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B'nai Emet -> About our Synagogue-> Library -> B'nai's Library CollectionFrom past Web listings ...Selected books have reviews available. Just click on the underlined book titles to go to the review.Address Unknown, Kressmann Taylor, is a simple but powerful treatment of the evil of Nazism, told in a series of letters. Adjusting Sights, Haim Sabato, translated by Hillel Halkin. Winner of the Sapir Prize for Literature, this Israeli bestseller tells the story of a Yeshiva student, called to fight as a tank gunner in the Yom Kippur 1973 War. The narrator describes his adjustment to the psychological and physical realities of war, as he continues to seek holiness, meditate on his childhood and philosophy, and seek his childhood friend. The author of this highly-acclaimed book is a scholar, head of a Yeshiva near Jerusalem, who personally experienced the 1973 war as a tank gunner in the Golan Heights. Alicia: My Story, Alicia Appleman-Jurman, is a powerful Holocaust memoir, written by a woman who, at the age of 13, began to rescue Jews from the Gestapo. This is a true story of tremendous heroism and courage in the face of Nazi horror. American Judaism, Jonathan D. Sarna. The author, a Brandeis University Jewish history professor, focuses on the 350-years of Jewish religion in America. This comprehensive yet readable work focuses on Jewish ideas, leaders, and change. He points out that the fear of assimilation has been with American Jews for hundreds of years, and has been the stimulus for renewal and innovation. This book was named the National Jewish Book Award 2004 Book of the Year. Anne Frank: Life in Hiding, Johanna Hurwitz, is a biography of Anne Frank. The publication of her diary made this holocaust victim a well-known figure and hero to many. Ages 9-12. Around Sarah’s Table: Ten Hasidic Women Share Their Stories of Life, Faith, and Tradition, Ruth Zakutinsky, Yaffa Leba Gottlieb, and Rivka Zakutinsky. Ten Hasidic women of various backgrounds meet every Tuesday around Sarah’s table to share their life stories—the triumphs and the dark times—as they study Torah, socialize, and provide support for one another. The Art of Public Prayer: Not for Clergy Only, Lawrence A. Hoffman. Rabbi Abramson highly recommends this book as a starting point for discussing our services. The author discusses what is effective and ineffective in terms of ritual and how to change patterns that stand in the way of everyday spirituality. This readable book articulates conversation points, providing a springboard for what could be a very meaningful process in our synagogue. Austerlitz, W.G. Sebald. This critically-acclaimed novel reveals the story of Jacques Austerlitz, an architecture student, who tells the book’s narrator about his life and search for his origins in wartime Europe. This thoughtful, haunting novel won the 2001 National Book Critics Circle award for the best work of fiction. The book made the headlines once again when its author, W.G. Sebald, died in a car crash this past December. Bagels from Benny, Aubrey Davis. Since God has never tasted the wonderful bagels Benny helps his grandfather make in his bagel store, Benny decides to leave a bag in the Ark each week as a way to express his thanks. However, Benny is disappointed to discover that a man in ragged clothing has been eating the bagels Benny left for God’s enjoyment. Enjoy this great read-aloud with your favorite child. Winner of the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries, as the best Judaic book of 2003. Recommended especially for 4-8-year-olds. Baby’s Bris, Susan Wilkowski. Big sister Sophie is overwhelmed with all the excitement of her newborn brother’s upcoming Bris. In this warm, family story, the reader, along with Sophie, learns that a Bris is a promise we make to help a baby boy grow up to be a Jewish man. Sophie discovers a way she can help keep the promise. [Ages 4-8.] Because God Loves Stories: An Anthology of Jewish Storytelling, edited by Steve Zeitlin. The editor has compiled a wonderful treasury of Jewish stories, from contemporary storytellers who interpret stories from the Talmud, to tales of the Holocaust, to Sam Levenson’s hilarious stories of Jewish life in America. Becoming a Jewish Parent, Daniel Gordis, is a well-written guide for parents who want to make Judaism a meaningful part of their children's lives. The book presents a wealth of ideas about ritual, holidays, discussions of God, and ways to bring Judaism into every aspect of a family's life, whether the children are very young or preparing to marry. The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness, Joel Ben Izzy. The author’s quest for meaning and magic in his life took an ironic twist when the professional storyteller lost his voice to throat cancer. Featured in this year’s Jewish Book Fair, Mr. Ben Izzy presents a story that is wise, heartbreaking and inspirational. To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength, and Faith in Difficult Times, Naomi Levy. Rabbi Levy was confronted with personal tragedy, when, as a 15-year-old, her father was murdered. She describes her own struggle and the struggles of her friends and congregants, to overcome life’s terrible adversities and once again rejoice in life. This compassionate book is a comforting, inspiring read