Jewish Literature Day 2026

Jewish Literature Day - author talks: Sunday 15 November 2026, 12:00–18:00, Det Jødiske Hus, Copenhagen. Tickets cost 270 kr.

On Sunday, November 15, the Jewish Cultural Festival opens the book season with Jewish Literature Day, featuring five new books with Jewish perspectives published in 2026. The day includes conversations with Benjamin Koppel, Daniel Dencik, Dmitrij Kapitelman, and Mette Schmidt, as well as a discussion between Adam Paulsen and Kathrine Tschemerinsky about Jean Améry. Michael Rachlin, editor of Jewish Orientation, hosts the day.

The ticket price includes morning coffee, a lunch sandwich, and afternoon coffee and cake - soft drinks are purchased separately. Books are available for sale at favorable prices throughout the day. Please do not bring large bags.

Benjamin Koppel presents "The Sound of Hope", the third volume in his family saga that began with "Anna's Song" (Readers' Book Prize) and continued with "The Butterfly's Voice" (The Golden Laurels). The new book traces the family's history from 19th-century Poland through early 20th-century Denmark to 1980s Denmark, with Koppel discussing the family's journey across the three novels.

Daniel Dencik, known for "Second Person Singular" and "First Person Plural", presents his short story collection "Crowns and Islands" about money and its influence across age and geography. As Dencik has become a more practicing Jew over the years, the conversation also explores the topic of Jews and money. Jean Améry's "Beyond Guilt and Atonement" was published in Danish earlier this year to great critical acclaim; translator Adam Paulsen (SDU) and Weekendavisen's Kathrine Tschemerinsky discuss what makes the work a central contribution to our understanding of history.

German-Ukrainian-Jewish author Dmitrij Kapitelman tells the story in "Russian Specialties", now published in Danish, of his family's business with Russian and Ukrainian goods in Germany, and how Russia's invasion of Ukraine divides the family because his mother supports Russia. The conversation with Kapitelman takes place in English. Mette Schmidt's literary debut "The Jewish Doctor" tells the story of Dr. Salomon, who immigrated to Copenhagen from