The Boulder JCC’s 2011 Festival of Books and Culture features six authors appearing in person as well as a book fair with hundreds of titles for readers of all ages.

The Book Festival opens on Sunday, October 23 with Myla Goldberg in person. The acclaimed author will lead a discussion following the 4:00 pm screening of “The Bee Season,” a 2005 film starring Richard Gere based on her novel about Kabbalah, Tikkun Olam and spelling bees. At 7:00 pm, Goldberg will discuss her new novel, “The False Friend,” a psychological drama about two young girls and a terrible secret.

The Festival continues on Monday October 24 with Boulder author Rabbi Jamie Korngold in person. The Adventure Rabbi will discuss “The God Upgrade: Finding Your 21st-Century Spirituality in Judaism’s 5,000-Year-Old Tradition” at 7:00 pm. Nationally recognized for her innovative work combining religion and nature, Rabbi Korngold examines how our concept of God can be aligned with our modern sensibilities for a Judaism that is both meaningful and accessible.

Another local rabbi will discuss his new book on Sunday, October 30, at 2:00 pm. Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder’s “Relationship 1:1, The Genesis of Togetherness” distills the relationships in the book of Genesis into maps that can guide us through the sometimes tricky terrain of marriage. Rabbi Goldfeder is the spiritual leader of Kehillath Aish Kodesh.

Anna Solomon

Author Anna Solomon appears at the Boulder JCC on Sunday, October 30, at 7:00 pm with “The Little Bride,” a debut novel exploring the little-known history of Jewish immigrants who settled on the Great Plains, including a young Russian mail-order bride. Solomon is an acclaimed essayist and short story writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and Harvard Review.

Lee Kravitz discusses his inspirational memoir on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 pm.  “Unfinished Business: One Man’s Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things” traces the author’s journey of rediscovery. This sweeping affirmation of life, family, and resilience has been featured on The Today Show, NPR and Time.

The Festival concludes at CU with author Paula Fredriksen speaking in UMC room 235 on Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 pm. “Augustine and the Jews: A Christian Defense of Jews and Judaism,” which traces the story of Augustine’s astonishing response to Christian anti-Semitism, is the latest book by the Boston University professor and author of “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

The annual Book Festival is part of a year-long celebration of literature that also includes “One JCC Reads,” a book club-style event on January 29 centered on Dara Horn’s “All Other Nights” and Jewish involvement in the Civil War.  It continues on February 12 with Mitchell Bard, author of “The Arab Lobby: The Invisible Alliance That Undermines America’s Interests in the Middle East,” who will discuss his thesis that an insidious Arab lobby composed of big oil companies, weapons firms, and Middle Eastern despots is secretly conspiring to undermine decision making in the U.S. capital.

To register for all events except Paula Fredericksen, visit www.boulderjcc.org. Reservations are appreciated but not required. All events except Paula Fredericksen are at the Boulder JCC and cost $10. The authors will sign their books following all talks. The book fair is open before and after each event. For more information, call Kathryn Bernheimer at 303-998-1021 or email Kathryn@boulderjcc.org.