Books for Kids (of all ages!)
Look at Me Sticker and Activity Magazines: Jewish learning and sticker fun all together in these four 16-page, full-color magazines that reinforce counting skills, visual discrimination, and fine motor coordination while building Jewish identity. Topics include the synagogue, mitzvot, Shabbat, and Hanukkah. For ages 3-6.
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It’s Too Crowded in Here! Eight classic Jewish folktales and midrashic stories, colorfully illustrated and retold for children ages 4-8. Fun just to read aloud with children, the stories also provide a rich yet light-hearted resource for exploring key values such as self respect, compassion, appreciation, tolerance, and thankfulness. A parent page accompanies each story.
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Capturing the Moon: Classic and Modern Jewish Tales-Rabbi Edward Feinstein retells his all-time favorite tales in this read-aloud collection, suitable for any age. Each short story comes with a message from Rabbi Feinstein explaining the story’s underlying lesson.
Books for Adults
Looking for a short yet inspirational trip to a higher plane of thought? Floating Takes Faith is a collection of 200-word gems of Jewish wisdom by Rabbi David Wolpe that combines sources and writings from the modern world with lessons from ancient tradition to deliver a unique perspective on living more spiritually. According to Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, “What shines through again and again is his wide ranging knowledge and extraordinary insight into the human condition.”
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Is a faith-based life possible? How do you live one? These two fundamental questions about the role of religion in our lives are addressed in Rabbi Milton Steinberg’s critically acclaimed novels, As a Driven Leaf and The Prophet’s Wife. A conservative rabbi labeled a heretic by his more orthodox colleagues because of his writings, Steinberg died in 1950 at the age of 47, leaving behind a literary and rabbinic legacy that also included one published novel and one unfinished one. Both are now available.
As A Driven Leaf, designated as one of “Four Significant Jewish Books” by the URJ, details the personal struggles between faith and reason as experienced by the early Talmudic sage Elisha ben Abuyah about whom little is known, but much richly imagined by Steinberg. Elisha’s crisis of faith begins when he witnesses the death of a man in the midst of observing a law from the book of Deuteronomy that the Bible says will bring one long life. Elisha’s reaction to this tragedy leads to his ex-communication and sends him in search of meaning that does not rely on faith.
The Prophets Wife, Rabbi Steinberg’s unfinished novel of faith and infidelity, is newly available in paperback, with commentary by Rabbi Harold Kushner and novelist Norma Cohen. It features Rabbi Steinberg’s imaginings of the early life of the prophet Hosea, whom God commands to marry a harlot. Hosea’s relationship with Gomer and the torture of her infidelities resonate for us even today.
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Get your mind around three thousand years of Jewish history without breaking your head. In Jewish History--the BIG Picture, the epic story of the Jewish people is rendered as a concise, accessible, and engaging narrative. Maps and photos enrich this dynamic introduction to Jews from the Early Israelites to American and Diaspora Jewry today. Take it to the beach and come back smarter!