for people trying to come to terms with pain, loss, or loneliness. Beyond Belief, Deborah Lipstadt. Noted Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstedt describes the role of the American press in providing information about the Holocaust during World War II. While many newspapers knew of European persecution and atrocities, coverage was often back-page material, due to anti-semitism, isolationism, and pressure by the American government. Her disturbing conclusions about the failure of the press at that time are applicable to today’s issues of the role of the press in publicizing and shaping world events. The Bialy Eaters: The Story of a Bread and a Lost World, Mimi Sheraton. Food writer Mimi Sheraton recounts her quest for an authentic bialy. Her search takes her to Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Israel, Paris, Argentina, and Bialystok, Poland, where these chewy rolls topped with toasted onion were invented and named. The desolation of post-Holocaust Bialystok mirrors the loss of Jewish culture, and along with it, the bialy. This book is about food, culture, endurance and everyday life—be sure to try the recipe. The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings To Raise Self-Reliant Children, Wendy Mogel. The author, who is a clinical psychologist, presents useful insights, based on Jewish teachings, for parents trying to raise their children to be mensches in a world of materialism, permissiveness, overprotection, and overscheduling. Broken Bridge, Lynne Reid Banks. This book, a sequel to One More River, Lesley is a grown woman, living in the kibbutz. Her nephew is killed when he comes for a visit, and her daughter Nili is the only witness. The book captures the spirit and passions of present-day Israel, as it poses tough questions about the Mideast struggle.
The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen: 70 Fun Recipes for You and Your Kids, Joan Nathan. This book includes a section on kashrut, as well as family-friendly recipes from the ten major holidays. The Colors of My Jewish Year, Marji Gold-Vukson. This board book introduces Jewish holidays and colors to infants through preschoolers. Each major holiday is represented by a color, from the red Rosh Hashanah apple, to the white Torah covers on Yom Kippur, to the orange flames of the Shabbat candles. The Cross by Day, the Mezuzzah by Night, Deborah Spector Siegel, presents the history of the Spanish Inquisition through the story of Isabel Caruso de Carvallo, a Catholic girl of wealth and privilege who discovers she is a conversa, a secret Jew. Young adults. Dance, Sing, Remember: A Celebration of Jewish Holidays, Leslie Kimmelman and Ora Eitan (illus.), is a children's treasury of Jewish holidays and celebrations. This colorful, beautifully illustrated book presents, not only the basics of Jewish holidays for children, but recipes, songs, and games. Ages 4-8. Dancing on the Edge of the World: Jewish Stories of Faith, Inspiration, and Love, collected and edited by Miriam Glazer. This inspiring collection of essays, short stories, memoirs, and poetry contains works by a range of contemporary and ancient writers, including Yehuda Amichai, Melvin Bukiet, Yaffa Eliach, Harold Schulweis, and Rabbi Akiva. From “Jacob Who Loves the Sabbath,” a touching story about a father and his autistic child, to Nava Semel’s beautiful poem “A Soldier’s Sabbath,” and so many more, this book reflects the range of Jewish spirit and experience. Daniel Half Human: And the Good Nazi, David Chotjewitz. Daniel lives an ordinary, comfortable life in 1930s Germany. When Hitler comes to power, Daniel discovers that his mother is Jewish, and he finds himself designated a “mischling” (a half-Jew). His friendship with members of the Hitler Youth, along with the assumptions of his life are all called into question as Daniel tries to understand the events of his life. Written for young adults, Grade 7 and up, this book was named a 2004 Sydney Taylor Honor Book by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, is an enlightening and entertaining guide to finding a soul mate. The author's writing is easy to read and based on common sense, the Ten Commandments, and Biblical laws. The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic, retold by Howard Schwartz. This compilation of tales of Jewish folklore weaves together mysticism and magic. Each of the 12 tales from around the world relates to a Jewish holiday. Rabbis (male and female) famous for their knowledge and power bring about miracles and reveal the secret meaning of dreams and names. Recommended for ages 5-12. The Death of Death: Resurrection and Immortality in Jewish Thought, Neil Gillman, traces the development of the concepts of bodily resurrection and spiritual immortality through Jewish history, and delivers a death blow to the concept of death itself. A Different Light, Noam Sachs Zion and Barbara Spectre, is a two-volume work packed with Hanukkah information and ideas. Volume One includes a family education candle lighting ceremony, profiles in modern Jewish courage, games, spiritual meditations, and beautiful photographs and pictures. Volume Two is a pluralist anthology offering varied perspectives of the holiday. The books are dedicated to Rabbi Moses Sachs on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Discovering