Featured Reviews
You must be hungry. Won’t you have a little something? Welcoming Guests/Hachnasat Orchim
11/27/11
According to tradition, it was Abraham Aveinu, Our Father Abraham, who started the mitzvah of Welcoming Guests/Hachnasat Orchim when he arose from the spot where he was resting following his circumcision and greeted Adonai and two angels offering to “fetch a morsel of bread” that they might refresh themselves (Genesis 18: 1-5). With that simple statement, he sets in motion the production of a feast that any Jewish mother would be proud of. He orders Sarah to prepare a mountain of bread and cakes, while he slaughters a choice calf and prepares curds and milk – in other words, he makes enough food for an army. Digging deeper, however, a lovely piece of midrash reveals:
“All the days in which Sarah lived, the doors of the entrance [to her tent] were open to the wind (ruah)…. And all the days in which Sarah lived, there was a blessing sent through the dough [with which she baked]…. All the days in which Sarah lived, there was a light burning from one Shabbat evening to the next Shabbat evening….” (Genesis Rabbah 80:16 on Genesis 24:67).
So it seems that Adonai and the angels may not have been the first visitors to the tent of Abraham and Sarah, certainly they were not the last. The midrash continues that when Isaac took Rebekkah as his wife, these same mystical rituals continued.
Welcoming Guests/Hachnasat Orchim is a wonderful mitzvah that allows us to meet new people and share our traditions with others. This time of year, with Hanukkah beginning on the evening of December 20, provides a perfect opportunity to practice this mitzvah with family, friends and neighbors.
The following books are wonderful examples of this delightful mitzvah:
Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives. Written by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard, ©2004. Harcourt, Inc. Ages 3-6. In five short, simple chapters, Bubbaville becomes abuzz with the imminent arrival of the relatives. The house must be rearranged. All the best dishes must be cooked. There is no escape, even when Bubba and Beau try to hide in their favorite mud hole. What are a baby and her buddy dog supposed to do?
The Snow Blew Inn. Written by Dian Curtis Regan. Illustrated by Doug Cushman, ©2011. Holiday House. Ages 3-6. Emma has made plans to have a sleep over with her cousin, Abby. But a snow storm arrives before Abby, bringing with it stranded travelers who need a place to stay for the night. Every space in the tiny inn is taken – even Emma’s bedroom! Will there be room for Abby and her mother if they arrive?
The Paper Crane. Written and Illustrated By Molly Bang, ©1985. William Morrow & Company. Ages 5-8. A hectic, award winning restaurant sat on a busy road, until one day a new highway was built that bypassed the restaurant. No one came anymore, and the restaurant was empty most of the time. One day an old man stopped in for food. The restaurant owner, delighted to see a customer at last, fed him generously, even though the stranger had no money. In payment, the old man folded a paper napkin into the shape of a crane. With this simple gift, the restaurant’s future changed.
A Song for Lena. Written by Hilary Horder Hippely. Illustrated by Leslie Baker, ©1996. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Ages 5-8. Lena’s Grandma makes delicious apple strudel. While she makes it, she hums a beautiful song to remind her of her childhood. As Lena helps her make the strudel, Grandma tells her the story of a traveler, of hospitality and of a special unexpected gift.
The Stranger. Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Company, © 1986 Ages 7-10. In late summer, early fall, Farmer Bailey accidently hits a man with his truck. The man is unable to speak and does not know who he is. He stays with the family for a few weeks until he suddenly remembers who he is.
Skellig. By David Almond. Laurel Leaf Books, © 1998. Ages 9-12. When Michael moves into a new house in a new neighborhood he hopes that life for him and his family will change for the better, his ailing baby sister will get well and he will do better in school. Nothing like that happens, until he finds a strange person/creature/thing in his dilapidated garage.
The Arrival. Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan. Arthur A. Levine Books, © 2006. Ages 11-15. In this graphic novel, a man must leave his wife and young daughter to emigrate to a new country, find a job and start a new life before sending for them..
I try to keep the “walls of my tent” open as much as possible. Whether serving my family of four or a house full of guests, I take joy in each moment. Each individual has a story to tell, an experience to share and all together my life has been made richer by each encounter. As you read these books, discuss them with your children using the “Speak Volumes” guide, the questions and activities will provide you with many opportunities to welcome guests during this special holiday-filled month.
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
©2010 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved.
Books used in this review were provided by publishers as review copies and my local public library .
I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click on a book title referred to on my web site and purchase it from Amazon,
I may receive a very small commission on your purchase.
You will incur no additional cost, however.
I appreciate your support.
