until his retirement in 1976. Even after retiring, Shaw could be found at the Jewish Community Center most days for the next 25 years. Shaw’s love of books inspired his decision to begin the Jewish Book Fair in 1951; 60 years later, it is the oldest and largest Jewish book fair in the nation! Irwin Shaw died in 2004, but he left a wonderful legacy of which the Annual Jewish Book Fair is only a small piece.

Although change is inevitable, some things remain the same. No Jewish Book Fair could have taken place without the dedication and insight of those who came before. This includes each of the past book fair chairs and directors who ensured that we surpassed our beginnings while staying true to our mission. Our volunteers work tirelessly all year long to enhance the programs and increase attendance. Without our steering committee, this event could not take place. For all the hours of meetings, research and outreach, thank you for taking us to new heights, and congratulations on reaching this milestone. Our diamond anniversary will shine brightly as another unforgettable Jewish Community Center event!

Happy 60th!
Shari Lebo