Natural Israel, Michal Strutin. An award-winning nature writer presents stunning photographs and descriptions of the natural diversity to be found in Israel. The author weaves together ancient history and stories with modern adventure, to show us how nature and people have interacted throughout history in the land of Israel. Embracing the Covenant: Converts to Judaism Talk about Why and How, Allan L. Berkowitz and Patti Moskovitz, eds., have compiled the accounts of twenty converts to Judaism concerning their motivations, experiences, and reactions to the conversion decision and its aftermath. Ethical Wills: Putting Your Values on Paper, Barry K. Baines, M.D. Dr. Baines presented our library with a copy of his book, following his thoughtful presentation in the Flickering Candle series. This book outlines the steps to performing the spiritual self-examination necessary to identify our own values and put them down on paper to leave a legacy for our loved ones that is more important and meaningful than material wealth. Etz Hayim Study Companion, edited by Jacob Blumenthal and Janet L. Liss. This book provides study materials and thought-provoking questions for reflection or discussion concerning the essays in the back of the Etz Hayim Humash. Eyes Remade for Wonder: A Lawrence Kushner Reader, Lawrence Kushner. Rabbi Kushner’s best writings, along with new material, are collected in this readable volume of short, illuminating and inspirational essays. He tackles subjects including awareness of self and God, Jewish spirituality through sacred text, the struggle to be a human being, communal and political action, and the sense of gratitude for the ability to “simply be present wherever we are.” Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, Senior Editor, David L. Lieber. This volume represents first new Torah translation and commentary for conservative Judaism in over 70 years. The English translation of the text is modern and easily-understandable. The P’shat section, edited by author-Rabbi Chaim Potok, attempts to explain the literal meaning of the biblical text as understood by the ancient Israelites. The D’rash section, edited by Rabbi Harold Kushner, draws on talmudic, medieval, Chasidic, and modern Jewish commentators to elaborate on the text’s deeper meaning. The third running commentary, co-edited by Rabbi Elliott Dorff and Rabbi Susan Grossman, attempts to show how various biblical verses served as the basis for later Jewish laws and practices. The volume contains 41 essays by leading conservative rabbis and scholars and commentary on each week’s haftarah reading. The First Day, Dvora Baron. Considered by many to be the first modern Hebrew female writer, Dvora Baron (1887-1956) created this collection of short stories about shtetl life from a woman’s perspective that has rarely been expressed in literature. She grew up in a Lithuanian shtetl, where she was educated in Torah along with her brother. Her stories often deal with women and disenfranchised people who break free from the restraints of shtetl society, as they cope with problems of birth, death, marriage, and divorce. This book was recently included on a list of the 100 greatest works of modern Jewish literature, compiled by the National Yiddish Book Center. Foiglman, Aharon Megged, translated by Marganit Weinberger. Winner of the 2003 Israel Prize for Literature, this book was first published in 1987, and recently translated into English. The novel, set in Israel, does not deal with Israeli politics, but rather deals with human relationships and Jewish culture and history. It tells the story of the somewhat uncomfortable relationship between Zvi Arbel, Israeli professor of Jewish history, and Shmuel Foiglman, Yiddish poet and Holocaust survivor. While Arbel and Foiglman represent two different types of Jewish identity and history, their family issues and relationship to Jewish history provide parallel and common ground. For Kids—Putting God on Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Salkin, Rabbi Jeffrey K. This book is a guide, written especially for kids, to help them spiritually prepare for their bar/bat mitzvah. It explains the core spiritual values of Judaism, with questions at the end of each chapter to engage the readers. A special section helps parents and kids find places to perform acts of tzedakah to honor the event. Genesis of Justice: 10 Stories of Biblical Injustice that Led to the 10 Commandments, Alan Dershowitz, presents the stories in the Biblical book of Genesis as legal precedent, as they shed light on the development of law and justice. Dershowitz shares diverse opinions and articulates his own stories and conclusions in a series of chapters with such intriguing titles as, "Cain Murders...And Walks" and "Abraham Commits Attempted Murder...And Is Praised." See reader review on page . The Genius of Genesis: A Psychoanalyst and Rabbi Examines the First Book of the Bible, Dennis Shulman. Many of the Genesis stories discussed in this highly-acclaimed work are known to Jewish adults only from distantly-remembered days in Sunday School. The author begins his examination of these Biblical events where the level of understanding of many Jewish adults leaves off. This readable and fascinating discussion combines the author’s scholarship and open-minded perspective as an ordained rabbi