Commemorating Philip Roth means confronting his limitations head on

(JTA) - Next Sunday marks the 90th anniversary of Philip Roth's birth. In celebration of the famed novelist's work, a scholarly conference titled "Roth@90," sponsored by the Philip Roth Society, will be held starting Wednesday at the Newark Public Library. That will be followed by a weekend of high-profile events - staged readings, panel discussions, a bus tour of Roth's old Newark neighborhood - co-presented by the library and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Exactly 10 years ago, we commemorated his 80th birthday in a similar fashion. Dozens of Roth scholars made learned presentations...