3 comments about The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic.

1. This book is a wonerful way to introduce a younger children to the mystical ways of Judaism. The folktales grab you into the short one to three page stories. After that you read the religious teaching and interpretions of each one, and this leaves a classroom open to discussions. This book can be used in any religious setting, whether it be in a classroom or at home with your family. It makes you want to learn more. The Mystical side of Judaism is often left to the Scholars of the the time. However, what surprised me was how many of them were women. Take time in the classroom, or at home with your family, enjoy understand, and discuss this with all who are interested.



2. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award among many other prizes and recognitions, The Day The Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales Of Magic is an inviting retelling by Howard Schwartz of magical tales from Jewish holiday folklore. Gentle, inviting, and reverent reading for all ages, warmly illustrated in black-and-white by Monique Passicot, The Day The Rabbi Disappeared is enthusiastically recommended for young readers of all ages and faiths.



3. The parallels betwen mysticism and Judaism are fascinating, but not in this book. These snippets are too vague for younger readers and too didactic for older ones. As difficult as it must be to make this subject matter dull, Schwartz achieves just that.

2 comments about My First Menorah.

1. Truly a different kind of book than what is out there! The graphic art is striking, and really focuses on the lighting of the menorah. In fact, this book could be used AS a menorah. With a turn of the page, the next candle is lit... and in the proper order, while each night is numbered. Plus, all the great traditions of Hanukkah are included with little spots of art. Delightful! Children 2-5 won't be disappointed if Hanukkah Harry brings them "My First Menorah."



2. I was looking for a simple book that explains the traditions of Hanukkah to my daughter's Kindergarten class. This book was perfect. It explains the traditions and customs of the holiday without providing too many details that could be confusing for young children of other faiths.

No comments about Mardi Gras: A Cajun Country Celebration.

1 comments about Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be.

1. Updating his 1984 book, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: How Jewish Boys and Girls Come of Age, Metter again traces the history and changing customs of this important ritual. Eric Kimmel's Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age (1997) and Barbara Goldin Diamond's Bat Mitzvah: A Jewish Girl's Coming of Age (1997) are more detailed and deal with religious meaning more directly, but Metter's work is concise, readable and enlightening, especially for those not already familiar with these observances. This new version reflects changes in our world over the past 23 years. Metter includes a stronger egalitarian voice and a new section on Judith Kaplan, the first modern bat mitzvah. He has eliminated using the male pronoun and bar mitzvah ceremony as the norm. Some borderline pedantic background information has been removed or made far more concise. He expanded prior mention of the trend toward adults becoming bar and bat mitzvah to a whole chapter and included more material on customs in other countries. Metter's revised chapter on celebrity memories of their own ceremonies has left politicians and Nobel prize winners out, focusing instead on younger film and TV actors, comics, and Olympic medal athletes. A brief discussion of sumptuary excess appears less judgmental than in his original earlier work. Both changes reflect an acceptance of today's realities. The final chapter is unchanged, however, emphasizing that the timeless significance of this ritual remains undiminished. Appended bibliography, B/W illustrations and, source notes, and websites. Rita Berman Frischer

1 comments about Passover (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

1. This book is very clear, basic, yet easy to read without becoming disinterested in the topic. If a child wants a beginning reader on Passover, this can provide simple yet interesting information.

No comments about Diwali (Celebrations in My World).

2 comments about A Northern Nativity.

1. This is one of my favourite Christmas books. I have used it many times in children's story times,selecting several of the stories and in one case using it as the basis for a Christmas play. I hope we were not breaking any copyrite laws. I don't know why this book is not more popular.It has a wonderful story to tell of a young Ukrainian boy's dreams about how the nativity of the Christ Child could be repeated in many northern settings including a trapper's cabin and a railway car. The paintings are delightful and are distinctively Canadian.I hope this book will become more popular. It is already a Canadian classic!



2. There is a blend of spiritual, surreal, emotional and artistic aspects in Mr. Kurelek's "dream" series, illustrating how it would be if Jesus were to be born in different settings in the farth North instead of the historical Bethlehem. Canadians should buy this book for their American friends and relations, especially (but not only) those with young children. Though seen through distinctly Canadian eyes, these visions have universal appeal.

1 comments about Elijah's Tears: Stories for the Jewish Holidays.

