The Charlotte Jewish News - November 1998 - Page 19
Speizman Jewish Library
Books in Review
Sefer Ha-Aggadah: The Book of
Legends for Young Readers.
Seymour Rossel. Illustrated by
. Judy Dick. UAHC Press. 838 Fifth
Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
P{^)erback. 67 pp. $15. Ages: 8-12
Sefer Ha-Aggadah: The Book of
Legends for Young Readers.
Volume 2: Tales of the Sages.
Seymour Rossel. Dlustrated by
Judy Dick. UAHC Press. 838 Fifth
Avenue. New York, NY 10021.
Paperback. 84 pp. $14. Ages: 8-12
Who Knows Ten? Children's
Tales of the Ten Conunandments.
Molly Cone. Illustrated by Robin
Brickman. UAHC Press. 838 Fifth
Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
Paperback (Revised Edition). 103
pp. $12.
Reviewed by Rita Mond
With Chanukah fast approach
ing, gift giving for the children
can become quite a hassle. There
is nothing better to give than a
good book. The UAHC Press has
produced three excellent ones.
Seymour Rossel, the publisher of
the UAHC Press and ^e author of
more than twenty-six books for
Jewish and public schools, trans
lated the first Sefer Ha-Aggadah
from the classic Hebrew and pub
lished it in 1996. He published
Vol. 2 in June, 1998. The illustra
tions in both books are stunning,
having been produced by Judy
Dick, a graduate of Yeshiva
University. She has coordinated
art and Jewish studies while work
ing on projects in the United
States, Israel and the former
Soviet Union.
Both books deal with the leg
ends that our sages used to create
a world of lessons and values.
Each ch£q>ter is a recreation of a
world of Jewish magic, entertain
ment, excitement and wisdom.
Sefer Ha-Aggadah I has twelve
legends:. Among them are “A
Time to Pray,” “A Time to Act,”
“Deborah, Woman of Light,”
“King David Studies Torah,” and
“Solomon and the Snake.” The
first chapter, “Light and Fire” pre
sents the story of Adam and Eve in
an £^>pealing manner for young
people to understand the biblical
creation.
5e/er Ha-Aggadah II deals with
the deeds of the Sages. It is
arranged almost chronologically,
but here and there, the stcmes were
rearranged to bring a unity of
theme or character to a particular
chapter. At the end of the book
there is a listing of the sages as
they appear in the book along with
the dates of their existence. There
is a beautifully written ch£^ter on
“Rachel “ and a delightftil chapter
entitled “The Loving Couple”
about a wealthy fisherman and his
bride.
I found that though these books
are written for children, adults
would enjoy reading them as well.
Who Knows Ten? is written by
master storyteller and award-win-
ning author of children’s books,
Molly Cone, who is a favorite of
parents and children. Her stories
on the Ten Commandments illus
trate the deep and hidden meaning
behind them. Each chapter of this
well illustrated book begins with a
commandment and a tale simply
written but elegant in content. It
gives the young reader a fresh
meaning of the Ten Command
ments. They learn about life, how
to live it well and what is good.
In a way, this book is like a puz
zle book. It gives die reader an
opportunity to fmd by oneself the
many meanings inside each com
mandment Each chapter tells a
story and each*story gives a truth.
Each truth contains something
additional for the young reader to
think about. Many of the ideas are
the very issues that people world
wide tsik about today.
The illustrations by paper sculp
tor and painter Robin Brickman
are beautifully done in soft pastel
colors. They alone are a “selling
factor” for the book. Ms.
Brickman is the recipient of a
1997 Gold Award for A Log’s Ufe,
an award that is given at the 3-D
Art Directors and Illustrators
Awards Show. *
MOLLY CONE
WHO KNOWS TEN?
Children’s Tales of
the Ten Commandments
Illustrated by Robtn Brickman
Speizman Jewish Library Hours
Sunday: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Monday & Thursday: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
T\iesday: 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 7H>0 PM to 9:00 PM
¥ r () in the Librarian’s Desk
Hy \iii(ili(i \\(ii sill nhrni. Lihiui iaii, SjU Kiinui Jcn isli l.ihrary
Volunteer of the Month
By Amalia Warshenbrot
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS
Each issue this column features
a volunteer from one or more of
the many groups, agencies or
organizations that add to the qual
ity of life of the Charlotte Jewish
community. This month’s article,
honoring the volunteers at the
Speizman Jewish Library, is by
Amalia Warshenbrot, Librarian of
the Speizman Jewish Library.
When Linda Levy, who writes
monthly about the community
volunteers, asked me to do an arti
cle about the Speizman Jewish
Library volunteers, many thoughts
ran through my mind. It is espe
cially appropriate to honor the
library volunteers during Jewish
Book Month (November 13 -
December 13). Volunteers serve as
a most valuable resource for the
library and become my personal
friends. Their numerous acts of
kindness are heart- warming. I can
still remember the cakes that Ethel
Rudman, who passed away sever
al years ago, used to bring me.
