In a controversial move this year, the Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida, removed close to 700 books from classroom libraries, citing concerns about violating state laws on sexual content in schools.
This purge, part of a broader conservative trend nationwide and particularly potent in Florida, aimed to eliminate materials deemed offensive. While the majority of removed books often involve topics of race, gender, and sexuality, this extensive removal included a notable selection of Jewish-themed books.
Among the books pulled from shelves were:
- “Suite Française” by Irène Némirovsky, a globally acclaimed work by a Jewish writer who crafted her novel covertly during German occupation before perishing in Auschwitz.
- “Herzog,” a semi-autobiographical novel by Saul Bellow, a prominent Jewish writer known for his conservative views. His son Adam Bellow publishes right-wing Jewish literature.
- “Black, White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self” by Rebecca Walker, delving into the experiences of growing up mixed-race and Jewish. Walker is a feminist thinker, and her mother, Alice Walker, has faced scrutiny for past antisemitic remarks and writings.
- “Bee Season,” a novel portraying a high-achieving Jewish family of scholars and cantors, penned by Myra Goldberg.
- “The Splendid and the Vile,” a nonfiction historical account by Erik Larson chronicling Winston Churchill’s decisions in confronting Hitler’s forces during World War II.
This removal stands out not only for its sheer volume—699 books, including duplicates—but also for the significant representation of Holocaust and Jewish identity-related literature in the censored materials.
