Friends usher in the Sabbath – called by its Hebrew name Shabbat – by candlelight, with challah bread and grape juice to complement their chicken nuggets and fries. Shabbat is typically observed at home with family, but here these seniors share in the celebration at a fast-food Wendy’s. Wendy’s Shabbat is a story of rediscovering the joys of community in older age, however unorthodox it may appear.

Durrett, Charles. The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living. New Society, 2009.
Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the U.S. leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing, and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings.

London, Charles. Far from Zion. New York: William Morrow, 2009.
London tells the stories of the Jews who stayed behind, choosing to remain in the countries of their birthAdAdult rather than immigrating to the Holy Land of Israel. At once a riveting modern history of a scattered People of the Book and London’s moving story of his own personal odyssey of religious and cultural discovery.

Parker, Priya. The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. New York: Riverhead Books, 2018.
At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play. Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show us what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Zakutinksy, Ruth. Around Sarah’s Table: Ten Hasidic Women Share Their Stories of Life, Faith, and Tradition. New York: Free Press, 2001.
Fast paced but reverent, Around Sarah’s Table introduces us to the unique experience of living life as a Hasidic woman, and reminds us that beyond all the labels that tend to keep us apart, we are all very much alike.

Backman, Fredrik. Britt-Marie Was Here. New York: Atria Books, 2016.
The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs? Funny and moving, sweet and inspiring, Britt-Marie Was Here celebrates the importance of community and connection in a world that can feel isolating.

Moggach, Deborah. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. New York: Random House, 2012.
Several retirees are enticed by the promise of indulgent living at a bargain price, but upon arriving, they are dismayed to find that restoration of the once sophisticated hotel has stalled, and that such amenities as water and electricity are . . . infrequent. But what their new life lacks in luxury, they come to find, it’s plentiful in adventure, stunning beauty, and unexpected love.

Page, Libby. The Lido. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.
The lido has been a cornerstone in nearly every part of Rosemary’s life. But when a local developer attempts to buy the lido for a posh new apartment complex, Rosemary’s fond memories and sense of community are under threat. As Kate dive’s deeper into the lido’s history -- with the help of a charming photographer – she pieces together a portrait of the pool, and a portrait of a singular woman, Rosemary. What begins as a simple local interest story for Kate soon blossoms into a beautiful friendship that provides sustenance to both women as the galvanize the community to fight the lido’s closure.

Rosenfeld, Dalia. The Worlds We Think We Know. Minneapolis: Milkweed, 2017.
Fiercely funny and entirely original, this debut collection of stories takes readers from the United States to Israel and back again to examine the mystifying reaches of our own minds and hearts.

Adelman, Penina V. The JGirl’s Guide: The Young Jewish Woman’s Handbook for Coming of Age. Woodstock: Jewish Lights, 2005.
The JGirl’s Guide is the first-of-its-kind book of practical, real-world advice using Judaism as a compass for the journey through adolescence. A fun survival guide for coming of age, it explores the wisdom and experiences of rabbis, athletes, writers, scholars, musicians, and great Jewish thinkers.

Bernhard, Durga. Around the World in One Shabbat: Jewish People Celebrate the Sabbath Together. Woodstock: Jewish Lights, 2011.
From Israel to Thailand, from Ethiopia to Argentina, you and your children are invited to share the diverse Sabbath traditions that come alive in Jewish homes and synagogues around the world each week – and to celebrate life with Jewish people everywhere.

Fishman, Cathy Goldberg. On Shabbat. New York: Atheneum Books, 2001.
Offers young readers and insightful overview of the history and traditions of the weekly Jewish holiday of Shabbat, the observation of God’s day of rest after creating the universe.

Newman, Lesléa. Here Is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays. New York: Abrams Books, 2014.
Here Is the World is a joyous celebration of the Jewish holidays throughout the year for young children. Beginning with the weekly observance of Shabbat, readers join a family through the holidays and the corresponding seasons. From sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah to lighting the menorah for Chanukah to rattling a grogger for Purim, and on through the Jewish year, the joy and significance of each holiday beautifully come to life.

Hyde, Heidi Smith. Shanghai Sukah. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben, 2015.
Fleeing the Holocaust in Europe, Marcus moves with his family from Berlin to Shanghai, where he doubts this unfamiliar city will ever feel like home. But with help from his new friend Liang, and the answers to a rabbi’s riddle, Marcus sets out to build a unique sukkah in time for the harvest festival of Sukkot.

Locke, Katherine and Laura Silverman, editors. It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories. Knopf Books, 2019.
Get ready to fall in love, experience heartbreak, and discover the true meaning of identity in this poignant collection of short stories about Jewish teens.

Rauchwerger, Diane Levin. Dinosaur on Shabbat. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben, 2006.
An eager and excited dinosaur causes chaos when he arrives to help a boy and his family celebrate Shabbat.

Rockliff, Mara. Chik Chak Shabbat. Sommerville: Candlewick Press, 2014.
When Goldie Simcha doesn’t joyfully throw open her door to welcome everyone in to her apartment for a meal of her famous cholent, her neighbors wonder what could be wrong. Little Lali Omar knocks on the door to 5-A, only to learn that Goldie was feeling too sick on Friday to cook, and everyone knows you can’t make cholent in a hurry, right away, chik chak! But it just isn’t Shabbat without cholent. What can her neighbors do to save the day?