I’m Heidi Rabinowitz, and I am so happy to be Jewish. The beautiful and varied customs, the focus on deep thought and learning, and the historical connections going back over the centuries, all bring me joy. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to synagogue librarianship and why I’ve been podcasting about Jewish children’s literature for over a decade. In fact, the 20th anniversary of The Book of Life Podcast will take place in December 2025 – stay tuned, I’m making celebratory plans!
What?
I’m thrilled to share this Jewish Joy series for Multicultural Kid Blogs with you. Additionally, I’ll be bringing you Q&As from diverse intersectional Jewish authors, showcasing the variegated tapestry of Jewish life and books. In each interview, I’ll link to the author’s Book of Life Podcast episode so you can hear their voice and learn more.
Why?
In these turbulent times with antisemitism at record highs, Jewish joy is crucial. As poet Toi Derricotte says, joy is an act of resistance. Joyful books invite everyone in, so that Jewish stories can, in the words of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, become windows as well as mirrors, bringing hope, demystifying the Jewish experience, and building empathy and understanding.
Who?
In my last Jewish Joy post, you met Richard Ho, a Chinese Jewish picture book author. This time, I’m so happy to introduce you to Emily Bowen Cohen (she/her), a Jewish member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Emily appeared on The Book of Life podcast in 2023 to talk about Two Tribes, a middle-grade graphic novel based on her own childhood growing up with mixed heritage.
Emily is both the author and illustrator of Two Tribes, her debut book. Moreover, her unique perspective offers fascinating glimpses into salty Torah study, “Indigenerd” cosplay, and surreal, emotionally charged art. I’m pleased to bring you this exclusive interview for Multicultural Kid Blogs, and if you’d like to hear more from Emily in her own voice, please click on the podcast link at the end of this interview.
Q&A with Emily Bowen Cohen
THE BOOK OF LIFE: Emily, please describe your Jewish identity, along with any other aspects of your identity that you’d like to share.
EMILY BOWEN COHEN: I’ve settled on calling myself “denominationally fluid.” I grew up in a Reform Jewish household with a non-Jewish father. But my husband is Orthodox, so I keep a kosher kitchen, and I don’t travel on Shabbat. My father’s family is Native American and Christian. I value making it as easy as possible to spend time with them. At some point, I realized being strictly halachic was not allowing me to celebrate with them in a meaningful way. There are so many ways to be your authentic Jewish self!
TBOL: Why is it important to you to include Jewish representation in your writing?
EBC: I love how my mixed heritage offers me entrance to communities that don’t usually mix. Sometimes, it can be challenging to be fully Jewish and Native. I feel it’s important to include Jewish representation in my books so that children of mixed heritage can understand they aren’t alone. We all want to be our full selves no matter where we are.
TBOL: About being Jewish: what is hard, and what brings you joy?
EBC: It is hard to be Jewish when you must inconvenience those around you to accommodate something they don’t understand. (I’m looking at you, Shemini Atzeret!). I’ve had to explain the last days of Sukkot to a judge so I could be excused from jury duty. It was difficult to out yourself as different in front of a room full of strangers. Joy comes from the same situation. Muslim friends have told me they have felt the same way. I’ll take occasional discomfort to find a connection in a big world.
TBOL: What do you want the world to know about Jewish people?
EBC: I want the world to know that Jewish people can disagree and argue while still holding deep love for each other.
TBOL: Please tell us about the Jewish graphic novel you wrote and illustrated.
EBC: My graphic novel, Two Tribes, published by Heartdrum, the Native-focused imprint at HarperCollins, follows the story of a Jewish Native American girl trying to figure out how to reconcile her two identities.
TBOL: What other Jewish books are you excited about, and why?
EBC: I’m excited about the Warsaw Testament by Rokhl Auerbach, translated by Samuel Kassow from White Goat Press. This book opens up a world that has been buried for far too long. A woman writer working in the Warsaw Ghetto expresses what she sees in that moment. It’s a rare opportunity to hear a woman’s thoughts during an unbelievable time.
TBOL: Emily, thank you so much for sharing your story with us through your writing and your art!
Read more from the Jewish Joy Series on MKB:
Heidi Rabinowitz
Latest posts by Heidi Rabinowitz (see all)
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What a great interview! I look forward to reading TWO TRIBES – it sounds like such an important story of identity and graphic novels are such a great genre.