Books of Jewish Interest 2025
Let’s Go Shopping:  The People Behind the Great American Stores

Meeting at Bethlehem Public Library and by Zoom | Wednesdays at 4 pm | July 16, July 30, August 13, and August 27.

From Gail Robinson, Books of Jewish Interest Leader

So, who doesn’t really like to go shopping?  I have so many memories of going shopping with my Nana.  When I was a little girl, my Nana and I would take the morning train from Providence to South Station in Boston.  Then, we would hop on the T to Washington Street and head to Filene’s Basement.  Filene’s Basement was more like a discount mart than a department store.  My Nana showed me how to pick clothes and then try on clothes without anyone knowing it.  She would show me how to find clothes that had been marked down by 75%.  My Nana was a genius at shopping for the perfect item at the best price.  So shopping is in my blood.

I have selected four books for the 2025 Books of Jewish Interest summer season.  I have tried to pick authors who would give us a sampling of the shopping experience and the Jewish merchants who changed retail forever.

Hopefully these books will whet your appetite to read more on your own.

Books selected for this season are:

1. A Girl Named Carrie by Jerrie Marcus Smith

2. The Merchant Princes by Leon Harris

3. The Joy of Costco by David and Susan Schwartz

4.  You Need a Schoolhouse by Stephanie Deutsch

All books are available at Amazon and Abe’s Books https://www.abebooks.com and some are available at the Bethlehem Public Library.  

Meetings are open to anyone, and everyone interested in participating in a reading group.  The actual dates for each book will depend on volunteer and Author availability.  Please email Gail Robinson if you want to volunteer or receive Zoom information.

Our co-sponsor, Bethlehem Public Library, 2245 Main St, Bethlehem, NH 03574, will be hosting BJI again this year in person and on Zoom.  The library has conference call capability.  It is also handicapped accessible and has plenty of parking.