Posted by Miri Pomerantz Dauber
Banned Books Week is starting tomorrow! According to the Banned Books Week website:
“During the last week of September every year, hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2011 celebration of Banned Books Week will be held from September 24 through October 1. Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,000 books have been challenged since 1982.”
As People of the Book, the freedom to read is definitely something we can support. Especially since Jews and Jewish authors definitely have some history of having their reading lists restricted or their books banned. So choose a book (here’s a list from the ALA of the top banned/challenged books of the past decade plus lists of classic banned books, and banned books by year), curl up and enjoy. If you want to celebrate even more, you can take part in Banned Books Week’s Virtual Read-Out, buy an I Read Banned Books bracelet or an I Read Banned Books pin, or maybe go write something controversial that will put your name ALA’s list in the next few years and add it to the illustrious list of Jewish authors who have been banned or challenged.
Miri joined the JBC team in Winter, 2004 upon graduating from Brandeis University. Originally from Philadelphia, she has lived and studied in Israel and London. Prior to working with JBC, she interned for the Jewish Publication Society. Miri now works on a variety of programs including JBC Book Clubs, author coaching for JBC Network, Natan Notable Books, among others. Miri lives in Manhattan with her husband, Jeremy Dauber, and their three kids.