Book Launch Celebration at Workmen's Circle in Brookline

This coming Saturday evening, April 12 at 7:30 pm, in Brookline, the Boston Workmen’s Circle is throwing a book launch party to celebrate its recent publication of "The Veterans of History: A Young Person’s History of the Jews," by Mitchell Silver.

"The Veterans of History," released this month, is the first publication by the Boston Workmen’s Circle in its over 100-year history. Written for young adults, this 336-page work covers a broad sweep of Jewish history from Biblical times to today, providing the historical basis for an exploration of Jewish identity rooted in Jewish cultural literacy and traditions of social justice.

The Workmen’s Circle, founded in 1900 by Yiddish-speaking immigrants, is a national organization “passionately committed to the principles of Jewish community, the promotion of Jewish culture, and the pursuit of social justice.” The Boston Workmen’s Circle Center for Jewish Culture and Social Justice, located in Brookline, maintains a vibrant community life, of which the I.L. Peretz School, popularly known as “the Shule” (Yiddish for school), is an integral part.

As Education Director of the Boston Workmen’s Circle Shule for nearly two decades, Silver felt the need for a history of the Jews which reflected progressive and universalistic values and beliefs, while remaining deeply Jewishly-committed. Aimed at young teenagers, The Veterans of History was written to meet that need.

Boston Workmen’s Circle Executive Director, Lisa Gallatin, explained: “Within our Boston Workmen's Circle there are many differences in how members live their Jewish lives, but what we as a community hold in common, and strive to pass on to succeeding generations, is a love of Jewish culture, and an understanding of our Jewish heritage as a vital tool in building ‘a besere velt,’ which is Yiddish for ‘a better world.’ That is why we are so proud to publish Mitchell Silver's "The Veterans of History," which so perfectly introduces young people to Jewish history through the lens of understanding our universal humanity and a Jewish commitment to justice.”

The Veterans of History has already drawn favorable attention from Jewish educators. Said Rabbi Moshe Waldoks of Temple Beth Zion in Brookline “Mitchell Silver’s wonderful and engaging summary of the history of the Jews is a useful tool to reach out to our youngsters. I will be recommending it to our b’nai mitzvah as part of their preparation.”

Said Dr. David Gordis, President Emeritus of Hebrew College: “… Mitchell Silver has written a rich, lively and informative brief history of the Jewish experience which can be read usefully by readers of all ages. Silver is a liberal and a secularist who clearly loves Jewish community and culture and cares deeply about all people. He is scrupulously objective in describing the triumphs and tragedies of Jewish history from its beginnings to the present, including religious, political, cultural and social dimensions. This is the work of a consummate ‘storyteller’ in the best sense.”

The title of the book, "The Veterans of History", is taken from a quote from Jewish historian Simon
Dubnow, who perished in the Holocaust.

--The Veterans of History Launch Party, Saturday April 12, 7:30 pm, Boston Workmen’s Circle, 1762 Beacon Street, Brookline.

--The Veterans of History is available in Brookline at the Israel Bookshop and Brookline Booksmith (and will be available starting Saturday at the Workmen's Circle), and on Amazon.com)