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Daniella Levy

Author, Translator, Educator

  • About Me
    • Press & Media
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  • Writing
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    • My Author Blog
    • Letters to Josep
    • The Rejection Survival Guide
  • Translation
  • For Book Clubs & Educators
  • עבריתעברית

For Book Clubs & Educators

Disengagement

Disengagement is a work of literary fiction that weaves together perspectives spanning the entire political and religious spectrum to tell the story of the evacuation of a fictional Jewish settlement in Gaza. The book offers an in-depth, nuanced, and comprehensive view of a major Israeli political crisis that has gone largely under-explored, but the lessons regarding the importance of empathy and listening to the Other’s stories resonate deeply with the political climate we see in the world today. It is thought-provoking and challenges the reader to face his or her own biases. Click here to read more about the book.

Disengagement Book Club Discussion Guide

A list of discussion questions can be found at the back of the book. Here you can download an expanded discussion guide that includes excerpts, discussion questions, and an author interview (and no spoilers!):

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The guide stands alone and can be used with groups that include individuals who have not read the book.

By Light of Hidden Candles

By Light of Hidden Candles is a historical novel that explores themes relating to Sephardic Jewish and Spanish culture, interfaith relationships, and religious and moral dilemmas of the 15th and 21st century. It can serve as an entertaining and valuable educational resource for middle school, high school, and college students as part of a curriculum in history, religious education, cultural education/social studies, or literature. Click here to read more about the book.

By Light of Hidden Candles Discussion Guide

The By Light of Hidden Candles Discussion Guide for book clubs and classrooms was developed to stand alone, so participants don’t need to have read the book to take part in the discussion. Click here to view and download the printable PDF. It includes excerpts, discussion questions, and an author interview (and no spoilers!).

Additional Resources

I’ve published a series of blog posts on this website with additional background information on the process of writing and researching By Light of Hidden Candles, including a song playlist, deleted scenes, and fascinating resources about 15th-century Lorca. Click here to browse the relevant posts.

Letters to Josep: An Introduction to Judaism

Letters to Josep: An Introduction to Judaism is a collection of letters from an Orthodox American-Israeli Jew (a.k.a. yours truly) to a Catholic friend from Barcelona, describing the basic concepts of Judaism and Orthodox Jewish life. Its relaxed, humorous style and the warmth it draws from the real friendship that inspired it make it a perfect resource for beginners, especially teens and young adults. It can be used as part of a religious studies curriculum focusing on the Jewish faith and culture. Click here to read more about Letters to Josep: An Introduction to Judaism.

The book was compiled from the individual posts on the Letters to Josep blog. You can use the search function to explore the posts on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism.

A discussion guide is forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to be in touch with me about using Letters to Josep as an educational resource or discussing it with your book club.

Meet the Author

I’d be delighted to speak or video chat with your class, community, or book club. Be in touch to discuss this possibility.

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Disengagement

New release

Disengagement

“Brilliant and troubling…  Levy… has a deep understanding of the traumatic processes she writes about, and she is able to convey the heartache and disorientation in an engaging manner and with a sense of immediacy.” — Philip K. Jason, Washington Independent Review of Books “A thoroughly engaging novel, a quick but engrossing read… Levy’s writing […]

