What’s Rabbi Reading? The Beth Tzedec Book Club
Join us each month at Masala Art for lively conversation, good company, and great food as we explore Jewish literature together. The Beth Tzedec Book Club is open to all who love reading and discussing stories, history, and ideas through a Jewish lens. This month, our discussion will be led by Holly Shifrah.
We’ll be reading selected stories from Burning Girls and Other Stories by Veronica Schanoes.
In this striking debut collection, Schanoes blends folklore, history, and fantasy to illuminate the lives of fierce, complex women navigating the margins of society. Her stories are richly imagined and unflinching, weaving together figures like Emma Goldman and Baba Yaga, alongside original characters confronting injustice, loss, and transformation. With prose that is at once lyrical and razor-sharp, these stories challenge readers to reckon with difficult truths while drawing on the deep roots of myth and storytelling.
For our discussion, we will focus on three standout pieces:
- “Among the Thorns”
- “Emma Goldman Takes Tea with the Baba Yaga”
- “Burning Girls” (also available here)
Together, these works offer a compelling entry point into Schanoes’s unique voice—one that is haunting, urgent, and unforgettable.
Content Warning:
Please note that this collection engages with mature and potentially distressing subject matter, including sexual assault, self-harm, addiction, mental illness, suicide, and explicit language. Readers are encouraged to approach with care.
Whether you’re drawn to literary fiction, folklore-inspired storytelling, or bold new voices, this promises to be a rich and meaningful conversation. All are welcome.
