The Sci-Fi Rabbi - Exploring Jewish Wisdom
and Speculative Fiction
Next book
The Postman (David Brin, 1985)
Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00 PM Eastern – register below for Zoom link.
The Postman follows a postman on his journeys in a post-apocalyptic America. In this desolate world, his mission is a ray of hope to those who are seeking a return to law and order. The only catch: he has made up his identity. And yet, as he continues his rounds, he finds himself at the brink of inspiring a revolt against the neo-fascist militia dominating these communities.
Previous book
The Maiden and Her Monster (Maddie Martinez)
The Maiden and Her Monster is a gorgeous, atmospheric debut fantasy rooted in history, folklore, and sapphic romance—perfect for fans of Katherine Arden, Ava Reid, Hannah Whitten, and Naomi Novik.
A monthly conversation in Jewish speculative fiction
The Jewish Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club began in 2020. As we were isolating from one another during the pandemic, the question of how to keep community active was urgent. Given how many people enjoy Jewish speculative fiction, creating a book group was just the thing to pull together a group online. Now in our sixth year, the group is still meeting on Zoom. Participants connect from across the United States, England, Canada, and Israel.
We meet on the last Wednesday of the month at 8:00 PM Eastern, exclusively over Zoom. Our reading skews science fiction and fantasy, with room for the wider speculative neighborhood when a book earns its place at the table. All are welcome, no matter your background – curiosity is the only prerequisite.
The book club is hosted by Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley, who carries the sign-up list and sends out the Zoom link each month. Our thanks to Beth El for making this room possible.
Participants connect from across the United States, England, Canada, and Israel.
What we’ve read
A selected record of our reading lives on Bookshop.org: Jewish Sci-Fi & Fantasy Club Book List. This is not a complete list – for the full run, get in touch.
Your co-hosts
Stephanie Bennett is a librarian with years of experience helping people find just the right book. She brings a reader’s-advisory instinct to every session – the right question at the right moment, the insight you didn’t know you needed.
Rabbi Josh Breindel – The Sci-Fi Rabbi – brings the Jewish-text side of the conversation, drawing on Mishnah, Talmud, midrash, Hasidic tales, and modern Jewish thought to bridge between ancient tradition and modern text.
Want to join the conversation?
Beth El maintains an email list to send monthly remainders and the Zoom link each month.