These wonderful volunteers send
me birthday cards and get well
wishes as well as extend other
thoughtful gestures.
These volunteers are my friends
and friends to the library ^so, pro
viding assistance at all levels. For
example, when Helene Howard*
typed up a request for donations to
the library, she was the first to
send one! Library volunteers are
true workers, and their activities
carry over to other related areas.
Mae Goldman and Ruth
Richardson, who type cards and
letters, also help with the Book
and Author Lecture event. They
sell tickets, arrange the desserts
and promote the program to their
many friends.
Pauline Kassier volunteers once
a week, helping with typing and
even personally purchases office
supplies for the office and Band-
Aids for me! Having Pauline on a
regular basis helps keep me on tar
get. Pauline replaces Helene
Howard, who moved to Florida.
Helene, I miss you. You efficient
ly helped handle library corre
spondence, accomplishing more
in one hour than one would think
possible.
Volunteers don’t get paid. They
are willing to volunteer time as
needed. Most of the volunteers are
senior citizens, who don’t hold
paying jobs and don’t have chil
dren at home, so they are available
on short notice. They often visit
their families, who live out of
town, but there is always at least
one volunteer who seems to be
waiting for my call and is h^py to
help on the spot.
This past sununer two sisters,
aged 12 and 14, helped wrap and
insert pockets into books. Thank
you Jackie and Rachel Avise. I
hope to see you again!
Another group of volunteers
serves on the newly formed
library conunittee: Roz Cooper
(Chairperson), Ruth Goldberg
(Federation), Barney Weinstock
(Temple Israel), Linda
MacDonald (Temple Beth El),
Karen Knoble (Charlotte Jewish
Preschool), Sue Littauer
(Consolidated High School of
Jewish Studies), Andrea Kirsch
(CRT), Debby Rosenberger
(Hadassah), Maddie Joffe (Jewish
Women International) and Jodie
Speizman.
If we had to hire paid employ
ees to do the work of the volun
teers, the library would not have
sufficient money to purchase
books. All these volunteers —
these friends - PRICELESS!
Thank you for your dedication and
hard work. ^
LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
(Especially on Monday and Thursday mornings)
Call Amalia Warshenbrot at 366-5007, ext. 258
Temple Israel Book Club
American Pastoral
By Philip Roth
Monday, Nov. 9,
7:45 PM
When thinking of Riilip Roth,
many readers call to mind
Goodbye, Columbus or Portnoy’s
Complaint. However, this prolific,
often controversial author has
written a number of other praise
worthy books. His latest novel,
American Pastoral, is particularly
fitting at the close of the nineties,
especially for those of us who
remember the turbulent 60’s. The
protagonist - a Jewish industrialist
and former football - star appears
to have it all ... beautiful wife,
wealth, spirited daughter and com
munity admiration. However, it all
slips away and the longed for
American pastoral becomes the
“American berserk.”
This Pulitzer Prize winning
novel is challenging reading.
Fortunately, the November 9 book
club discussion will be led by Dr.
Jay Jacoby, UNCC professor of
literature, who draws out from the
participants their best literary
analysis skills, making for an
exhilarating evening.
American Pastoral is available
at local book stores for $ 14 or may
be borrowed from the Public or
Speizman Jewish libraries. Read
this “dazzling, wrenching, com
passionate, intelligent novel” and
attend the November 9 book club
meeting for an enhanced under
standing.
Temple Israel’s book club meet
ings are open to all members of
the Jewish community. “Drop ins”
are invited. Even if you don’t read
the book prior to the November
9th meeting, come anyway f(w a
stimulating discussion.
For additional information call
Linda Levy (h) 366-6362/(w) 598-
7657 or Micki Schifman (364-
0041). «
We acknowledge with gratitude the
following donations to the Speizman
Jewish Library
THE CHERYL KATZ MEMO
RIAL LIBRARY FUND
In loving memory of Mary Jacobs
fnnn Ellen Levy.
In loving memory of the mother
of Ms. Joan G^on from Ellie
and Ron Katz.
Best wishes on the anniversary of
Beverly and Arthur Tirsun
from Sylvia and Jack Palis.
THE SPEIZMAN LIBRARY
FUND
Special wishes on tlie biithday o£
Bessie Goldberg from Ruth and
Bernard Eisenberg.
BECKY SHULIMSON
MEMORLUL CmLDREN*S
LIBRARY FUND
In memory of Harokl Josephsoa,
Philip Rosen, the father of
Lorrie Klemoos and the mother
of Natalie Cohen from Peggy
and Elliot Gartner.
Thank you to the followTiig for all
their help in the Maccabi
games: Susan-Jacobs. EU«n
Goldstein, Hushie Silverstein,
Thelma Wertzberger, Micki
Schifman, Judy Miller, Marcy
Mehlman, Cindy McManus,
Randy Sperling, Laura Reich.
In memory of Lorrie Klennons’
father fjrom Sue and Mike
Littauer, and Cherie and Marc
TMebaora
Speedy Recovery to Frank Rosen
from Maddie Joffie and Larry
Gerber.