$12.95

View Book

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daniellalevy.author

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  • Sound on to hear a preview from my conversation with Rav Mike Feuer on The Jewish Story about my new
    6 months ago
    Sound on to hear a preview from my conversation with Rav Mike Feuer on The Jewish Story about my new
  • Just sold the very last copy of #LetterstoJosep in my personal stock. Don
    6 months ago
    Just sold the very last copy of  #LetterstoJosep  in my personal stock. Don't worry, it's still freely available online, and
  • Time to reconfigure my book charm necklace Many thanks to @fromnewleaf for the beautiful #bookcharms ❤️ #disengagement #comingsoon
    11 months ago
    Time to reconfigure my book charm necklace Many thanks to  @fromnewleaf  for the beautiful  #bookcharms  ❤️  #disengagement   #comingsoon 
  • 15 years. What have we learned?⁣ ⁣ I don
    6 months ago
    15 years. What have we learned?⁣ ⁣ I don't know about the nation as a whole. But this book is
  • A very happy memory from the good old days when you could still travel to visit family and see stuff
    7 months ago
    A very happy memory from the good old days when you could still travel to visit family and see stuff
  • @myheritage_official just released a new feature that automatically colorizes black and white photos. Meet my great-great-grandmother Lena, a.k.a. Leah Gittel,
    12 months ago
     @myheritage_official  just released a new feature that automatically colorizes black and white photos. Meet my great-great-grandmother Lena, a.k.a. Leah Gittel,
  • Okay people, we
    12 months ago
    Okay people, we're finally in business Disengagement is now available for pre-order from my publisher (Kasva Press) and their distributor
  • I was truly devastated to learn of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ"ל yesterday. Rabbi Sacks was a
    3 months ago
    I was truly devastated to learn of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ"ל yesterday. Rabbi Sacks was a
  • A week ago, just before Shabbat/Succot, I welcomed my fourth child--first daughter--into a crazy, upside-down world. Waiting for her arrival
    4 months ago
    A week ago, just before Shabbat/Succot, I welcomed my fourth child--first daughter--into a crazy, upside-down world. Waiting for her arrival
  • Mazel tov, it
    11 months ago
    Mazel tov, it's a book ❤️  #disengagement   #newbook   #secondnovel   #bookbirthday 
  • #LetterstoJosep is being featured in the Zionist Book Festival at the University of Missouri next week, hosted by the MU
    3 months ago
     #LetterstoJosep  is being featured in the Zionist Book Festival at the University of Missouri next week, hosted by the MU
  • Yesterday, what is probably the loveliest, most touching "fan letter" I
    6 months ago
    Yesterday, what is probably the loveliest, most touching "fan letter" I've ever received arrived in my inbox. A reader happened
  • After some COVID-related delays, including the narrator getting stuck in another state (!) and having to set up a whole
    5 months ago
    After some COVID-related delays, including the narrator getting stuck in another state (!) and having to set up a whole
  • Just gonna take this #santjordi2020 opportunity to shamelessly brag that @carlespuigdemont, former president of Catalonia, has a copy of my
    9 months ago
    Just gonna take this  #santjordi2020  opportunity to shamelessly brag that  @carlespuigdemont , former president of Catalonia, has a copy of my
  • #coronavirusfashion #stayhome #butifyouhavetogoout #wearamask
    10 months ago
     #coronavirusfashion   #stayhome   #butifyouhavetogoout   #wearamask 
  • The saga of the mysterious release date continues!!! ‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️ MARCH 4TH, PEOPLE! (Also: it
    12 months ago
    The saga of the mysterious release date continues!!! ‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️ MARCH 4TH, PEOPLE! (Also: it's up on Amazon! )
  • 3 clips (swipe⏩ to see all 3!) from yesterday
    10 months ago
    3 clips (swipe⏩ to see all 3!) from yesterday's FB Live virtual launch party for Disengagement! Full video is on
  • Coronavirus has forced us all into a new reality, and I have found myself facing it with uncharacteristic calm. I
    10 months ago
    Coronavirus has forced us all into a new reality, and I have found myself facing it with uncharacteristic calm. I'm
  • A message for our times, from The Rejection Survival Guide. Link to new post--"Hope in the Time of Coronavirus"--in bio.
    5 months ago
    A message for our times, from The Rejection Survival Guide. Link to new post--"Hope in the Time of Coronavirus"--in bio.
  • Sound on for a little taste of Lori
    5 months ago
    Sound on for a little taste of Lori's wonderful performance of  #ByLightofHiddenCandles . The  #audiobook  comes out on Audible and Amazon

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