About Arthur Kurzweil

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About Arthur Kurzweil

I am an author and educator who transforms a lifelong love of books and learning into meaningful experiences for readers and audiences. I have been a book person all my life, beginning my personal library at 15, which has grown to over 5,000 books.

I earned a Master of Library Science degree from Florida State University in 1972. I was inducted as a member of Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society for library and information science. My work as an author and educator blends scholarship, creativity, and storytelling to make Jewish history, genealogy, and spiritual practice accessible to all.

My Career in Publishing

I worked as a reference librarian and film librarian for a large public library for two years before pursuing my interest in writing and publishing. As a publisher, I served as editor-in-chief at Jason Aronson for 17 years, publishing over 650 books of Jewish interest by a broad range of authors. I also served as a Judaica consultant to John Wiley Publishers and as a senior editor for Behrman House Publishers. Today, I publish specialized books under my own imprint, “Arthur Kurzweil Books.” From 1984 to 2001, I served as editor-in-chief of the Jewish Book Club, the most successful Jewish bookseller in America before the advent of the internet. 

My Career as a Writer

As a writer, I have contributed articles to New York Magazine, Moment, The Washington Post, and LI Newsday. 
As an author and educator, I have written several books, including four titles in the well-known “For Dummies” series: The Torah For Dummies, Kabbalah For Dummies, The Talmud For Dummies, and Jewish History For Dummies, with translations in French, Dutch, and German.

I am the author of From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy, My Generations: A Course in Jewish Family History, and The Persistence of Memory: My Father’s Ukrainian Shtetl—A Holocaust Reckoning. My contributions to Jewish genealogy earned me a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.

I invite you to explore my two volumes on the thought and legacy of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz—one of the great Jewish teachers of our time—whose insights continue to inspire seekers around the world: On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz and Pebbles of Wisdom from Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

A Lifelong Passion for Magic

My interest in books is connected with illusions. I have a personal library of over 500 books on magic tricks, illusions, and related topics. I am a member of the Society of American Magicians, of which Harry Houdini was president in 1917, and I have been a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians for decades. These pursuits enable me to combine education, storytelling, and entertainment through lectures, books, and performances, both as an author and an educator.

Education and Publishing Expertise

My formal training and decades of experience in libraries, publishing, and editorial work give me a unique perspective as an author and educator. I help readers, students, and audiences engage deeply with Jewish history, genealogy, texts, and spiritual traditions, making complex subjects understandable and relevant.

My Career in Publishing

My Career as a Writer

A Lifelong Passion for Magic

Education and Publishing Expertise

Engage with an Author and Educator