Well, it’s been a long wait, but Returning is finally published! As the Jewish world moves from last week’s Torah reading, with its dire premonitions of the holocaust, into parashat Nitzavim, with its promise of redemption and return, Returning officially goes on sale.
Returning explores the boundaries between right and wrong, choice and choicelessness—and what happens when we cross those boundaries. It challenges notions of black and white, and calls into question the sovereignty of death itself. Click here to read more about the book.
Below are some resources for readers to guide them along on their journey in reading Returning:
Afterword by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Pdf formatted for double-sided printing
Reader’Guide: Questions for readers to ponder as they progress through the book: https://www.yaelshahar.com/readers/returning-discussion-topics//
Discussion Guides:
These discussion guides for book clubs and classrooms were developed to stand alone, so participants don’t need to have read the book to take part in the discussion. They includes excerpts, discussion questions, and an author interview (and no spoilers!).
- Moral and Religious dilemmas in the Holocaust: Topics for group discussion based on dilemmas raised in the book: https://www.yaelshahar.com/moral-dilemmas-holocaust/.
- Reflections and Resources on T’shuvah: Topis for discussion on T’shuvah, supplemented by Jewish sources that can serve as a basis for deeper learning. https://www.yaelshahar.com/readers/reflections-resources-tshuvah-free-download/
Meet the Author
I’d be thrilled to speak or video chat with your class, community, or book club! Be in touch to discuss this possibility.
Additional Resources
I’ve published a series of blog posts on this website with additional background information on the process of writing Returning, including a excerpts, artwork, and material not included in the final printing. Click here to browse the relevant posts.
