The first annual Books That Changed My Life Festival ran from Jan 5–Feb 28, 2023. An initiative that celebrated the transformational role books play in our lives, the two-month celebration of literature and culture featured events inspired by or adapted from beloved literary works, including author conversations, writers workshops, weekly storytime, a gallery exhibit, musical concerts, theatrical and film events, and more.
Jan 5 | Books That Changed My Life Pop-Up Library: Opening Reception
Jan 9 | Book Social: Bookstagrammer Panel
Jan 10 | Storytime in the Lobby: WonderSpark Puppets, Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
Jan 17 | Storytime with Jennifer from the JCC Welcome Desk
Jan 17 | Cynthia Nixon in Conversation with Author Felicia Kornbluh, A Woman's Life Is a Human Life
Jan 18 | National Jewish Book Award Winners Announcement
Jan 19 | The Year of Living Biblically Author A.J. Jacobs in Conversation with Freakonomics' Stephen J. Dubner
Jan 24 | Storytime in the Lobby with Author Samantha Cluster (Germaine: The Cold Who Could)
Jan 25 | This Time Tomorrow Author Emma Straub in Conversation with Vanessa Kroll Bennett
Jan 29 | An Evening of Life-Changing Poetry
Jan 31 | Film: Butterfly in the Sky
Feb 1 | Schmaltzy: Live Podcast Taping with the Jewish Food Society
Feb 5 | Ha'Keves haShisha Asar in Concert
Feb 6 | Author Allegra Goodman in Conversation with Literary Agent Julie Barer
Feb 7 | Storytime in the Lobby with Amy Rosenfeld
Feb 9 | Banned Books Panel with PEN America
Feb 13 | Chelsea Clinton in Conversation with Abigail Pogrebin
Feb 14 | Storytime in the Lobby with Kerin Robbins
Feb 15 | Altered Book Workshop
Feb 16 | Michael Winograd Plays Tanz: A Live Album Recreation
Feb 21 | Author Jai Chakrabarti in Conversation with Jewish Book Council's Becca Kantor
Feb 23 | Rebroadcast: Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert + Maggie Smith in Conversation
Feb 26 | Dot Dot Dot: A New Musical
Feb 27 | National Jewish Book Award Winner Book Club: Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
Feb 27 | Chef/Author Claudia Fleming + NY Times' Melissa Clark in Conversation
Feb 28 | Storytime in the Lobby: National Jewish Book Award Winner Author Shoshana Nambi
Feb 28 | Film: Judy Blume Forever