Ilana Kurshan on Books as Blueprints for Life

As we approach Simchat Torah, when we roll the scroll back to the beginning and start reading again, Ilana Kurshan’s Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together reminds us of another sacred cycle: the books we read to our children again and again. Just like the Torah, those familiar stories shape us through their repetition, imprinting meaning with every return. In this episode, Ilana Kurshan invites us into a life shaped by books – first as a child so immersed in All-of-a-Kind Family that its scenes felt like her own memories, and later as a mother discovering how reading aloud could bridge her love of literature with the demands of parenting. She shares how translating beloved works became a way to claim ownership over the stories she loved, and how her study of Jewish texts opened new ways of seeing herself, sometimes identifying more with the men of the Talmud than the women. Through tender, vivid moments, like reading a black-and-white board book to her newborn and connecting it to the creation of the world, Ilana reveals how books can shape not only our inner lives, but the worlds we help bring into being. Children of the Book is Ilana Kurshan’s new memoir. Structured in five parts corresponding to the first five books of the Bible, she traces the profound parallels between the biblical narrative and the daily rhythms of parenthood. Ilana Kurshan is a mother of five and lives in Jerusalem. She is the author of If All the Seas Were Ink, winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish literature. She has worked in literary publishing both in New York and in Jerusalem as a translator and foreign rights agent, and as the books editor of Lilith Magazine. Ilana Kurshan’s Five Books: 1. All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor 2. A Bride for One Night by Ruth Calderon 3. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White 4. Three Days in Summer by Yossi Avni Levy (not yet out in English) 5. Children of the Book by Ilana Kurshan Other Books Mentioned: - From Sarah to Sydney: The Woman Behind All-of-a-Kind Family by June Cummins and Alexandra Dunietz - ”Pierre Menard, author of the Quixote” in Ficciones, by Jorge Luis Borges - Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson - Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser - A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary Other Episodes about All of a Kind Family: Jennifer Weiner on Pushing Back against De-Jewified Last Names, “Women’s Fiction”, and Activism in the Face of Despair Tova Mirvis on Community, Belonging, and Forgiveness The Five Books is a podcast that celebrates the role of books in Jewish culture. Through author interviews, we delve into Jewish identity and discover each author’s favorite novels. Join us every week for new Jewish book recommendations! Some of our episodes have included conversations with Rabbi Sharon Brous (Senior Rabbi at IKAR, and author of The Amen Effect), Yael Van Der Wouden (author of The Safekeep), and Dara Horn (author of People Love Dead Jews.) ⁠⁠Sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠ to get new episode reminders, authors’ five book picks, and more delivered straight to your inbox. Find us on Instagram @fivebookspod or on Facebook at The Five Books Podcast. For feedback or author recommendations please email us at team@fivebookspod.org For transcripts and more find us online at www.fivebookspod.org The Five Books has the advisory and promotional support of the Jewish Book Council. Jewish Book Council is a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying and celebrating Jewish literature and supporting authors and readers. Stay up to date on the latest in Jewish literature! https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/events/celebrate The Five Books is fiscally sponsored by FJC, a 501c3 public charity. Hosted by Tali Rosenblatt Cohen Produced by Odelia Rubin Editorial and website support by Sarah Waring Artwork by Dena Friedman Music by Dov Rosenblatt and Blue Dot Sessions.