|
|
November 17, 2000/Heshvan 19, 5761, Vol. 53, No.8
Tomes celebrate Jewish history, life
TAMI BICKLEY
Associate Editor
November is Jewish Book Month, and communities across the country are hosting book fairs featuring Jewish-themed tomes and their authors. Here in the Valley, a few events were held earlier this month.
Also, Mazel Tov Gifts in Scottsdale is offering 10 percent off on book purchases through Nov. 30. Israel Connection, a Jewish gift store in Phoenix, has more than 3,000 Jewish book titles available for patrons, says store owner Terry Epcar.
Following are summaries of several books - most of which may be purchased at local bookstores or Judaica shops - exploring aspects of Judaism and/or written by Jewish authors.
"A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World's Oldest Religion" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (The Free Press, $25 hardcover)
Jews have been persecuted time and time again throughout history. Most notable examples are the destruction of the First and Second Temples; the Spanish Inquisition; the Holocaust; and today in the Middle East. Yet the Jewish people not only have survived but also have remained a thriving community. In his book, Sacks asks, "How has Judaism remained and flourished?"
The book, initially written as a wedding present to his son, answers Sacks' own question, tracing history and delving into the philosophical thinking of the time that kept Jews alive in spirit.
Sacks, who lives in London, has been the chief rabbi of Britain and the Commonwealth since 1991. He is author of 11 previous books, including "The Politics of Hope."
"Bubbe's Kitchen," dishes from the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Vancouver section; foreword by Sara Waxman (Raincoast Books, Vancouver, $19.95 paperback)
If it's nostalgic recipes you're seeking, you don't have to hound your bubbe or mother for culinary secrets. Try making some of the dishes in this cookbook, which offers everything from appetizers to soups and salads; entrees to side dishes; kugels to knishes to blintzes; pickles to jams; and breads to desserts.
The book includes both Ashkenazic and Sephardic recipes. Though many might sound familiar, there are certainly modern twists, too. And not everything is laden with fat and calories as it was back when your bubbe cooked. In addition to recipes for both baked and fried chopped liver, you'll find Mock Chopped Liver with Lentils and Mock Chopped Liver with Beans. Anyone with special dietary needs will surely be able to find recipes from the more than 300 in the book.
"Covenant of the Soul," (Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, New York, N.Y., $12.50 paperback)
Women's spirituality and its influence on Reform Judaism is the focus of this book. Each of its prayers, poems and meditations was written by women and for women. The book was published as a companion volume to the WRJ's first book, "Covenant of the Heart," also a book of Jewish prayers by and for women.
"Covenant of the Soul" includes new Rosh Chodesh sections, a section dealing with death, and holiday blessings. The book is not a prayer book, per se, because it does not contain traditional Reform texts. Rather, it is a resource for women, and an addition to traditional prayer for those in the Reform Movement.
"Does the Soul Survive: A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives and Living with Purpose," by Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz (Jewish Lights Publishing, Woodstock, Vt., $21.95 hardcover)
Spitz, a member of the Conservative Movement's Rabbinical Assembly Committee of Law and Standards, writes about how notions of near-death experiences, past-life regression and reincarnation are found in Jewish tradition. He also reveals personal experiences that helped him become a believer in reincarnation.
"Jew Boy," by Alan Kaufman (Fromm International Publishing Corporation, New York, N.Y., $27 hardcover)
This book about a tormented youth in a dysfunctional family touches on the pain, guilt and confusion of American-born children of Holocaust survivors. Kaufman grew up in Bronx, N.Y., the son of a Jewish woman who had survived the Holocaust but was traumatized by her ordeal. Kaufman struggled throughout his childhood with his Jewish identity and vowed never to become a victim.
After hitchhiking across the United States, he moved to Israel, where he tried kibbutz life and joined the army. His wanderings took him eventually to the streets of New York, where he lived as a homeless alcoholic. He relived his misery by writing poetry.
Kaufman now lives in San Francisco. He is the editor of "The New Generation: Fiction for Our Time From America's Writing Programs" and has written several books of poetry.
"The Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through History," by Larry Domnitch (Jason Aronson Inc., Northvale, N.J., and Jerusalem, $30)
The cyclical nature of Jewish holidays is examined in Domnitch's book, as he outlines each holiday and how the events leading up to its creation affect Jews all over the world.
Domnitch writes, "The events that make up the themes of the Jewish holidays did not occur in a vacuum but have recurred throughout history. The actual Israelite exodus from Egypt, or the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai as celebrated on Shavuot, may not have occurred once, but in a sense, the themes conveyed by those momentous events have been repeated over centuries." The book is intended to give readers an appreciation of the cyclical nature of Jewish historical events and a deeper understanding of Jewish holidays.
Domnitch, an educator and free-lance writer, has taught Judaic studies in high schools and colleges. He recently made aliyah to Israel. He lives in Efrat with his wife and daughter.
The Jewish Phenomenon: The 7 Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People," by Steven Silbiger (Longstreet Press, $24)
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Jewish Book Festivals, this book recognizes the success of Jewish Americans. Silbiger mentions Sen. Joseph Lieberman's nomination as Democratic candidate for U.S. vice-president as a marker to show just how far Jews have come.
"Living with Loss, Healing with Hope: A Jewish Perspective," by Rabbi Earl A. Grollman (Beacon Press, Boston, $18 hardcover)
Everyone living must deal with death from time to time. In this book, Grollman concentrates on grieving, understanding and coping with death and dying. He writes in the introduction: "Death just doesn't happen to the person who dies. It also happens to those left behind. This book is about the anguish of losing a loved one, whether it is a spouse, parent, a sibling, a child, a dear friend. It is also about life, healing, and finding your way through your grief."
The book offers poetic phrases that are meant to heal, from biblical and other sources. Mourners can connect with certain passages and find strength through the words.
Grollman, a bereavement counselor who lives in Belmont, Mass., has been named Hero of the Heartland and was given Yeshiva University's Distinguished Human Service. He has authored other books about death.
"The Wholeness of a Broken Heart," by Katie Singer (Riverhead Books, New York, N.Y., $14 paperback)
Singer probes the complexities of mother-daughter relationships spanning four generations of Jewish women. Each woman in this novel describes her experiences in her own unique, narrative voice.
The focus is the beleaguered relationship between Hannah, a young teacher and writer, and her mother Celia. As Hannah is growing up, she and her mother share a close bond. But when Hannah becomes older, her mother suddenly tells her she can no longer see her, leaving Hannah to struggle with a rejection she does not understand. The book takes readers through Hannah's work to become independent.
Author Singer is also a teacher and performer. She lives in Santa Fe, N.M.
|
