The J Brings Featured Events Across the City for 2025 St. Louis Jewish Book Festival

ST. LOUIS - Oct. 24, 2025 - PRLog -- As part of its 47th annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series, the J is extending its reach across the region with a curated lineup of Special Events in collaboration with premier cultural institutions. The J is collaborating with community anchor institutions—such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Art Museum, STAGES St. Louis, Congregation Shaare Emeth, and the St. Louis County Library—to bring books, ideas, and dialogue into new spaces across the region.

Highlights from the Special Events calendar include:

• Diana Goldman, Plants for You
  When: Wednesday, November 5, at 1 pm
  Where: Missouri Botanical Garden
  Join plant-based chef and educator Diana Goldman for a conversation on wellness, nutrition, and compassionate cooking. Attendees are invited to enjoy the Garden at no charge following the event.
• Christopher C. Gorham, Matisse at War
  When: Thursday, November 6, at 1 pm
  Where: St. Louis Art Museum
  A deeply researched look at Henri Matisse's life during World War II, this talk connects art, resistance, and history through compelling narrative. Attendees are invited to enjoy the Art Museum at no charge following the event.
• Women's Night: Jane Eisner, Carole King: She Made the Earth Move
  When: Thursday, November 6 — Reception at 5:30 pm; Program at 7 pm
  Where: The J (Reception in Edison Gymnasium; Program in the Mirowitz Performing Arts & Banquet Center)
  Acclaimed journalist Jane Eisner presents a portrait of musical icon Carole King, enhanced by a musical tribute from St. Louis' own Mattie Schelle. This evening celebrates women's voices, creativity, and legacy.
• Beejhy Barhany, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens
  When: Thursday, November 13, at 7 pm
  Where: Congregation Shaare Emeth
  In observance of the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd, chef and storyteller Beejhy Barhany blends culinary heritage with personal narrative, offering flavor and connection with recipes and stories across Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and beyond. Attendees will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and other light refreshments during the presentation.
• Jack Fairweather, The Prosecutor: One Man's Battle to Bring Nazis to Justice
  When: Thursday, December 11, at 7 pm
  Where: St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch
  Dive into the incredible history of Fritz Bauer, a gay, Jewish judge from Stuttgart who survived the Nazis and made it his mission to force his countrymen to confront their complicity in the genocide.

Join us this fall as the J takes the Jewish Book Festival into unexpected corners of St. Louis — to gardens, galleries, synagogues, and stages — creating new intersections between books, art, food, and community.

For more information and a complete schedule: visit the J's Festival page (https://jccstl.com/arts-ideas/st-louis-jewish-book-festiv...) or contact Jessica Fischoff at 314-442-3294.