Name: Zalman Newfield launches "Brooklyn Odyssey," with Saul Austerlitz
Start: 2026-04-28T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-28T20:00:00-04:00
Location: Lofty Pigeon Books, Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Zalman Newfield launches "Brooklyn Odyssey," with Saul Austerlitz

Bright and cozy independent neighborhood bookstore with a comprehensive yet curated selection of books and gift items for all ages as well as a robust program of events, book clubs, subscriptions, and more.

Lofty Pigeon Books

"Tender, courageous, and deeply human, this book is both beautiful and important." —Dr. Sara Glass, author of "Kissing Girls on Shabbat"

Lofty Pigeon Books, Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, USA

<h3>Join us for the Brooklyn launch of Brooklyn Odyssey, Zalman Newfield's poignant and hopeful memoir about his journey exiting Orthodoxy and building a new relationship with Jewish tradition.</h3>Zalman will be joined by writer Saul Austerlitz for a reading, conversation and Q&amp;A, followed by a reception and signing.<a href="https://shop.loftypigeonbooks.com/item/uxX3cMoLlaKtgTXinUGrFA" title="https://shop.loftypigeonbooks.com/item/uxX3cMoLlaKtgTXinUGrFA" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Order your copy of Brooklyn Odyssey</a>Can't make it to the event? Order at the link above to receive a signed copy for store pickup or shipping. Indicate any personalization requests in the "Instructions and comments" field during checkout.<h3>About the book</h3>Growing up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn as a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Orthodox Jewish community, Zalman Newfield was raised in an atmosphere of strict gender segregation, rigorous religious education, and nearly all-consuming ritual practices. Trained to be a Lubavitch emissary, he traveled around the world doing Jewish outreach to help usher in the messianic redemption. However, after exposure to the wider world, he abandoned the faith of his youth.Brooklyn Odyssey is Newfield’s poignant and hopeful memoir about exiting Orthodoxy. He recounts asserting his individuality and taking the radical step of shaving his beard. Reflective about his upbringing, Newfield is open to and curious about a world beyond Brooklyn while also maintaining his profound bond with his family and Jewish tradition. He writes candidly about his emotional, intellectual, and social experiences in and out of the Lubavitch community.From pivotal moments of devastation, including the illness and death of his younger brother and of his revered spiritual leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, to moments of joyful resolve, including the decision to pursue a doctorate and marry a non-Orthodox Jew, Newfield takes readers on his moving and impactful journey.Praise for Brooklyn Odyssey"Zalman Newfield has achieved the near impossible in Brooklyn Odyssey—he tells the whole truth, stripped of euphemism, yet filled with heart. Tender, courageous, and deeply human, this book is both beautiful and important. Five stars. I’m proud to give it my highest recommendation.” —Dr. Sara Glass, author of Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir“Zalman Newfield’s journey from his Chassidic roots in Crown Heights makes for compelling reading. Humble, innocent, refreshing, and informative by turns, I found myself staying up late to read ‘just another few pages.’ Some memoirs of leaving conservative backgrounds are bitter and vengeful. Not Newfield’s. He writes movingly of searching for education and connection in the secular world, without leaving his readers saddened. Bravo!” —Goldie Goldbloom, author of On Division: A Novel<h3>About the author</h3>Schneur Zalman Newfield was raised in the Lubavitch Hasidic community in Brooklyn and attended yeshivahs in Chicago, Miami, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. He participated in Lubavitch outreach activities in Russia, China, and Singapore. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brooklyn College and a PhD in sociology from New York University. He taught sociology courses for two years in six medium- and maximum-security New Jersey state prisons. He is now Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Hunter College (CUNY). Newfield is also a host on the New Books Network podcast, interviewing scholars from a diverse range of academic disciplines.<h3>About Saul Austerlitz</h3>Saul Austerlitz is the author of six previous books, including Kind of a Big Deal: How Anchorman Stayed Classy and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of the Twenty-First Century, which was selected by New York magazine as the best comedy book of 2023, and Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era. His work has been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, Slate, Vanity Fair, and other publications. He is an adjunct professor at New York University, and lives in Brooklyn.

Dawn Pagliaro-Newman launches "Dyscalculia Demystified"

Rec and Roll: Speed Book Recommending at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hush Hour: A Silent Book Club at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hilary Plattner launches "The Momma Puzzle," with Nicole Treska

Nat Nadha Vikitsreth launches "Raising Change Agents"

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Zalman Newfield launches "Brooklyn Odyssey," with Saul Austerlitz

More events from Lofty Pigeon Books

Discover more events from Lofty Pigeon Books, from Film & Media to other experiences you might love.

Dawn Pagliaro-Newman launches "Dyscalculia Demystified"

Rec and Roll: Speed Book Recommending at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hush Hour: A Silent Book Club at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hilary Plattner launches "The Momma Puzzle," with Nicole Treska

Nat Nadha Vikitsreth launches "Raising Change Agents"

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Brooklyn and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Zalman Newfield launches "Brooklyn Odyssey," with Saul Austerlitz

More events from Lofty Pigeon Books

Discover more events from Lofty Pigeon Books, from Film & Media to other experiences you might love.

Dawn Pagliaro-Newman launches "Dyscalculia Demystified"

Rec and Roll: Speed Book Recommending at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hush Hour: A Silent Book Club at Lofty Pigeon Books

Hilary Plattner launches "The Momma Puzzle," with Nicole Treska

Nat Nadha Vikitsreth launches "Raising Change Agents"

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Brooklyn and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.