1. Winner of the 1997 Storytelling World Award, Elijah's Tears: Stories For The Jewish Holidays is a collection of five original tales by Sydelle Pearl, each of which is connected to an important Jewish holiday and features the prophet Elijah, a biblical figure who is well known in Judaic folklore for magically appearing to those in great danger. Simple, black-and-white sketches by Rossitza Skortcheva fully complement this engaging collection which is especially recommended for young people, yet is suitable and entertaining reading for all ages.

1 comments about Purim (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

1. I didn't know much about Purim but teach multi-cultural holidays so I wanted to learn more about it. This is the only book I found that described the holiday clearly for a novice like me and had a key so I could learn how to pronounce some difficult names. I recommend this book for the classroom and at home.

5 comments about King of the Seventh Grade.

1. King Of the Seventh Grade

   I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. I liked the book a lot because it is like my life. He gets in trouble for the same stuff I do. I liked it because the guy was in 7th grade. I would compare it to Time for Andrew because I liked that book also. Another book I would compare it to is More than Meets the Eye. I like when Abby Greenglass reveals that she has always liked him. But she didn't anymore because.... Well anyway I would read it again if it were an assignment.

   By Ashley Shoemaker




2. Jewish Disaster

   The book I read was King of the Seventh Grade. The book is about a boy named Vic who is thirteen. Vic hates Hebrew school he insults and annoys the teacher. The teacher sends Vic to the rabbi who has a meeting with Vicýs parents. Vic and the Rabbi find out the worst or the greatest news of Vics life. When he has to make the biggest decision of his life he has some troubles. Will the outcome of the story be a good one?
   I did not like this book because I like books with a lot of action in it. This one had nothing I like in it. I have not read anything in comparison to this book.




3. A boy named Victor goes to Hebrew School and hates it! He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and hopes that he will get thrown out of Hebrew School for them. He doesn't get thrown out though. But one day he finds out that he's not Jewish. I would recommend this book and, if you read it, you will find out if he converts or not. You probably think he won't because he hates Hebrew School so much, but you might be surprised. I learned a lesson from this book which was: if you hate something, you might change your mind and like it later. Why don't you go to the library or bookstore and get this book right now!



4. This book was very interesting. I didn't find it very good. It is about a boy named victor Abrams he has to prepare fir his Bar Mitzvah by going to Hebrew school. The Hebrew school he goes to is named new Hebron. He doesn't want to go through the whole Bar Mitzvah experience. He has a plan to get out of it. He thinks that if he acts up in class he will be kicked out of school and won't have to do a Bar Mitzvah. Later in the book he figures out he is not Jewish. He has to make a decision to convert or not. You will be surprised by his decision.
   I didn't not like this book because having been through the Bar Mitzvah experience it is not as bad as the author makes it out to be. I also didn't like this book because of the suspense, or lack of it. It just wasn't a very exciting book.



5. Who could resist this title? Victor Abrams is the king. To begin with, he's the best looking boy in seventh grade. He's the most popular. He has the respect of his peers, if not his teachers. Because of Vic's belligerent attitude, teachers at Hebrew School don't like him.
   
   The feeling is mutual. Vic doesn't understand why he must go through boring religious training. He resents the bar mitzvah his parents insist upon, even though they disagree about everything else. Since they divorced, Vic lives with his father, who doesn't cook, doesn't talk, doesn't do much of anything but work.
   
   Vic's peers are a round of toughs, boys who cause trouble for people inside and outside of school. One friend, Stewie, persuades the others to shoplift until they become proficient thieves. Although Vic is uncomfortable about the stealing, he goes along with it, swept along by Stewie's insistence.
   
   The story moves steadily toward its conflict: Vic wants to quit Hebrew School, and his parents and the rabbi want him to continue. But a turn of events causes the drama to reverse. Vic's mother lets slip to the rabbi that she is not a Jew. Because one can only be a Jew through the maternal line or conversion, Vic is suddenly not a Jew.
   
   At this point, the story becomes quite interesting. Vic slowly realizes he misses the identity he's taken for granted, but his parents veto the yucky conversion process (it involves another circumcision)!
   
   By the conclusion, Vic has grown up, accepted his responsibilities, made peace with those he hurt, become a Jew, and received a year's probation for shoplifting. A huge amount of story in a 190 page book, and every page worth it. Besides being a good story, King of the Seventh Grade contains lots of information on Judaism. This is a superior book: well-written, honest, and enlightening.