“Not Just for Sunday School: Jewish Books for Kids”: A Panel Discussion
11/08/11
I am honored and thrilled to have been invited by Sarah Aronson, author of Beyond Lucky, 
to moderate a panel of Jewish writers on November 17 at the Wellesley Free Library. We will be joined by Liz Suneby, 
author of The Mitzvah Project, Jane Kohuth, author of Estie the Mensch, and Susan Meyer, author of Black Radishes, for a program entitled “Not Just for Sunday School: Jewish Books for Kids.” This exciting event is sponsored by Wellesley Books, my local Independent Book Store in support of National Jewish Book Month which runs from November 21- December 21, 2011.
If you are anywhere near Wellesley, please plan to join us on Thursday evening, November 17 at 
7:00 PM at the Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482. See you there!
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
©2011 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved.
“Did you ask a good question today?”*: Arriving Early For Study/Hashkamat beit hamidrash
10/31/11
*from a story about Isador Rabi, Nobel Laureate
The importance of education and learning, the third value outlined in the Eilu D’varim prayer – Arriving Early for Study/Hashkamat beit hamidrash - is one of the hallmarks of the Jewish people. Perhaps because our history has included so many exoduses, expulsions, exiles and the like, we decided long ago that keeping our most valuable possessions – our ideals, ideas and values – in our heads would be the best way to transport them from one place to the next with minimal loss.
However, It is not enough to simply memorize the ideas and facts we are given, we must embrace and understand the reasons behind the information we are given. Engaging in our education is held in equally high regard as the learning experience itself. We do this through questioning, an essential, if not fundamental, part of the Jewish learning experience. To ask is the bedrock of Jewish life.
The following books embrace education and encourage us to ask some wonderful questions:
Wow! School! Written and illustrated by Robert Neubecker, ©2007. Hyperion Books for Children. Ages 3-6. Explore school with Izzy as she experiences the wonder and delight of a day in the classroom. From learning the alphabet to singing to making new friends to story time, school is a fun filled and exciting time. The bold, bright, colorful pictures practically shout for you to have a good time.
Sammy Spider’s First Day of School. Written by Sylvia A. Rouss. Illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn, ©2009. Kar-Ben Publishing. Ages 3-6. Sammy Spider goes to school with Josh, listens to the story of Noah’s ark and escapes being hurt when the children learn about being kind to animals.
Wolf! By Becky Bloom. Illustrated by Pascal Biet, ©1999. Orchard Books. Ages 4-8. Wolf is tired and hungry, but is totally ignored by the farm animals engaged in reading their books. In order to be taken seriously, he must get an education, which he does, with surprising results.
The Art Lesson. Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, ©1989. G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Ages 4-8. Tommy plans to be an artist when he grows up, but how will that happen if he only gets one piece of paper during art class, cannot use his own box of 64 Crayola crayons and has to copy the pictures the art teacher draws?
The Royal Bee by Frances Park and Ginger Park. Illustrated by Christopher Zhong-Yuan Zhang, ©2000. Boyds Mill Press. Ages 6-9. Song-ho is a poor boy who desperately wants to learn to read and write, a privilege only given to the wealthy. However, he finds a way to listen to the lessons taught outside the schoolroom doors and eventually learns enough to change his circumstances.
Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco, ©1996. Philomel Books. Ages 7-10. ”There will be consequences,” says Aunt Chip as she takes to her bed when the TV Tower goes up and the entire town sits glued to their televisions morning, noon and night. And consequences there were…
Freedom School, Yes! by Amy Littlesugar. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper, ©2001. Philomel Books. Ages 7-11. In a place where school is not available and where making it available is met with anger and violence, a group of young people find the courage to teach and students find the courage to learn. This was Mississippi in 1964.
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill, © 2000. Aladdin Paperbacks. Ages 9-12. After losing another of many teachers because the village is too cold, the children smell of fish or the parents put hunting over learning, Miss Agness comes to the one-room schoolhouse in Alaska. How long will she stay?
The Report Card by Andrew Clements, © 2005. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Ages 10-13. A middle school genius is discovered when she carefully fails several classes in an effort to demonstrate that test scores and grades do not necessarily reflect intelligence.
The Secret School by Avi, © 2001. Sandpiper. Ages 10-14. When their teacher leaves before the end of the year, the School Board decides to close down the one-room school to save money. But where does that leave the students who must take end-of-year tests in order to move on to the next grade.
As you read these books, discuss them with your children using the “Speak Volumes” guide for this month. You may be surprised to learn that you are practicing the value of Arriving Early for Study/Hashkamat beit hamidrash. Think of the many times you practice this value every day as you answer questions, teach new skills and ask or learn about new things yourself.
Happy Reading,
Kathy B.
©2011 Kathleen M. Bloomfield and forwordsbooks.com all rights reserved.
Books used in this review came from my own collection or my local public library.
I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click on a book title referred to on my web site and purchase it from Amazon,
I may receive a very small commission on your purchase.
You will incur no additional cost, however.
I appreciate your support.
