Liz Kleinrock and Caroline Kusin Pritchard’s new book WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE (HarperCollins, 2024) illustrated by Iris Gottlieb, features thirty-six short biographies of diverse Jewish people, ranging from prominent artists to actors, athletes, and more. The authors emphasize how these unique and accomplished individuals were shaped by their Jewish values and experiences. This beautiful book is a celebration of Jewish life. I am excited to learn more about WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE. Welcome, Liz and Caroline!
WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE is a very engaging and accessible book. It almost feels interactive, as if you are chatting with readers about the people you feature. Was that your intention?
It absolutely was. We wanted this book to catch the attention of both young and adult readers, and present an ancient, complex history and culture in ways that are accessible and engaging. We both have backgrounds in education, and we understand the importance of telling history and sharing biographies in ways that connect with kids today and invite them to explore the text.
The categories you use to structure the book (in Hebrew and English) are very interesting – including Hope, Courage, and To Repair a Broken World. Can you tell me a bit about how you used these categories as your framework?
We noticed that many biography collections are organized either by profession or chronologically, and neither of those categories felt right to us. There is so much information to share with readers about Judaism, so we thought even the chapter themes could serve as teachable moments! Each section is organized by a different Jewish value. This highlights the core beliefs of Judaism, and also shows how— despite the myriad, beautiful ways individuals featured in the book live out their identities— they are all unmistakably connected by their Jewish values.
You introduce readers to many people in the book – from Osnat Barzani, the first female rabbi, to actress Marlee Matlin, and many more. How did you choose the individuals you included?
Our main goal was to create a book that could serve as a mirror to Jewish kids (and adults!) who hold multiple identities that are rarely represented or affirmed in books and media. It was important to us to think about what “diversity” really means, and what that looks like within the Jewish community. Highlighting Jews of different racial and ethnic backgrounds was crucial, and also wanting to showcase Jews who identify as LGBTQIA+, Jews with disabilities, those who practice Judaism in different ways, and more. All are beautiful, and all are valid in their Jewishness.
Can you share a bit about your process as co-authors?
We were both friends before we started this project, and there’s always a possibility that friendship doesn’t transfer to a working relationship. Luckily, we didn’t have that problem! We were both on the same page about the purpose of the book and had a shared dream. At first, we each brainstormed a list of Jewish people who we really wanted to elevate and then created an extensive spreadsheet that looked at different aspects of identity because we wanted to make sure that we had both expansive and meaningful representation of the Jewish community. Our research was never-ending and included all the sources we could get our hands on— documentaries, books, articles, interviews and so much more.
What were your thoughts when you first saw the art by Iris Gottlieb?
Iris is such a talented artist. We first saw Iris’ work in their book Seeing Gender, and were blown away by their ability to create powerful visual representations to represent abstract ideas. It was incredible to see how Iris interpreted the ideas we wrote and brought them to life in a whole new way. We couldn’t have asked for a more powerful illustrator to bring this book to life.
What do you hope young readers take away from WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE?
What Jewish Looks Like is both a call-out and a call-in to the Jewish and non-Jewish communities. Growing up as a Korean Jewish girl, I (Liz) was often told, “You don’t look Jewish!” by both kids and adults. I didn’t have the language or knowledge to respond in a meaningful way, and I internalized these comments by believing that I didn’t fit in. It turns out that what it means to be Jewish was just taught through a very narrow perspective that did not represent Jews of color or Jews who live in different parts of the world. We hope that this book allows young readers to see themselves reflected in the pages, and sparks conversations about what it means to be Jewish, how our community is diverse, and also what unites us.
Thank you, Liz and Caroline!
Liz Kleinrock is an author, antibias antiracist educator, consultant, and facilitator for schools, organizations, and companies across the country. A transracial adoptee, Liz was born in South Korea and grew up in Washington, DC. She is the author of Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community and Come and Join Us! 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. She resides in Washington, DC, with her partner and two bunnies and advocates for a more equitable world through her work with Teach and Transform. You can learn more about her work at lizkleinrock.com.
Caroline Kusin Pritchard grew up as the youngest of four children in Dallas, Texas, and spent her childhood sneaking extra helpings of noodle kugel from her bubbe’s kitchen. She moved to California for college and has spent her career working across education, everything from teaching brilliant third graders to helping develop federal policy. Caroline has her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the author of Gitty and Kvetch, a Tablet Magazine Best Jewish Picture Book of 2021, and Where Is Poppy? Caroline lives in Oakton, Virginia, with her husband (Tavita), four kiddos (Afi, Manu, Leone, and Tala) and their 120-pound dog (Misha).