Book of the Every Other Month Club
Book of the Every-Other Month Club
As the name suggests, we gather every other month to discuss a work of literature with a Jewish reference or theme.
Join us for our next meeting!
People of The Book by Geraldine Brooks
Monday, August 15 | 7:30pm
Our last meeting was Monday, June 20th at 7:30 pm where we discussed Twilight of Democracy, The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Anne Applebaum. Applebaum, a journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, has written extensively about communism and the development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. In this book, she examined the attraction of autocratic forms of government, and discussed the ability of autocratic leaders to ignore previous democratic norms to further their efforts to exercise control. Her background as a conservative Republican who was born in the U.S., educated at Yale, London School of Economics and Oxford and has lived in the U.S. England and Poland, gives her writing a scholarly perspective of politics and governments.
Although a few of us felt the book difficult to absorb, most of us remarked that we had learned much and found her writing clear and well researched. We saw that politics and government directions are somewhat cyclical with opposing swings of the pendulum. Some want a charismatic leader and others want a liberal centrist. Applebaum told of the loss of some of her friendships that had been close for a long time turned to angry distancing because of inability to handle disagreements with developed political ideologies. As a consequence, it is difficult for some people to listen to other’s facts or discuss different political beliefs without rancor.
In our discussion, many were surprised by the coordinated development of autocratic policies and leaders in many different countries. The extensive and coordinated use of the internet has enabled the sharing of similar slogans and beliefs in a concerted effort to amass followers and gain power very quickly. The creation of rapid changes in communication seems to affect some people with an “authoritarian predisposition” which makes them hostile to perceived challenges to their sense of unity and consensus. Applebaum’s assertion is that political systems with radically simple beliefs are inherently appealing. They rely less on asking questions and seem to be based on convincing people that there is an alternate truth without factual support.
Applebaum wrote about the concept of “nostalgia” as a tool used by some leaders to lessen democratic standards. If the “good old ways” require all to have similar backgrounds, beliefs and heritage it is not compatible with a truly democratic system.
We discussed that in autocratic systems, freedom of expression is repressed, there is little accountability and problems are blamed on “the others”. We collectively considered how to keep our own environment “safe” for discussion of facts and opinions. We aim to truly listen and hear each other.
Wed, August 10 2022
13 Av 5782
Join Us For Shabbat!
Upcoming Programs & Events
Aug 14 Come Talk Jewish: A Conversation with Rabbi Shira Sunday, Aug 14 10:30am |
Aug 21 HHD Rehearsal Sunday, Aug 21 6:00pm |
Aug 24 HHD Rehearsals Wednesday, Aug 24 7:00pm |
Aug 28 HHD Rehearsals Sunday, Aug 28 6:00pm |
Aug 31 HHD Rehearsals Wednesday, Aug 31 7:00pm |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat Va-et'chanan
Shabbat, Aug 13 |
Tu B'Av
Friday, Aug 12 |
Upcoming Events
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Sunday ,
AugAugust 14 , 2022
Sunday, Aug 14th 10:30a to 12:00p
There will be bagels and coffee and conversation. Come as you are! Bring questions! Rabbi Shira wants to know what you're curious about. -
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Sunday, Aug 21st 6:00p to 8:00p
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Wednesday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 9:00p
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Wednesday, Aug 31st 7:00p to 9:00p
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Sunday, Sep 11th 6:00p to 8:00p
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Sunday, Sep 18th 6:00p to 8:00p
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