Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festial
Thank you for making 2024 a great Festival!
We support Jewish authors and innovators, and books of Jewish content year round.
In 1933, university students in Germany burned 25,000 books. Books by Jewish authors were targeted, along with books by blacklisted American authors such as Helen Keller and Ernest Hemingway. Similar books that were not burned were banned from bookstores and libraries.
90 years later, starting after October 7, 2023, Jewish authors have been facing a battle to participate in the literary world. Literary events have been cancelled due to the participation of Jewish authors. Jewish authors have had their books “review-bombed” on sites like Goodreads. These actions have taken place because authors have Jewish characters or Israel in their books, or simply because they are Jewish.
Please continue to support Jewish authors, speakers, innovators and our Festival.Â
You’ll find this year’s festival books and coming soon…much more! When you make a purchase through our website, the Festival benefits!
About the Festival
The JCC Jewish Book Festival is back with a new name and an expanded focus. For 30 years, you’ve connected with your favorite authors and to other readers who care about books as much as you do fostering important community conversations. The new Lane Dworkin JCC Rochester Authors + Innovators Festival expands the core of a Book Festival beyond a traditional lineup by welcoming creative innovators to share their world-changing ideas and adding interactive workshops and events.
The JCC Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival exists to create a showcase for Jewish authors and innovators, and/or books of Jewish content. In so doing, the festival promotes awareness, appreciation, and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people; strengthens community consciousness of Jewish identity, history, and culture; and provides a community forum to stimulate dynamic and provocative dialogue.
WITH FOND MEMORIES OF SHELDON A. LANE
The JCC Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival is presented in memory of Sheldon A. Lane. His vision for the Festival continues through the support of his loving family.
JEWISH BOOK COUNCIL
The Jewish Book Council is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1943 to promote the publishing, writing and reading of books of Jewish interest. Visit jewishbookcouncil.org for more information.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Marni Port
FESTIVAL ADVISOR
Andrea Miller
FESTIVAL CHAIR
Elizabeth Hornak
FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Barbara Appelbaum
Henra Briskin
Ellen Comisar
Nikki Druckman
David Dworkin
Wendy Dworkin
Linda Epstein
Stacey Freed
Hannah Harnest
Wendy Howitt
Caroline Korn
Sharon Kovalsky
Jacqui Lipschitz
Ron Newman
Liza Robbins Theuman
Festival Bookstore
Open November 6–21, 2024
Location: JCC Yiddish Room
Mon-Thurs
- 9-11am
- 5-7pm
- 1 hour before and after all scheduled festival events at the JCC.
Books provided by:
View past festival brochures:
 2022 |  2021 |  2019 |  2018 | |
 2017 |  2016 |  2015 |  2014 | |
 2013 |  2012 |  2011 |  2010 | Â |