A pop-up Jewish bookstore will open in midtown Manhattan.
'13.11.2025'
ForumDaily New York
A pop-up shop that seems to have stepped straight out of the pages of literary history is opening on the Lower East Side. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Jewish Book Month, the Jewish Book Council will transform its space at 81 Hester Street into a temporary bookstore for two days—November 16 and 17. Expect a thousand free books, hot chocolate, and a program celebrating the centennial of Jewish writing. This is reported by Time-out.
This free event commemorates a rich literary tradition begun nearly a century ago by librarian Fannie Goldstein. In the 1920s, she founded Jewish Book Week to support Jewish writers. In the 1940s, the celebration grew to a month-long celebration, and in 1944, the Jewish Book Council was founded. Today, the organization represents over 250 authors in 120 communities across North America and hosts over a thousand events annually.
On Sunday, November 16th, early bird guests can pick up a free copy of Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing—and, of course, bagels. Niki Russ Federman will be there to sign books from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Also scheduled are talks with editor and author Talia Benami, podcast host Zibby Owens, poet and children's author Richard Michelson, and Esther Hehebar, author of Sisters of Fortune, a book about family relationships in Brooklyn's Syrian Jewish community.
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Throughout the day, guests will be introduced to PJ Library, an international organization that distributes free Jewish children's books to families; Artists Against Antisemitism, an initiative uniting artists who speak out against hate; the People Jew Wanna Know podcast, which explores Jewish identity through pop culture and humor; and more. On Monday, November 17, the program will continue with sessions by Artists Against Antisemitism and JBI, a nonprofit organization formerly known as the Jewish Braille Institute.
The pop-up was created in partnership with the UJA-Federation of New York and the Charles H. Revson Foundation. It's more than just a nostalgic experience—it's a reminder of how deeply Jewish literature is woven into American culture. It's worth stopping by, even if just for a book, a bagel, or a quick conversation. Over these two days, this small shop will offer warmth, humor, and a sense of a century of literary history.