and psychologist/psychoanalyst, with the insights of Talmudic rabbis, St. Paul, Martin Luther, Mark Twain, and Maimonides. The American Center for Torah Education awarded this book its 2004 Heschel Book Prize, as the outstanding book about the Torah produced in the past year. Gershon’s Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year, Retold by Eric A. Kimmel. Gershon, like the rest of us, often made mistakes. But he never apologized or felt sorry for the bad things he did. He just swept his mistakes into the cellar and every year on Rosh Hashanah, put them all in a sack and threw them in the sea. But one year, his mistakes came back to haunt him…This retelling of an early Hasidic legend is enjoyable any time of the year, but especially as we think about repentance and forgiveness in the new year. Reading level: ages 4-8.Grandpa’s Hotel, Riki Levinson, is a children’s picture book that tells the story of 16 cousins who spend a memorable summer at their grandpa’s hotel. A Guide to Jewish Prayer, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, presents a thorough, yet readable, explanation of Jewish prayer, holidays, and synagogues. This book would be interesting for "experts," but is accessible to beginners as well. Halinka, Mirjam Pressler, tells the story of a 12-year-old resident of a welfare home in Germany for neglected and abused girls. Halinka struggles and triumphs in the aftermath of World War II. Ages 12-16. Hiding in the Open, Sabina S. Zimering, M.D., is an fascinating Holocaust memoir written by a local physician, recently retired after 40 years in medical practice. Dr. Zimering describes her youth in Poland where, after the outbreak of World War II, she spent three years with her family in the Piotrkow ghetto, battling fear, hunger, and typhus. Only hours before the final deportation of the Jews began, Dr. Zimering and her sister escaped. With false Aryan identification papers, they passed as Catholics in Nazi Germany, working as housemaids in a hotel patronized by the Gestapo. Dr. Zimering’s memoir recently had its theatrical premiere at Great American History Theater. An Hour in Paradise, Joan Leegant. Ten short stories on Jewish themes comprise this enjoyable and insightful debut collection. The first story, “The Tenth,” tells the story of an elderly Boston rabbi and his encounter with a divine force. The story begins, “After 51 years as a rabbi, Samuel Steele had believed until that morning that when it came to the often elusive tenth man needed to complete a minyan, he had seen everything.” How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household, Blu Greenberg, introduces traditional Jewish practice, including descriptions of the author’s own struggles with some of the customs and rituals she is committed to preserving. This book was recommended by Rabbi Abramson in his Kol Nidre sermon about being Jewishly ready for a new millennium.
If a Place Can Make You Cry: Dispatches from an Anxious State, Daniel Gordis. Rabbi Gordis, his wife, and three children left their home in California to spend what began as a one-year sabbatical in Jerusalem. This volume gathers e-mails and private musings that record Gordis's impressions of his new home, his disillusionment over the prospects of ending the daily violence, and his commitment to his new home, even as he ponders the ethics of exposing his own children to violence and danger. In the Image, Dara Horn. This outstanding first novel weaves together threads of Jewish history with contemporary Jewish life. Horn tells the story of Leora, a 17-year-old whose best friend Naomi, as the story begins, has just been killed by a hit-and-run driver. The book offers snapshots of Leora’s life and the lives of the characters that connect with her, as it examines the ritual and secular choices of each character. The Jar of Fools: Eight Hanukkah Stories from Chelm, Eric A. Kimmel, illus. Mordicai Gerstein, describes Hanukkah in Chelm. In case you don't know, when God spread the souls all over the earth, God unfortunately gave the jar containing the foolish souls to an angel who was a butterfingers. The jar slipped from the angel's hands and landed in Chelm. That's why in Chelm, Hanukkah is celebrated with dreidels with no letters, a hayfork with the soul of a menorah, and Silent Samson the Maccabee. Jewish Cooking in America, Joan Nathan. Whether you would rather cook or read, you will find something wonderful in this book. The book contains 335 kosher recipes, including updated adaptations of traditional holiday dishes, Jewish haute cuisine from renowned chefs, and recipes and stories from various regions of the United States, and from Syria, Morocco, Greece, Germany, Poland, Georgia, and Alsace. The recipes come with terrific history and anecdotes. The Jewish Woman’s Book of Wisdom, Ellen Jaffe-Gill, ed., contains brief writings by a range of Jewish women from Emma Lazarus to Cynthia Ozick, from Anne Frank to Ruth Westheimer. Joan Nathan’s Jewish Holiday Cookbook, Joan Nathan. Recipes for nearly 400 dishes for Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, and minor holidays are updated and presented in this book. The author introduces each recipe with information and culinary history, making this a book that is readable as well as instructional. The recipe collection includes Ashkenazic and Sephardic