Paramus—In synagogues, Jewish community centers, and book clubs throughout Bergen County, Sephardic history and culture are getting a lot of attention. It’s all part of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey’s (JFNNJ) One Book, One Community project now in its third year.

This year’s book, By Fire, By Water, by Mitchell James Kaplan, brings readers back to Spain during the Inquisition and the struggles of Jews to keep their faith, deny it, or keep it only in secret. The entire community is invited to a talk by the author and a dessert reception Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m., at Temple Israel & Jewish Community Center, 475 Grove Street, Ridgewood. The event is free but RSVPs are required: Contact [email protected], call 201/820-3904 or go to www.jfnnj.org/onebook.

By Bracha Schwartz