Special to the Ledger

AMHERST, Mass. – The Yiddish Book Center is accepting applications for its Great Jewish Books Summer Program, which brings 18 rising high school juniors and seniors together to spend a week reading and discussing modern Jewish literature. Sessions are co-led by the Yiddish Book Center’s academic director Josh Lambert and Yale University Comparative Literature professor Adriana Jacobs.
Great Jewish Books gives students the opportunity to develop skills in literary analysis and self-expression. They meet peers from across the continent. In their free time, the group goes on excursions to local attractions – Look Park, Cook Farm, and Amherst Center. Lambert noted that last year’s students “also spent a fair amount of their free time reading aloud to each other, reading silently together, playing games, and sitting on the balcony of their dorm talking about literature and singing pop songs. The talent show on Saturday night featured a student singing as many TV theme songs as he could in three minutes; another student reciting the lyrics of a Frank Zappa song; and a beautiful Yiddish and English duet of ‘Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn.’”
Great Jewish Books takes place at the Yiddish Book Center, adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. Students stay in Hampshire College dorms  and study with respected literary scholars. They meet prominent contemporary authors, and connect with other teens from across the country. This summer’s program will run from July 28 – August 4, 2013.
Great Jewish Books is made possible through the support of Walt, Arnee, Sarah, and Aaron Winshall. Accepted participants will receive a scholarship for the full cost of tuition, room, board, books and special events. Participants are responsible for the cost of their transportation to and from Amherst.

Applications are due March 15. To learn more and to apply online visit yiddishbookcenter.org/great-jewish-books