Top Seven Spooky Jewish Stories

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If you have ever been a teacher in a Jewish after-school program, then you know that one of the most dreaded days in the calendar is October 31st. If the kids are present, they are distracted and fidgety and not really interested in learning Hebrew and they are probably getting dismissed early. 

Why fight the tide? Obviously, synagogues are not going to put themselves on the trick or treat route, but why not capitalize on the the interests of the children by looking to our long tradition of truly spooky stories. Here are my recommendations for spine tingling and scary Jewish stories of magic and mystery to keep your students or kids interested in something Jewish while they are distracted by the promise of more sugar than they can eat in a year. 

1. The Demons' Mistake, A Story from Chelm 

by Francine Prose and Pictures by Mark Podwal

2. Hayyim's Ghost
Retold by Eric A. Kimmel and Illustrated by Ari Binus


3.Golem
Story and Pictures by David Wisniewski



4. Built by Anglels, The Story of the Old-New Synagogue
by Mark Podwal


5. Clay Man, The Golem of Prague
A Retelling by Irene N. Watts, Illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker



6. Invisible Kingdoms, 
Jewish Tales of Angels, Spirits and Demons 
Retold by Howard Schwartz, Illustrated by Stephen Fieser



7. A Time of Angels 
by Karen Hesse




These are my top seven, but you can find more spooky Jewish books for kids in the Spooky Jewish Stories section of the Jewish Kids Book Circle store on Amazon.com.

Hope you enjoyed the list. I had fun putting it together. 

Jennifer

Four Tales of the Old Country for the High Holy Days - Jewish Immigration Experience

My children are older than picture book age, but is anyone really too old for a well done picture book? Or, maybe it's just me, because I love books of every genre, that I can still sit on the sofa and read a children's book...alone...without a child. Do any other grownups out there do this? Do you?

Last week's book, Avram's Gift, showcased several values, including respecting elders and honoring our ancestors and their countries of origin. When we remember our Jewish ancestors and the traditions they celebrated, we are insuring that their memory will be preserved for our descendents. Who knew reading a picture book could be so powerful?

Yussel's Prayer: A Yom Kippur Story  

Yussel's Prayer, a Yom Kippur Story retold by Barbara Cohen (1932-1992) and illustrated by Michael J. Deraney is a powerful book. Because young Yussel was poor and could not read, he had to lead the cows to pasture instead of participating in the Yom Kippur service. In the spiritual conclusion, Yussel finds a way to send his own prayers to God. The story teaches us that it is not necessary to be fluent in the words of prayer to send a message to God.

The location and illustrations in Yussel's Prayer are what give this book an immigrant connection. Deraney's sepia sketches portray life in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century in a Jewish village in what was then the area of western Russia. An attentive reader will be able to note the hardships Yussel faced and imagine why he might have wanted to emigrate. Reading stories about life in the old country helps modern kids to better understand what drove their ancestors to America.

When the Chickens Went on Strike

Another book showcasing Russian Jewish village life in the old country is When the Chickens Went on Strike, a Rosh Hashanah Tale, written by Erica Silverman, Matthew Trueman. This tongue in cheek book gently finding humor in the old custom of Kapores, begins "Customs come and customs go. I learned this from chickens." Set during the High Holy Days, a young boy working to change his behavior has trouble getting anyone to believe his tale of runaway chickens. We follow his story as he figures out what he really needs to be a better person. The time and place is supported by a sprinkling of Jewish and Russian words; the rooster says koo-koo-ree-koo and Mr. Fishel is Reb Fishel, the interesting professions, including feather plucker, and the way the villagers look to the Rabbi (and his wife) for advice.

The Magic of Kol Nidre, a Yom Kippur Story

The third book, The Magic of Kol Nidre, a Yom Kippur Story written by Bruce H. Siegel and illustrated by Shelly O. Haas. When does the magic of Kol Nidre happen? What is the magic? Without giving it away, it is there on that special night each year, when people all over the world enter synagogues and listen to the sad and haunting singing. Why is Kol Nidre sung three times? According to the narrator, it is sung once for our ancestors, once for us and once for our descendents. In order to interest students in their ancestry and in where their ancestors come from, they need to understand their place and their importance to those who came before them and those yet to come.

The Secret Shofar of Barcelona

The three previous books are all unfortunately out of print. Still in print is a newer book, The Secret Shofar of Barcelona written by Jacqueline Dembar Greene and illustrated by Doug Chayka. Rafael the son of a Jewish family hiding their religion in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, hopes to sound the shofar during a musical performance. Most picture books depicting life in the old country portray Russian shtetls. This book is a nice departure and a good catalyst for discussion about our ancestors' many different places of origin.

May you be lucky enough to hear the Kol Nidre prayers this evening. Time for me to start cooking!

B'Shalom


Jennifer
Jewish Kids Book Maven

Jewish Immigrant Experience - Avram's Gift

While teaching at our local Hebrew school, I facilitated a curriculum on Jewish immigration with the third grade students in my classes. Part of this program incorporated reading both fiction and nonfiction books relating to the Jewish immigrant experience. The books we used gave the students a general understanding of some of the challenges their ancestors may have faced and stirred their interest in discovering more about their own Jewish immigrant ancestors. My goal was for each of my students to be able to answer these questions; "How did I, a Jewish American, arrive here, living in this place and time? Who helped to make it possible for me to be here?"

If the school year began right before Rosh Hashanah, the first book we shared was Avram's Gift written by Margie Blumberg and illustrated by Laurie McGaw. The story travels in time from the present day of a boy named Mark back to the childhood of his grandfather Morris in Russia. The catalyst is an old picture of a man dressed in strange clothes. Mark is actually afraid of it, until he learns the story behind the picture. 

The joyous present day High Holy Day celebrations Mark enjoys with his family are contrasted with the difficulties experienced by his grandfather's family in Russia. The tearful parting at the train station in Russia and the triumphant shofar sounding at the story's conclusion, emotionally portray the strength of the Jewish people despite adversity. 

Avram's Gift is best for children, seven to ten years of age, but it touched me (yes, I cry every time) even as an adult. This book connects personally with our family because one of our cousins, the rabbi in the family, sounds our immigrant Zayde's shofar each year. We also have pictures that my own children might have at one time considered scary, including this one:

Avram's Gift is among the books I am saving for each of my children, who will hopefully share them with their own children one day.

Wishing you a happy and sweet New Year!

Jennifer

Jewish Kids Books Circle Maven 

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Recommended by the Jewish Kids Books Circle Maven: 

1 October 2011 Article in the Canadian Jewish News about Avram's Gift

The PJ Library offers free Jewish children's literature and music : http://www.pjlibrary.org/About-pj-library.aspx

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