This year, the European Days of Jewish Culture festival is dedicated to the theme ‘People of the Book’, which highlights the enduring role of texts in shaping Jewish identity, creativity, and continuity across generations. From sacred writings to literature, scholarship, and poetry, the written word has long been central to Jewish cultural life.

The theme resonates strongly with works by the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, which in 2025 celebrates its 60th anniversary. Since its first publication in 1965, Littman has brought more than 250 works of Jewish scholarship to readers worldwide, spanning history, philosophy, religion, literature, and culture – an enduring contribution to Jewish learning that embodies the spirit of the EDJC.

To celebrate both the anniversary and this year’s EDJC theme, we are sharing a special reading list, alongside a 30% discount on all Littman titles from the 8th September to the 31st October.

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Browse our Jewish Culture books

The Jews of Provence and Languedoc
Ram Ben-Shalom
The Hebrew edition of The Jews of Provence and Languedoc was awarded the Ben Zvi Institute Prize (2018) and the Am Olam Prize of the Historical Society of Israel (2019)

The book offers an examination of the key aspects of Jewish life in Provence over some 1,500 years.

Samuel Hirszenberg, 1865–1908
Richard I. Cohen and Mirjam Rajner

‘Samuel Hirszenberg 1865-1908 represents an exemplary collaboration between a historian of modern Jewry (Cohen) and a historian of Jewish art (Rajner)… the book is essential for Judaica research libraries and art libraries.’
Zachary M. Baker, AJL Reviews

Jews and the Wine Trade in Medieval Europe
Haym Soloveitchik

A talmudic ban on handling Gentile wine prevented Jews from participating in the trade of this major commodity. Medieval rabbis found ways to ease this restriction, but the Jews persisted in observing the ban. This analysis of historical and rabbinic sources examines why this was so, and how halakhic sources can shed light on societal developments.

Ageing in Medieval Jewish Culture
Elisha Russ-Fishbane

‘This monumental volume explores changing conceptions of what it means to be old, what factors – including stress, exile, and persecution – were thought to contribute to aging, and how old women are perceived in contrast to old men.’
Sara Jo Ben Zvi, Segula

The Carved Wooden Torah Arks of Eastern Europe
Bracha Yaniv
National Jewish Book Awards Finalist for the Visual Arts Award, 2017

Bracha Yaniv breathes a new life into a lost genre with this extensively researched, meticulously documented, and richly illustrated book. She is the first to paint a vivid portrait of Torah history and to offer a detailed explanation of the motifs that adorned them.

Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles
Bracha Yaniv
National Jewish Book Awards 2019 Finalist for Visual Arts

‘The book’s importance is self-evident, and it should become essential reading for students and scholars of Judaica, and religious textiles in general.’
Nikolaos Vryzidis, Textile History

The Littman Library also have a wide range of Jewish Culture books available in paperback.

Highlights include:
– The Book in the Jewish World, 1700-1900 by Zeev Gries.
– Cities of Splendour in the Shaping of Sephardi History by Jane S. Gerber.
– Undercurrents of Jewish Prayer by Jeremy Schonfield.
– Challenge and Conformity by Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz.
– A Frog Under the Tongue by Marek Tuszewicki.

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Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry

Polin: Studies in Polish Jewry, Volume 37 explores the encounters and exchanges between Polish and German Jews, offering new insights into modern European Jewish history.

Now also published in journal format, Polin also provides archival access back to 1986 for subscribing institutions. Recommend Polin to your librarian >

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