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Wise...
and Not So
Wise
Ten Tales from the
Rabbis
selected and retold
by Phillis Gershator
designed and
illustrated by Alexa Ginsburg
Jewish Publication
Society, 2004
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*Jewish
Book Month Selection, 2004
*National
Jewish
Book
Award
Runner-up
for Jewish Family Literature,
2005
*Paperback
edition, 2009
*
Association of Jewish
Libraries "Love Your Neighbor"
book list, 2018
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| From
the book jacket: |
Fanciful stories of wonder and
magic fill the pages of Phillis
Gershator’s charming collection
of tales derived from talmudic
and midrashic folklore.
Inspired by stories recounted by
her late father-in-law, a rabbi,
Gershator assembles in this
volume 10 of her favorites--the
ones that made her laugh or
touched her with their messages
and miracles. Taking spiritual
and folkloric elements from the
ancient teachings of the sages,
she blends in her own humor,
magic, and wisdom to put a
unique spin on tales that have
endured for generations.
In
talmudic fashion, the stories
teach moral lessons and truths
while sprinkling jokes,
surprises, and happy endings
throughout. Tales of flying
rabbis, miraculous loaves of
bread, wise women, muscle-bound
angels, and goats that carry
bears on their heads will
delight children of all ages.
Alexa
Ginsburg’s lighthearted
illustrations capture the
enchantment of these timeless
legends.
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| A
little about the book: |
My late
father-in-law introduced me to
talmudic tales, one of which I
retold in Honi’s
Circle of Trees, also
published by JPS. I found myself
adapting others, and Bruce Black,
formerly the Children’s Editor at
JPS, suggested I collect them into a
book. So I dedicated it to him, and
to Janet Greenstein Potter, the
incredible editor who reviewed every
word and every idea with me and even
compiled a glossary for the book,
and to David Gershator, my Reader,
Advisor, and Constant Collaborator.
When I saw
the book’s design, I loved
the concept. Alexa’s pages have the
look of a contemporary scroll, with
the exception of one story, “Goats
for Chickens.” That one looks more
like an illuminated manuscript,
decorated, appropriately enough,
with flying chickens and a few loose
feathers!
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| From
the reviews: |
“Gershator retells 10 stories plucked
from the Jewish Talmud and Mishnah,
which, in traditional fashion, open
the way for discussion of behavior,
miracles, and morality. Dialogue
enlivens the often comical stories,
and the format is designed for easy
access, with stylized, monochomatic
art wrapped around well-spaced text.
Some [tales] are fairly
straightforward. Many, however, are
more veiled in meaning. Notes and
questions about the stories that
conclude each telling will steer kids
in the right direction....” Booklist
“An appealing collection of
tales...written in simple yet
efffective language that preserves
their richness and charm without
becoming didactic....Each selection
ends with a commentary designed to
engage readers in the great talmudic
tradition of asking and answering
questions....The pleasingly flat
grayscale illustrations featuring
simple graphic themes have a gentle
quality that complements and frames
the text.” School Library Journal
“Many of Gershator’s questions are
weighty and require reflection: At the
end of ‘Hanina’s Stone,’ for
example, Gershator poses the question,
‘Is it foolish to dream and then work
to make the dream come true, however
impractical that dream may be?’
Following another story, the author
asks, ‘No matter how wise someone may
be, can any one person know what’s
right for everyone else?’” The
Forward
“This delightful collection of stories
adapted from the Talmud and Midrash
blends wisdom with humor....every one
of these stories begs to be read
aloud....the illustrations and
inviting format join with the stories
to comprise one outstanding package!”
Jewish
Book World
"These folktales use the teachings of
ancient rabbinic sages to answer
questions and teach moral lessons,
using humor, wonder, and magic."
AJL “People of the Books”
Blog:
https://jewishlibraries.org/blog/id/
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