foods, including the cuisines of America, Europe, and the Middle East. This book was purchased by the Farb Family Library fund. Journeys with Elijah: Eight Tales of the Prophet, Barbara Diamond Goldin and Jerry Pinkney (illus.), tells stories of the ancient prophet Elijah as they are told in different cultures-from the Jewish communities of North Africa to Curacao, from Argentina to Baghdad. The Kaddish Minyan: From Pain to Healing, Twenty Personal Stories, Rabbi Herbert A. Yoskowitz, Ed. After Rabbi Yoskowitz’s first book about the healing effects of saying Kaddish during the period of mourning for a beloved family member, he received personal testimonials from a large number of readers, which he included in this new volume. This is an informative, moving collection about the power of prayer to heal and to change lives. A CD is inserted in the book to assist people in learning to recite Mourner’s Kaddish and Rabbis’ Kaddish. The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, David I. Kertzer, presents a true, dramatic, and engrossing story about the kidnapping by the Catholic church of a six-year-old Jewish boy from his family in 19th century Italy, after the boy had been secretly baptized by a gentile servant. Kosher by Design Entertains: Fabulous Recipes for Parties and Every Day, Susie Fishbein. Its beautiful photography, simple and elegant recipes, and menu suggestions will help you organize memorable parties and holiday dinners. The book also contains a helpful resource and buying guide. Ladies' Auxiliary, Tova Mirvis, is a novel that portrays the women of the Memphis Orthodox Jewish community, who perceive a threat to their way of life when Batsheva, an Orthodox Jew by choice, arrives in town, complete with daughter, hippie-style clothing, and unconventional ways of renewing Jewish tradition. Let the Celebrations Begin, Margaret Wild, is a gentle, uplifting story to introduce Holocaust themes to very young readers. Based on a true story, the book recounts the efforts of a group of mothers in a Nazi concentration camp to gather scraps to make toys for their children to use in celebration of their imminent liberation. Recommended for ages 4-8. The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas L. Freidman, discusses globalization, the defining force in world affairs today, according to the author, a St. Louis Park native. Living a Life That Matters: Resolving the Conflict between Conscience and Success, Harold S. Kushner. With his characteristic warmth and humanity, Rabbi Kushner draws on stories of his congregants, literature, current events, and the Biblical story of Jacob, to address familiar dilemmas: Why do decent people violate their own moral standards? How can we pursue justice without succumbing to the lure of revenge? How can we add meaning to our relationships with family and friends? The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-Third Psalm, Harold S. Kushner. Rabbi Kushner’s newest book about consolation, leads the reader, phrase by phrase through the 23rd Psalm, discussing the meanings of the phrases, the motivation of the Psalmist, and the comfort to be found in its words. Louisa, Simone Zelitch. This sweeping work of fiction echoes the Book of Ruth in telling the story of Louisa and her mother-in-law Nora, and their journey from post-World War II Hungary to Israel. Louisa, a young German gentile, falls in love with a Hungarian Jew, Gabor, as the war is breaking out. She and Gabor’s mother, who narrates the story, emigrate to Israel. Their story unfolds in flashbacks and episodes, which ultimately reflect the themes of the Holocaust, Zionism, and the founding of the State of Israel. Masada: The Last Fortress, Gloria D. Miklowitz. This historical novel vividly recounts the last months and days of the Roman siege of Masada. The Jews’ last stand against the Roman assault is related from the viewpoints of the teen-aged son of the leader of the Jewish zealots, and of the commander-in-chief of the Roman legion. Recommended for middle-school readers and up.The Matzah Ball Fairy, Carla Heymsfeld, is a funny story about the lightest, fluffiest matzah balls you can imagine. Ages 4-8. Miriam and her Brother Moses, Jean Marzollo. There are many books about Moses, but this one focuses on his brave, older sister Miriam. The story is told in narrative, in songs that are easy to sing with, and in bright watercolor illustrations. The story begins with Pharaoh’s order to throw all the baby boys into the river and goes on to relate the story from Miriam’s viewpoing. Especially recommended for readers from 4-8. Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir, Elizabeth Ehrlich, tells the author's story of her own ambivalence about her Jewish background which began to change as she entered the kitchen and life of her mother-in-law, Miriam, a Holocaust survivor. Funny and touching, the book's recipes provide the backdrop to the story of the author's growing attraction to her heritage. The New Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten. This book completely updates Rosten’s original The Joys of Yiddish, first published in 1968. New Joys is about the influence of Yiddish on the English language, from “Yinglish” words, like kibitz, mish-mash, and bagel, to the flavor and nuance of Yiddish that color our way of speaking. What’s not to like?
Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities around the World, Gil Marks. Jewish cooking expert, chef, and Rabbi Gil Marks presents 300 do-able and delicious recipes from a wide range of nationalities. Sidebars throughout the book explain Jewish vegetarian traditions and comment on the diverse communities and traditions that gave rise to these dishes. On Purim, Cathy Goldberg Fishman. As a young girl prepares for Purim, she discovers how Mordecai’s and Queen Esther’s acts of courage saved the Jews from Haman’s wrath. Readers (recommended for ages 5-9) will enjoy the illustrations and the opportunities to react to the name of Haman. Read this book to find out the reasons we wear masks on Purim. One Day in September, Simon Reeve. In the early hours of September 5, 1972, members of the violet Palestinian terrorist group Black September, scaled the fence surrounding the Munich Olympic village. Their target was the temporary quarters of the Israeli Olympic team. Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five terrorists, and a German policeman were dead. This engrossing book tells the true story of these events and the Israeli revenge operation “Wrath of God.” The text is based on the author’s careful research into the events and interviews of key participants. The light it casts on Islamic fundamentalist terrorism is especially relevant in today’s world. The Outside World, Tova Mirvis. Following her successful debut novel, Ladies’ Auxiliary, the author has written an insightful exploration of the difficulties in the lives of two Jewish families. Twenty-two-year-old Tzippy Goldman belongs to an Orthodox family, who is intent on finding her a yeshiva boy to marry. The parents in the second family are struggling against the changes their son Bryan (who now calls himself Baruch) is undergoing, as he shifts from life as a girl-chasing jock to a Talmud-studying black-hat Jew, intent on following every commandment to the letter. The Plot against America: A Novel, Philip Roth. In Mr. Roth’s newest book, he creates and explores a hypothetical situation—Charles A. Lindbergh, heroic aviator and Nazi sympathizer, defeats FDR for the American Presidency in 1940. The book examines the Lindbergh presidency; his policies which include efforts to break up Jewish communities and relocate Jews outside their “ghettoes,” and the impact of this new order on the author’s family and other Jewish families. Postville, Stephen Bloom, describes the clash of cultures in small-town Iowa when a community of Chasidic Jews, determined to maintain their own religion, culture, and separateness, settles and flourishes in small-town, traditional Iowa. The Rabbi’s Cat, Joann Sfar. This original graphic novel is collecting rave reviews. Written and illustrated by a French cartoonist, the book is narrated by an alley cat who belonged to an Algerian rabbi in the 1930s. The cat, who tries to learn Torah with the rabbi after swallowing a parrot and acquiring the power of speech, later loses this power but expresses for the reader his views of Jewish, French, and Arab culture. Real Time, Pnina Moed Kass. The Association of Jewish Libraries awarded this book its 2004 Sydney Taylor Book Award for using the highest literary standards to portray authentically the Jewish experience. This insightful and riveting book, recommended for young adults, chronicles the experience of several Israelis—kibbutznik, tourists, soldiers, and Palestinian bus bomber—following a bus bombing in Israel.The Red Tent, Anita Diamant, tells the story of the Biblical Dinah in her own voice. ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens, Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, relates her interpretations of Torah to today's search for meaning and spirituality among modern Jewish women. She describes how the spiritual and personal connections shared by women have been passed down to us through the generations. The Rose Horse, Deborah Lee Rose, evokes the Jewish immigrant community on Coney Island in the early 1900s, focusing on Lily and her struggling, prematurely-born infant sister. Ages 8-12. The Seamstress: A Memoir of Survival, Sara Tuvel Bernstein. This powerful holocaust memoir, named one of the American Library Association’s ten best books for young adults, tells Bernstein’s personal story, from her childhood in Romania fighting back fearlessly against the anti-Semitism that surrounded her, to her life as a dressmaker to high-society Romanian women, and finally to Ravensbruck, a women’s concentration camp. Serpent’s Tooth, Faye Kellerman, is a recent thriller in the Petter Decker/Rina Lazarus series. Shanda: The Making and Breaking of a Self-Loathing Jew, Neal Karlen. After a period of rejection of everything Jewish, this local author searches for a way back to Judaism, with the help of his father and Rabbi Manis Friedman. The Shawl, Cynthia Ozick. This volume contains Ozick’s short story, “The Shawl,” and novella, “Rosa.” In “The Shawl,” Rosa Lublin watches a concentration camp guard murder her daughter. In “Rosa,” the same woman appears thirty years later in a Miami hotel. The shawl links the two stories together—it can sustain or destroy a starving child. The Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia, is a reference guide covering Jewish life and culture from ancient times to the present. Something from Nothing, Phoebe Gilman. Set in a European Jewish shtetl, this book tells the story of Joseph who received a beautiful blanket from his grandfather. As Joseph grows older, the blanket begins to wear out and is transformed