Jean Meltzer is in Her Jewish Joy Era (and We Can Be Too)

Jean Meltzer is an international bestselling author, a founding member of The Artists Against Antisemitism, and a proud purveyor of Jewish joy.

As the Founder & CEO of Jewish Joy LLC, Jean transformed a Facebook group of Jewish romance authors into The Jewish Joy Book Club—a space to share Jewish stories that don’t feature trauma at the forefront. The book club’s tagline, “We read books where nobody Jewish dies at the end,” leaves no doubt about the community’s uplifting philosophy.

From there, Jean created The Jewish Joy Box—a quarterly subscription featuring a book written by a Jewish author, custom-made Judaica, and swag for book lovers. Her goal with this venture? To bolster sales of books that celebrate Jewish identity, inspire Jewish pride among readers, and support Jewish authors, brands, businesses and charities.

Now Jean’s spreading Jewish joy like never before as she sets to launch Jewish Joy Con, “a groundbreaking three-day convention celebrating the best in Jewish pop-culture, creativity, and the arts.” Set for March 13-15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this first-of-its-kind event will feature live performances by Jewish musicians, comedians and storytellers, panels with bestselling Jewish authors, celebrity meet-and-greets with Jewish actors, and a marketplace for Jewish-owned businesses and vendors.

It’s a landmark celebration of Jewish life that you won’t want to miss.

Leah Grossman: Jean—Jewish Joy Con sounds amazing! A chance to schmooze with the who’s who of the Jewish community, shop, have a nosh, and connect with others to celebrate Jewish identity and joy…all under one roof? Count me in! What sparked the idea for this convention?

Jean Meltzer: The spark for Jewish Joy Con began in a very grassroots way. In the wake of October 7th, our Facebook group for Jewish romance readers was suddenly flooded with new members looking for a safe space to talk about books—and about being Jewish in a world that suddenly felt hostile. At the same time, Jewish authors like myself were being shadow-banned, blacklisted, and added to do-not-buy lists.

Like so many of us, I felt compelled to act. I launched The Jewish Joy Book Club to support these new members, and then The Jewish Joy Box soon followed. Both were built around the same idea. I wanted to help Jews reconnect to their identity through joy and pride, while also supporting Jewish authors, artists, and small businesses. It became a holistic approach—Jews supporting Jews—and in just over a year, I’m proud to tell you that we’ve purchased more than 1,000 books, supported over a dozen Jewish-owned brands and businesses, and hosted nearly 50 virtual events. For a small startup, those numbers are extraordinary.

Jewish Joy Con is the natural next step. It’s our chance to bring all that good energy under one roof—a pluralistic, joyful space to celebrate Jewish art, food, music, storytelling, and identity on a national stage while also building and supporting a new generation of confident and proud Jews. I tell people all the time: Go to the library for other books—but buy the Jewish books. Support Jewish-owned brands. Switch your morning coffee to a business that is Jewish-owned. None of this survives on its own—but together, we can build something extraordinary.

LG: How fun that the event will feature live performances and celebrity meet-and-greets. Can you give us any teasers for who we can expect to see there?

JM: You’ll see us slowly rolling out names and events throughout the next few months, but I’m thrilled to share a few of the incredible people already confirmed. Actor Mark Feuerstein, bestselling authors Lisa Barr and Jenna Blum, musician Peter Himmelman, Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Joanie Leeds, literary agent Marilyn Biderman, and filmmaker Brett Gursky will all be joining us for workshops, panels, pitch sessions, and more.

And that’s just the beginning! We have an amazing lineup of performers, authors, creators, and thought leaders still to announce. Part of the fun is the anticipation, so keep an eye on our socials and be sure to sign up for our newsletter as we continue to reveal more over the coming months!

LG: Please share the need-to-know details. What’s the fee to attend? Is the convention kid-friendly? For those who may be concerned, what’s being done from a security perspective?

JM: Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here, where you’ll also find full details on pricing and passes. (Grab a 10% discount on all tickets and packages with code TIMES10 through November 1!) Hotel blocks will be available shortly. Jewish Joy Con is absolutely family-friendly, with dedicated programming for kids and teens alongside all of the adult events. And for those concerned about safety, please know that we are working hand-in-hand with local law enforcement and community partners to ensure a safe, secure environment for everyone attending.

LG: What do you hope people will take away from the experience of attending this convention?

JM: First and foremost, I want everyone to have a rip-roaring good time. Jewish Joy Con is meant to be fun—so come and have fun!

Second, I want people to walk away with a renewed sense of Jewish pride and belonging. Whether they come for the books, the music, the comedy, or the shopping, my hope is that people leave feeling deeply connected to their identity and to each other.

Finally, I want attendees to know that by showing up, they are actively supporting Jewish creativity. Every ticket purchased, every book sold, every artist applauded helps strengthen a cultural ecosystem that is currently under attack.

If attendees leave Jewish Joy Con feeling happy, inspired and empowered, knowing they’ve contributed to something bigger than themselves, then I’ve done my job!

LG: I love that you’re building your legacy based entirely around Jewish joy—something so necessary to embrace in today’s climate. Where have you personally found Jewish joy while navigating the turbulence of the past two years?

JM: My greatest source of Jewish joy over the past two years has been building this, creating spaces where people can gather, share stories, and feel proud to be Jewish. In difficult times, it’s this work that has grounded me. And that’s really what Jewish Joy Con is, a collective choice to celebrate who we are, loudly and proudly.

Let’s be real—we could all use a little more Jewish joy right now. Every day since October 7, 2023 has been a rude awakening, revealing the stockpile of hatred lurking beneath the surface many of us were unaware still existed.

When I reflect on the people who’ve been a lifeline for me during this painful time, I realize they all share the same qualities: They’re loud and proud. They turn pain into resilience, and hate into action. They refuse to cower and stay silent—instead choosing to speak out, lift each other up, and openly celebrate the beauty of the Jewish community.

Jean is one of those people. In this dark time, she’s made it her mission to promote an outlook of Jewish joy—one that doesn’t just feel like a temporary mindset, but a lifelong philosophy. She reminds us that embracing Jewish joy is a choice…one that each of us can make every single day.

Jewish Joy Con presents a unique opportunity to do just that. By attending this landmark event, not only can we uplift members of our community who need and deserve our support, but we can do it while celebrating who we are and having a darn good time with each other in the process.

Jewish joy awaits. See you there?

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Jewish Joy Con is March 13-15, 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Get your tickets here! *Use code TIMES10 for 10% off all tickets and packages through November 1!

Presenters, performers, & panelists: Apply here to be part of this landmark event (deadline November 17).

Exhibitors & vendors: Apply here to sell in the Jewish Joy Con Marketplace.

Group rates offered for parties of 10 or more! Need help arranging a group booking? Email help@thejewishjoycon.com

Interested in sponsoring? Email sponsors@thejewishjoycon.com