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One Book | One Community 2012 Subject Guide

One Book | One Community 2012 Subject Guide

We invite you to participate in One Book | One Community.
Venture along the Mississippi Delta with One More River,
Mary Glickman’s novel about Jewish life in the American South.
Uncover themes of race, class, identity, and faith using our
Readers' Guide and the information below. Perfect for your
book group or learning more on your own.    

“He learned that rough men felt fear, that women could bear pain,
that a body could watch moonbeams dance on the river and
go mad from the sight.” — From One More River

Download the Readers' Guide>

Discussion Questions

  1. How does Mickey Moe's search for his father's history help him discover who he is and where he came from?
  2. The power of love helps transform both Bernard Levy and Mickey Moe. Discuss the manner in which it does so.
  3. Whom did you find to be the most intriguing character in the novel and why? Would you say that the South itself during the time period discussed was a character?  Explain.
  4. In what way did the author illustrate class, racial and ethnic bias as they existed in the South? What was the influence of these biases on the main characters in the novel?
  5. Mary Glickman depicts both the cruelty of nature and the cruelty of human beings in her novel. How does the cruelty of each impact the main characters in her work?

Learn more about topics in One More River by exploring these resources:     

Online Oral Archives about Life in the Jewish South

 Online Resources

Videos available in the Asher Library at Spertus

Books available in the Asher Library at Spertus

Articles available onsite at the Asher Library at Spertus

  • Fermaglich, Kirsten. “More than Plantations and Pastrami: Southern Jewish History Comes of Age.Southern Jewish History 10 (2007): 229-234.
  • Langston, Scott M. “The Bible and Bombings: Southern Rabbis Respond During the Civil Rights Movement." Southern Jewish History 14 (2011): 155-200.

Articles available on EBSCOhost via the Asher Library at Spertus

  • Dinnerstein, Leonard. “A Note on Southern Attitudes toward Jews.” Jewish Social Studies  32, no. 1 (January 1970):  43-49.
  • Jews and Blacks in America. Moment Magazine 34, no.1 (Jan/Feb 2009): 34-51.
  • Puckett , Dan J. “Reporting on the Holocaust: The View from Jim Crow Alabama."Holocaust & Genocide Studies 25, no. 2 (August 2011); 219-251.
  • Ruderman, David B. “Greenville Diary.” Jewish Quarterly Review 94, no. 4 (Fall 2004): 643-665.
  • Weinstein, Dina. “Letting Justice Roll Down.” B'nai B'rith Magazine 126, no. 2 (Summer 2012): 8-32.

Primary Sources available on EBSCOhost
via the Asher Library at Spertus

  • Arbeiter ring urges branches to aid Mississippi flood victims.
    Jewish Telegraphic Agency 5/5/1927.
  • Y's are urged to give aid to Mississippi flood sufferers.
    Jewish Telegraphic Agency 5/9/1927.
  • I.O.B.B. will cooperate with Red Cross in flood relief.
    Jewish Telegraphic Agency 4/29/1927.
  • Jackson Rabbi's home bombed; Synagogue was bombed in September.
    Jewish Telegraphic Agency 11/24/1967.

EBSCOhost is an online resource available through the Asher Library
for Spertus students and members.

One Book | One Community

In conjunction with Jewish Book Month, Spertus presents a series of activities in locations across the Chicago region, all related to a single book. This year’s selection, recommended by Spertus staff and dedicated readers, is One More River by Mary Glickman, a finalist for the Jewish Book Award in Fiction. 

Get the Book

One More River is available online from the Spertus Shop and will be available for purchase at all One Book events.

Readers' Guide

Download the Spertus Readers' Guide to One More RiverPerfect for your book group or for your own exploration. MORE>

Attend a Program

Kick-Off Event and 
Film Screening of 
Shalom Y'all
Saturday, November 10
7 pm at Spertus
$20 includes reception

Book Discussion
Thursday, November 29
6:30 pm at Spertus
Free

Spertus welcomes author Mary Glickman for three presentations 
in three locations!

Sunday, December 2
9:30 am at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago
Free

Sunday, December 2
2:30 pm at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard
Free

Monday, December 3 
7 pm at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in 
Highland Park

Free

Sponsors

JUF News is proud to be the media sponsor for One Book for Chicago’s Jewish Community programs.

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