into a jacket, then a vest, then a tie, and finally a cloth-covered button. When Joseph loses the button, he fears that his grandfather cannot make something from nothing. But Joseph does find a way to make something from nothing in this charming story, to be enjoyed by all, but particularly appropriate for children from 4-10. Sound the Shofar: A Story for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Leslie Kimmelman. It’s almost time for Rosh Hashanah! The family is gathering for the celebration, and best of all, Uncle Jake will blow the shofar during services. The customs of the high holidays, including bringing canned goods to the synagogue on Yom Kippur, are shown in eye-catching paintings and simple but colorful text. Ages 3-6. Spiritual Community: The Power To Restore Hope, Commitment, and Joy, David A. Teutsch. If you attended Kol Nidre service at B’nai Emet, you heard Rabbi Abramson talk about this book. As Rabbi Abramson said, our synagogue is much more than a business and it is even more than a family. It is a spiritual community, creating unique ties among us. Deepen your understanding of Rabbi’s comments as you continue to explore the ideas expounded in this book. Still Alive: A Holocaust Girlhood Remembered, Ruth Kluger and Lore Segal. This award-winning, moving memoir of Ruth Kluger’s life as a Jewish girl growing up in Nazi Austria and Germany has become a controversial best-seller in Germany. Kluger presents a feminist analysis of her personal experience, in which she rejects many of the theories put forward by well-known Holocaust survivors such as Primo Levi and Bruno Bettelheim. Kluger’s hurt, anger, and even embarrassment directed at her mother, provide an honest and provocative backdrop to the chilling experiences she recounts. Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps, Warren, Andrea. Caught up in Hitler’s Final Solution to annihilate Europe’s Jews, 15-year-old Jack is torn from his family and thrown into the nightmarish world of the concentration camps. Even with his strong will to live, can Jack survive the life-and-death game he is forced to play with his Nazi captors? You will not forget this award-winning true story. A Tale of Love and Darkness, Amos Oz, trans. by Nicholas deLange. Winner of the 2004-2005 Koret Jewish Book Award for Biography, Autobiography, and Literary Studies, Amos Oz’s autogiography is already considered by many to be his masterpiece. The story is set mostly in Jerusalem during the author’s childhood in the 1940s and 1950s, and tells Oz’s personal story against the backdrop of Palestine during World War II, the U.N. vote to create a Jewish state, and the violence and hardships of Israel’s war of independence and the Arab siege of Jerusalem. Talking to God: Personal Prayers for Times of Joy, Sadness, Struggle, and Celebration, Naomi Levy. This collection of personal prayers can help those who aren’t completely satisfied with traditional prayers, find a voice to pray. Rabbi Levy ties some of the prayers to stories of her own experiences in the rabbinate. She includes prayers for morning, for difficult days, and a prayer for a parent to say to a child at night. Other prayers are suggested for finding love, preparing for a wedding ceremony, healing from divorce, overcoming addictions, losing a pet, and experiencing a brush with death. The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey between Worlds, Jonathan Rosen, is a fascinating essay that connects our Jewish past and future, establishing links between the Internet and the Talmud, with their encyclopedic content, numerous contributors, and diverse points of view. The Ties that Bind. (videotape) Rabbi David Wolpe narrates this videotape that not only teaches how to perform the mitzvah of wrapping tefillin, but incorporates personal stories of profound experiences associated with putting on tefillin. The tape beautifully expresses information about the history of tefillin and its hand-crafting. By the way, this videotape presents an egalitarian perspective on the use of tefillin. Today I Am a Boy, David Hays, recounts the true story of the author's journey to his Bar Mitzvah day. At the age of 66, Mr. Hays joined a synagogue for the first time in more than 50 years and decided to study Hebrew and become a Bar Mitzvah. He joined a class of 12-year-olds and began his studies. 20 April 44 WWII, Fannie S. Schanfield, tells the true story, through pictures, original document, and narrative, of the search by Fannie and her grandson Adam Kieffer, for the truth of the death of Melvin Stock, who was killed in a German torpedo attack on the Paul Hamilton Merchant Marine ship. Two Cents and a Milk Bottle, Lee Chai’ah Batterman, tells the story of 12-year-old Leely Dorman and her family in Brooklyn in 1937, during the depression. Ages 8-12. An Uncommon Friendship: From Opposite Sides of the Holocaust, Bernat Rosner and Frederic C. Tubach. A Hungarian Jewish survivor of Auschwitz and a German with close ties to the Nazi movement both emigrate to the United States, settle in the San Francisco Bay area, and become friends. In this inspiring double-memoir, the two friends express their movement toward trust and revelation of the past secrets of their lives. Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land through the Five Books of Moses, Bruce Feiler. As the author walks across Israel and through surrounding areas, he links stories from the Bible to the places he is actually visiting. Recounted in the context of archaeological discoveries and geographic observations, the stories take on new meaning for the author, a fifth-generation American Jew, whose adventure gathers personal and spiritual momentum as the story unfolds. The World To Come, Dara Horn. If you loved Dara Horn’s first work of fiction, In the Image, read this book! As the story begins, Benjamin Ziskind, former child prodigy who now writes questions for a television quiz show, “American Genius”, steals a Chagall sketch after a disappointing singles cocktail party at a Jewish museum. The stories that follow trace the life and time of the famous painting, and tell the stories of those who come in contact with it. The story ranges from a Jewish orphanage in 1920s Soviet Russia to Viet Nam to American suburbia. The War Within: A Novel of the Civil War, Carol Matas. This work of historical fiction tells the story of Hannah Green, whose family owns a general store in small-town Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1862. As she wrestles with her own personal battles, Hannah experiences discrimination for the first time, when General Grant’s General Order #11 commands all Jews to evacuate the territory under his command. Wedding Song: Memoirs of an Iranian Jewish Woman, Farideh Goldin. This remarkable memoir of a young child growing into adult Jewish womanhood in Shiraz, Iran, illuminates the lives of contemporary Jews living in the shadow of Muslim religious fundamentalism. We Knew Who We Were: (videotape) Memories of the Minneapolis Jewish North Side. This fascinating videotape, which runs for 70 minutes, portrays the Jewish era and place that was the North Side that so many of us knew and loved. Through the voices of many who lived on the North Side, hear the stories of emigration from the Old Country, struggles to create a better life, finding a way to be Jewish in a hostile environment, and ultimately the sense of pride and community felt by the North Siders.
What is God’s Name?, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Experts say that spiritual development takes place in the youngest children, and by the age of 5 most children have developed an image of God. This simple, inspirational book is a wonderful vehicle for an adult and child (infant through preschool) to explore spirituality together. What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street, Elsa Okon Rael, tells the story of seven-year-old Zeesie in the early 1900s, as she shares in both the sorrow and the fellowship of the immigrant community.When a Grandparent Dies: A Kid’s Own Remembering Workbook for Dealing with Shiva and the Year Beyond, Nechama Liss-Levinson, Ph.D. This book is an extraordinary resource for 7 to 11-year-olds who are coping with the death of a grandparent. The book combines explanatory material, opportunities for record-keeping and creative expression, and suggestions for perpetuating the grandparent’s memory. When the Chickens Went on Strike, Erica Silverman, Matthew Trueman (illustrator), and Sholom Aleichem. Based on a story by Sholom Aleichem, this book describes a young boy who sneaks away from High Holiday services, only to overhear a group of chickens planning a strike. They are upset about the custom of Kapores, and they resent the people who use the chickens as a way to rid themselves of sin. The humor and illustrations are terrific. Recommended for ages 4-8. A Woman’s Voice: Sarah Foner, Hebrew Author of the Haskalah, Sarah Foner, Morris Rosenthal, translator. The collected works of Sarah Menkin Foner (1854-1936) have been translated from Biblical Hebrew into English by the author’s great grandson. In “A Girl Can’t Become a Gaon?” the author explains how her refusal to recite a blessing from memory at the age of 5, and her insistence on being able to read and understand the words of the Siddur, led her father to break the tradition which afforded such education only to boys, and to begin her Hebrew education and send her to Cheder with the boys. From this early education grew a lifelong love of the Hebrew language and a fascinating collection of writings ranging from fiction to children’s literature to social criticism. Thank you to Samuel N. Foner for donating this book. The Women’s Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions, edited by Rabbi Elyse Goldstein. This book will appeal to readers who are intrigued by the wisdom and unique perspective of women rabbis who offer their commentaries on the Torah portions. The female and feminist perspective included in this book will open the reader’s eyes to new and enriched meaning in the study of Torah. Wonders and Miracles: Passover Companion, Eric A. Kimmel. This beautiful and well-designed volume guides the reader through a full and rich celebration of Passover, complete with explanations of the service, recipes, songs, and translated/transliterated prayers. This is a book for the whole family to enjoy, especially recommended for elementary-school-aged children.
The Year Mom Got Religion: One Woman’s Midlife
Journey into Judaism, Lee Meyerhoff Hendler. The author presents her
personal story of midlife religious renewal. Lee M. Hendler, leading a life of
wealth and privilege, was a power in Jewish communal life, when she began to
realize something was missing. Rather than continuing to define her connection
to Judaism through activity on communal boards and donations of money, she began
to study, attend synagogue, and intensify the role of religion in her family’s
life. Her discoveries and disappointments, struggles with her family, and
ultimate changes in her own lifestyle add up to a fascinating story.
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