Stories of Exile Reading Group

The Yiddish Book Center’s “Stories of Exile” Reading Groups for Public Libraries is a reading and discussion program to engage teens and adults in thinking about experiences of displacement, migration, and diaspora. Saint Paul Public Library was one of 29 public libraries nationwide selected to participate in 2023. Our reading group will meet to discuss three books of Yiddish literature in translation, and one book we’ve selected related to the same themes. The fourth book selected is Saint Paul author Kao Kalia Yang’s Somewhere in the Unknown World: a collective refugee memoir. Copies of all four books will be provided to participants.

The “Stories of Exile” Reading Groups are being offered as a partnership between Saint Paul Public Library and the Minnesota JCC.

The reading group is limited to 15 people with the expectation you will attend all four sessions.

The first two reading groups will be held in September and October at the Highland Park Library (1974 Ford Parkway, St. Paul) in the 2nd Floor Community Room

Thursday, September 14, 6:30-8 pm
On the Landing: Stories by Yenta Mash

Thursday, October 12, 6:30-8 pm
In the Land of the Postscript: Short Stories by Chava Rosenfarb

The final two reading groups will be held in November at the JCC Capp Center (1375 St. Paul Ave, St Paul) in the Library

Thursday, November 2, 6:30-8 pm
Somewhere in the Unknown World: a collective refugee memoir by Kao Kalia Yang

Thursday, November 30, 6:30-8 pm
The Glatstein Chronicles by Jacob Glatstein

More information about program and detailed descriptions of each book can be found here:
“Stories of Exile” Reading Groups for Public Libraries 2023 | Yiddish Book Center

The Yiddish Book Center’s “Stories of Exile” Reading Groups for Public Libraries is made possible by a gift from Sharon Karmazin.