• Wed. Dec 11th, 2024

Hotlight Spotlight: My Basmati Bat Mitzvah, Paula J Freedman

ByPam

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah

 

I know you’re thinking what I’m thinking, what in the world? To be sure, I’m not a fan of the cover, but I love the idea of combining the two ethnicities for a fun read!

During the fall leading up to her bat mitzvah, Tara (Hindi for “star”) Feinstein has a lot more than her Torah portion on her mind. Between Hebrew school and study sessions with the rabbi, there doesn’t seem to be enough time to hang out with her best friend Ben-o–who might also be her boyfriend–and her other best friend, Rebecca, who’s getting a little too cozy with that snotty Sheila Rosenberg. Not to mention working on her robotics project with the class clown Ryan Berger, or figuring out what to do with a priceless heirloom sari that she accidentally ruined. Amid all this drama, Tara considers how to balance her Indian and Jewish identities and what it means to have a bat mitzvah while questioning her faith.

How fun does that sound? I’m thinking Bend it Like Beckham meets I don’t know what in YA.  Anyway, this looks like a fun chick lit type read that might also teach you a thing or two about Hindi and Judaism.

If only I could get an invite to that Bat Mitzvah, there will surely be some yummy food!