Temple Isaiah Book Club
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
11:00AM - 12:00PM
November 2026 Novel: The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani Set in Ferrara, Italy, as Mussolini’s Racial Laws strip Jews of their rights, Giorgio Bassani’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis follows a young Jewish man drawn into the secluded world of a wealthy family. Within their walled garden, tennis matches, friendships, and his unrequited love for the elusive Micòl offer a fragile refuge from growing persecution. First published in 1962, the novel explores love, class, Jewish identity, and the limits of belonging. Neither the narrator’s assimilated family nor the aristocratic Finzi-Continis can escape the forces reshaping their country. Through memories of synagogue services, family life, and everyday exclusion, Bassani captures a community becoming strangers in its own city. Both a coming-of-age story and an act of remembrance, the novel preserves a world the Holocaust destroyed.
Join Temple Isaiah’s lively book club for stimulating conversations about captivating reads. Explore diverse genres, share perspectives, and discover new favorites with fellow book lovers. All temple members are welcome.
Want to join and interested in what upcoming books there are or have a suggestion? Please reach out to Esther Nichol at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Rabbi Nicki Greninger at rabbi.greninger@temple-isaiah.org.
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