BS"D Eight Chanukah Tales By Nissan Mindel Illustrated by Eli Toron and Shmuel Graybar Published and Copyrighted by Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch ISBN: 978-0-8266-0039-5 / 5.5" X 8.5" Hardcover / 78 pages / $10.95 Publication Date: November 2007
Reviewed by Debbie Shapiro This collection of eight inspiring Chanukah stories takes us on a journey in time and space, from Spain under the Spanish inquisition to a small village in Hungary under the Nazi occupation; from the Gestapo headquarters in Brussels, Belgium to a palace overlooking the Guadalquivir River; from Crohnheim, Germany during the time of the crusades, to Jerusalem during the time of Judah the Maccabee; from an American Army camp in Germany toward the end of World War II to an American Jewish home at the end of the twentieth century. Each of the eight stories in this delightful volume celebrates a victory of the spirit. On each page we encounter individuals who exemplify the ideals for which the Maccabees so bravely fought. I was awed by the sheer guts of Reb Shmelke, the beloved rabbi of Zavolov, who entertains a group of Nazi soldiers to save his community from certain death. I was inspired by the aristocratic widow, Donna Rachela del Modiglia, who, spurned by Queen Isabelle, succeeds in bringing her family to safety under the very nose the chief inquisitor, Thomas de Torquemada and his fanatical monks. Eight Chanukah Tales is packed with adventure. Will Fernandez the monk turn his back on everything he was taught to save his sister from being burned at the stake? Will Red Jonathan, the apostate, succeed with his nefarious plan? I met brave young girls, such as quiet and reserved Fay who saves the Belgian underground and three young Jewish children from the Gestapo; and little Miriam who unites her family with her desire to light the Chanukah menorah. The story of Chanukah came to life as I read about Obadia's father, who spurned the Hellenists to join the Maccabees. Just as the Jews of old cleaned the Holy Temple in Jerusalem of pagan idols, the soldiers of the Ninth platoon clean a Jewish synagogue in Germany that the Nazis had turned into a stable. The late Nissan Mindel, editor of Talks and Tales for forty eight years, authored dozens of books, many which have become modern-day classics. The stories in Eight Chanukah Tales are being published for the first time in illustrated book form. Eight Chanukah Tales is sure to become an all-time favorite and is the perfect Chanukah gift to give to the young and to the young at heart. Eight Chanukah Tales can be purchased online at www.kehot.com or at your local Jewish book store. Ordering Information: Toll-Free: 1-877-4MERKOS / Fax 718-778-4148 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] / Web: www.kehot.com Also Available Through Baker & Taylor -- Yonason Gordon PR/Marketing Kehot Publication Society 718-778-0226 718-778-4148 Fax www.kehot.com Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
