Center for New Jewish Culture

Located in the building that formerly housed Union Temple of Brooklyn, the Center for Jewish Culture is a national intellectual and spiritual hub pursuing a renaissance of Jewish culture in America. By focusing on culture, we emphasize the ties that bind the Jewish people together. Click here for more information.

CBE Community Art Show

The CBE Community Art Show is a weekend packed with art, food, music, and great conversation. For years, artists of all mediums within the CBE community have displayed their works in a weekend-long show at CBE. In 2024, our art show will take place from Friday, May 10 – Sunday, May 12. More information will be announced at a later date.

The Shmutz

Hosted by member author Anna Solomon

At CBE, we count many acclaimed authors, journalists, and screenwriters among our membership. Join us for our quarterly series, The Shmutz: CBE Writers Get Real, where the writers in our midst will introduce us to the books, ideas, and authors they can’t stop thinking about.

Past Events
The Shmutz — Past Events

June 13, 2024

Keiron Pim, author of Endless Flight, in conversation with CBE member Casey Schwartz

November 8, 2023

Donna Freed, author of Duplicity, in conversation with CBE member Margot Lurie

May 23, 2023
Felicia Berliner, author of Schmutz, in conversation with CBE member Courtney Zoffness

February 8, 2023
Marjorie Ingall, co-author of Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case for Good Apologies, in conversation with CBE member Ron Lieber

December 7, 2022
Stephen Mills, author of The Chosen, in conversation with CBE member Anna Solomon

Brooklyn By the Book

Brooklyn By the Book is a collaboration between the Community Bookstore of Park Slope and Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE). We host best-selling authors here at CBE to talk about their new works and engage in conversation with our community.

Community Bookstore

Community Bookstore of Park Slope is one of the oldest surviving—and thriving—independent bookstores in New York City. In 2010, Ezra Goldstein and Stephanie Valdez took over the management of the store, which they then purchased in December 2011. During the store’s 40 year history, it has hosted hundreds of readings, both in the store and off-site.

Booking Contact:
Stephanie Valdez, Community Bookstore and Terrace Books Co-Owner and Event Director
e: stephanie@communitybookstore.net

Past Events
Brooklyn By the Book — Past Events

November 6, 2023
World Within a Song, Jeff Tweedy with Amanda Petrusich
September 12, 2023
The Last Politician, Franklin Foer with Jodi Kantor
April 24, 2023
Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, Lucinda Williams with Steve Earle
April 20, 2023
On Grief, Jennifer Senior with Andrew Solomon
November 12, 2022
Walking Beauty and Orwell’s Roses, Rebecca Solnit with Sabrina Imbler
October 19, 2022
Liberation Day, George Saunders with Brandon Taylor
June 13, 2022
How to Raise An Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi with Mira Jacobs
October 6, 2019:
She Said, Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey
September 26, 2019:
Year of the Monkey, Patti Smith
August 13, 2019:
How to Be An Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi
May 28, 2019:
How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan
November 18, 2018:
We Were Eight Years in Power, Ta-Nehisi Coates
October 23, 2018:
Ottolenghi Simple, Yotam Ottolenghi
September 12, 2017:
Forest Dark, Nicole Krauss
September 7, 2017:
The Golden House, Salman Rushdie
July 13, 2017:
A Stone of Hope, by Jim St. Germain
March 2, 2017:
4 3 2 1, by Paul Auster
February 15, 2017:
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
November 9, 2016:
Thus Bad Begins, Javier Marías
October 19, 2016:
A Gambler’s Anatomy, Jonathan Lethem
September 15, 2016:
M Train, Patti Smith