Jewish Book Festival: Melting Point by Rachel Cockerell

In 1907, a ship packed with 10,000 Russian Jews set sail for Texas, led by the author’s great grandfather. These rebel Zionists were seeking security beyond Palestine, desperate to start a new life. In this innovative family memoir, Cockerell weaves together primary sources—letters, diary entries, interviews and articles—to bring long-silent voices to life in a deeply personal and fascinating exploration of a plan to create a Jewish state in Texas. The story’s ultimate question asks what it means to belong, and what can be salvaged from the past.