Jewish Literary Festival 2018

Jewish Literary Festival returns

 The Jewish Literary Festival (JLF) is a one-day event for lovers of literature and Jewish life. The festival showcases authors, poets, illustrators, journalists and educators who have a Jewish connection or are engaged with subjects of Jewish interest. The event takes place in the heart of Cape Town at the Gardens Community Centre, home to the acclaimed Jacob Gitlin Library which partners the festival. Presenters engage with attendees in panel discussions, launches, readings, debates, presentations and book-style activities, including a full children’s programme. Multiple sessions run simultaneously throughout the day, offering a literal plethora of choices to suit a wide variety of tastes. 

From 09h00 to 18h00 the various sites comprising the centre will hum with panel discussions, launches, readings, debates, presentations and book-style activities. More than 45 events will cover a variety of genres such as fiction, food, memoir, politics, scriptwriting, journalism, and the arts. 

You can look forward to hearing from, and meeting, a host of talented authors. We’re excited to offer talks by Jennifer Friedman, Damon Galgut, Mark Gevisser, Rosemund Handler, Eliza Kentridge, Natalie Knight, SJ Naude, Gail Schimmel, and Mandy Wiener, to name but a few of our exciting line-up. Any of our authors will be more than happy to autograph their books, all of which will be on sale on site through The Book Lounge, our associated bookseller.  

A full children’s program is on offer for ages 4-11. Authors, teachers, entertainers and carers will keep the young ones occupied all day with storytelling, workshopping and creative activities.