Celebrities Share Their Must-Read Books, from Hebrew Fiction to the Book of Deuteronomy

Several Israeli public figures offered book recommendations ahead of the Book Week season, ranging from literary classics to self-help by way of scripture. Hila Saada praised "A Tale of Love and Darkness"? No, she actually recommended "The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem," saying she read it twice and also acted in the series based on it. She urged readers to turn to Israeli literature.

Alona Saar recommended the play "The House of Bernarda Alba," noting that there is currently a strong stage production of it. When asked for the best book she has ever read, she chose Sylvia Plath’s "The Bell Jar." Maya Dagan suggested Lily King’s "Writers & Lovers"? No, she recommended "Eve’s?" In the source she names Lily King’s "The Heart of the Lover," describing it as a short, sweet book about a love triangle in college and again 20 years later, ideal for someone who has not read in a while and wants to get back into reading. She added that books build empathy by letting readers see the world through someone else’s point of view, which she said is especially lacking in Israel today.

Rotem Israel said her recent read was Andre Agassi’s biography, and recommended it not only for sports fans but as a story about life and coping with challenges. Asked for the best book she has ever read, she chose "The Handmaid’s Tale." Ofira Assayag said her recent recommendation is the Book of Deuteronomy, calling it life-changing. She said she reads the last 55 verses every day, that it has helped her make good decisions, and that after reading it, "you understand that you have to keep everything in proportion."