East Cobb’s Congregation Etz Chaim (1190 Indian Hills Parkway, Marietta) welcomes the community to a popular returning program called, People of the Book, on Sunday, August 11th from 2-4 pm. Two authors that will be featured are Harry Stern, discussing his recently released book, The Insider; and Alex Sinclair presenting his newest book, Perfect Enemy. The program will be moderated by East CobberRoni Robbins, award-winning author and journalist. For more information, call 770.973.0137 or visit Congregation Etz Chaim.
“We are so pleased to host Harry Stern and Alex Sinclair for our People of the Book program,” said Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, Congregation Etz Chaim. “Both novels, ‘The Insider’ and ‘Perfect Enemy,’ are fast-paced thrillers that touch on many aspects of Israeli society and military — all with the same objective: the desire for peace in the Middle East and security for Jews worldwide. Although fiction, both books portray many current scenarios and pose real-world questions.”
ABOUT ‘THE INSIDER’
The Insider, a page-turning tale of vengeance and duplicity, is Harry Stern’s second novel in the Bargal/Canaan series, the first being, My Brothers’ Keeper. An international terror plot targeting New York City, The Insider becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse with Iran’s secret service. Leora Bargal and Joshua Canaan, two top Mossad counterterrorism operatives, are enlisted to work with Detective Alex Ramirez and FBI agents to thwart Iran’s plan to attack a New York cultural hub, the 92nd Street Y during a national convention attended by 200 Jewish philanthropists and nonprofit executives. Its goal is to inflict maximum casualties on Jews worldwide.The Insider is available on Amazon.Alex Sinclair
ABOUT ‘PERFECT ENEMY’
In a covert laboratory under the streets of Tel Aviv, Akiva Cohen, an Israeli scientist, clones Hitler from old samples of his DNA. Akiva wants to change the world for the good; but he is betrayed by those who want to use this new Hitler for unimaginable terror. Akiva is plunged into a desperate struggle to stay alive and salvage his dream, leading to a trail of murders across the country, collaboration with Hamas terrorists, and the uncovering of a devastating conspiracy at the highest levels of Israeli society. Perfect Enemy is an exciting, suspenseful thriller that poses uncomfortable questions about trauma and revenge, the desire for peace, religious extremism, and the schisms of the Middle East. Perfect Enemy is available on Amazon.
ABOUT AUTHOR HARRY STERN
Harry Stern has written and lectured on Middle Eastern affairs and their impact on Israel’s military challenges. Upon receiving his M.A. and doctorate from Columbia University, Stern moved to Israel, where he assumed the role of Director of Community Organization for Southern Tel Aviv and held a faculty position at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. When Stern returned to the United States, he held the position of CEO of several Jewish organizations, including the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and the Lawrence Family JCC of San Diego. He launched the Bargal-Canaan series of espionage novels in 2020 with My Brothers’ Keeper and The Insider. Stern lives in Atlanta with his wife, Aviva. They have three children and six grandchildren.
ABOUT AUTHOR ALEX SINCLAIR
Alex Sinclair is Chief Content Officer at Educating for Impact, and an adjunct lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has written and spoken widely on Jewish education, Israel-Diaspora relations, and Israeli politics. He has worked or consulted for many of the finest Jewish educational and communal institutions in North America, Europe and Israel, including the Hartman Institute, the Schechter Institute, Hebrew Union College, Hebrew College, and as a full-time or adjunct member of faculty for almost two decades at the Jewish Theological Seminary. His first book, published in 2013, Loving the Real Israel: An Educational Agenda for Liberal Zionism, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and his debut novel, Perfect Enemy, was published in November 2023. He holds an M.A. (Oxon) and M.St. from Balliol College, Oxford, and a Ph.D. from Hebrew University. He lives with his wife and three children in Modi’in, Israel.
Rabbi Dorsch added, “Congregation Etz Chaim is proud to provide meaningful educational, social, and cultural activities, serving multi-generational needs, such as this upcoming People of the Book program. I am looking forward to the conversations with both authors.”
THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK PROGRAM – AUG 11
2:00 pm – Harry Stern will be in person at Etz Chaim, with a presentation and Q&A.
3:00 pm – Alex Sinclair will discuss his book, via zoom from Israel, also with a presentation and Q&A.
There will be a short break between the two authors’ presentations for refreshments.
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