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. I’ll be bringing you Q&A’s from diverse intersectional Jewish authors, showcasing the variegated tapestry of Jewish life and books. 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?
Last time you met Emily Bowen Cohen, Muscogee Jewish author of the middle-grade graphic novel Two Tribes, the first Jewish book ever published by the Native American imprint Heartdrum. Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Veera Hiranandani (she/her), an Indian Jewish author of middle-grade and picture books. Veera appeared on The Book of Life podcast in 2022 along with other winners of that year’s Sydney Taylor Book Award. She won the gold medal in the Middle-Grade category for How To Find What You’re Not Looking For.
Veera Hiranandani’s writing is very personal. She writes from her own experience of growing up “half” – half Indian Hindu, and half European Jewish, and her stories reflect sometimes one culture, sometimes the other, and sometimes both. She does not shy away from life’s messiness, and always centers human emotion. I’m pleased to bring you this exclusive interview for Multicultural Kid Blogs, and if you’d like to hear more from Veera in her own voice, please click on the podcast link below.
Q&A with Veera Hiranandani
THE BOOK OF LIFE: please describe your Jewish identity, along with any other aspects of your identity that you’d like to share.
VEERA HIRANANDANI: My mother is Jewish, white, and was born in the US. My father was born in India and is Hindu. I identify as biracial and from an interfaith family. But I also grew up in a fairly secular household. I don’t regularly practice either religion, but my background is essential to how I relate to the world and my family history.
TBOL: Why is it important to you to include Jewish representation in your writing?
VH: It’s important because it’s simply part of who I am. I grew up close to my Jewish family; though biracial, I saw my identity as a positive aspect of my upbringing. It’s also important because I represent a minority within a minority as a Jewish person of color, and I want everyone to be able to experience representation in the books they read.
TBOL: About being Jewish: what is hard, and what brings you joy?
VH: I feel the most joy when I’m in a room with people who connect to their Jewish identity in diverse ways. It’s hard when I’m with those who feel there is only one way to be Jewish. I know I probably won’t fit into their definition of what being Jewish is. I’m inclusive and open-minded; the more diverse spaces I’m in, the more joy and comfort I feel.
TBOL: What do you want the world to know about Jewish people?
VH: That we are not a monolith. Because it’s both a religious identity and an ethnic community, there are many ways to identify as Jewish and there are multiple belief systems within the community. Many of us are non-practicing or atheist. This is something people outside the community don’t always understand.
TBOL: Please tell us about the Jewish books you’ve written.
VH: Many of my books include Jewish characters, but my books focusing on Jewish characters exploring their identity are The Whole Story of Half a Girl and How To Find What You’re Not Looking For. I’m also very excited to announce that my first picture book inspired by my Jewish grandfather just released in September 2024! It’s called The Greatest and is illustrated by Vesper Stamper. It’s about a special relationship between a grandfather and his grandchildren.
TBOL: What other Jewish books are you excited about, and why?
VH: There are many, but I particularly loved Ruth Behar’s Letters From Cuba and her newest release, Across So Many Seas. I’ve also always had a soft spot in my heart for the picture book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg and Arjan Sarkar since I rarely see books with my own mixed identity represented.
TBOL: Veera, thank you so much for sharing your own story with us, as well as your wonderful books!
Read more from the Jewish Joy series:
Heidi Rabinowitz
Latest posts by Heidi Rabinowitz (see all)
- Jewish Joy with Rachelle Burk - August 24, 2026
- Jewish Joy with Adam Gidwitz - July 13, 2026
- Jewish Joy with A.R. Vishny - June 15, 2026
