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July 2006 – December 2006

Adult (click here for Juvenile books)

Holy Unexpected : My New Life As a Jew / Chotzinoff, Robin

Raised a born-again agnostic, Robin Chotzinoff had no interest in religion—and practically no experience in it— until she turned forty. When she suddenly discovered a belief in God, she had no idea what to do next.

In Holy Unexpected she describes her journey from a privileged New York childhood through years of unhappiness, drugs, and drift. She investigates what she believed in before she believed in God (the healing power of junk food, music, psychopharmacology), and how a happy marriage impelled her toward a higher power.

Creating an ethical Jewish life : a practical introduction to classic

Introduces the genre of Jewish ethical literature, with excerpts from classics such as The Path of the Upright and Duties of the Heart, showing what it means to be truly Jewish in one's work life, relationships, parenting, play, relationship with God, health, and everything in between.

Code of Jewish Ethics : You Shall Be Holy / Telushkin, Joseph

The first volume in a three-part guide to the role of ethics in Judaism focuses on the crucial importance of personal integrity--and such corollaries as humility, fair speech, gratitude, repentance, forgiveness, truth, and others--using examples from the Torah, rabbinic commentaries, and modern-day stories to illustrate the influence of ethic on everyday life.

Inviting God in : Celebrating the Soul-Meaning of the Jewish Holy Days / Aaron, David

There are many books that explain how to celebrate the holidays; Inviting God In shows us why we should celebrate. Using biblical references, anecdotes, and teaching tales, Rabbi David Aaron takes us through the Jewish liturgical year and explains how each major holiday--from the most joyous to the most somber--reveals God's ever present love for us.

What does being Jewish mean? : read-aloud responses to questions Jewish

Answers questions commonly asked about the daily practices and beliefs of Judaism.

A family Haggadah II / Shoshana Silberman

The seder service with English and Hebrew texts and prayers, and gender-sensitive translations, is provided on the right-hand pages. Commentaries and discussion questions are on the left-hand pages.

Changing Face of Antisemitism : From Ancient Times to the Present Day / Laqueur, Walter

Provides an illuminating study of the growing anti-Semitism sweeping the world, offering a comprehensive history of the phenomenon and analyzing the origins, rationale, manifestations, and implications of the current growth of anti-Semitism.

Jewish weddings : a beautiful guide to creating the wedding of your dreams...

Provides guidance for couples planning a wedding, discussing traditional Jewish customs and rituals, including rings, invitations, music, the wedding canopy, menus, and the order of the wedding ceremony.

Adventures of Rabbi Harvey : A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom And Wit in the Wild West / Sheinkin, Steve

Jewish and American folklore are combined in this witty and original collection of comic Jewish folktales creatively retold and set on the western frontier of the 1870s. Presented in a full-color graphic novel format, these are the legends of Harvey- part Wild West sheriff, part old world rabbi.

Kosher for everybody : the complete guide to understanding, shopping

The first comprehensive guide to Kosher cuisine for both Jews and non-Jews covers the history of the tradition, the importance of certifying symbols, the logic behind choosing and preparing meats, poultry, wine, and spirits, advice on ordering kosher products through the mail, and much more. 

Juvenile

Creation / Gerald McDermott

A modern retelling of the biblical story shares the details of how light, water, earth, and living creatures came to be.

Clap and count! Action rhymes for the Jewish year / written and slected by Jacqueline Jules

Clapping, counting and musical rhymes and fingerplays introduce Shabbat and Jewish holidays to preschoolers in a participatory way.

Sharing blessings : children's stories for exploring the spirit of the spirit of the Jewish holidays / by Rahel Musleah

Explores the spiritual meaning of each of thirteen Jewish holidays and suggests ways to make these feasts an important part of everyday life.

More than matzah : a Passover feast of fun, facts, and activities / story by Debbie Herman

Tells children the story of how Moses was raised in Egypt by the pharaoh's daughter but retained his identity as an Israelite, grew up to become the leader of his people, and eventually led the Israelites toward the Promised Land. This book suggests Passover projects and activities for children, including a Seder-clock decoration

Miracle of Hanukkah / Chwast, Seymour

Describes the history behind the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, explaining that it began after the Temple of Jerusalem was reclaimed and restored to its former glory by the Jews after being desecrated by Antiochus IV.

Holidays Around the World : Celebrate Hannukah \ Heiligman, Deborah

The vivid photography of National Geographic illustrates the joyous celebrations of Jewish people around the world-including Ghana, Uganda, India, Israel, Peru, the United States and Poland, as they light menorahs, spin dreidels, and make latkes.

Hanukkah : Jewish Festival of Lights / Sievert, Terri

A brief description of what Hanukkah is, how it started, and ways people celebrate this cultural holiday.

Tell me a mitzvah : little and big ways to repair the world / Danny Siegel

Recounts the mitzvahs, or good deeds, of a dozen men and women and suggests ways young people can help others.

Terrible, terrible! : a folktale retold / Robin Bernstein

In this contemporary retelling of the classic Jewish folktale, a rabbi advises a blended family how to deal with their overcrowded house.

Hayyim's ghost / retold by Eric A. Kimmel

When Bayla Esther's husband suddenly dies, she doesn't want to pay for his funeral, so she trades his clothes for that of Hayyim the town drunk, but when Hayyim awakes to find himself in burial shrouds, he thinks he has died and gone to heaven

Shlemazel And the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost / Stampler, Ann Redisch

A retelling of an Eastern European tale in which Shlemazel, the laziest man in town, is tricked into believing that the lucky spoon given to him by a neighbor will bring him fortune and fame, if it is used in the right way.

The kids’ catalog of animals and the earth / by Chaya Burstein

Two Jewish children and the Earth discuss the history of the relationship of Jews to the environment, the creation story in the Bible, and how to respect the Earth and all living things.

Jewish Holiday Origami / Stern, Joel

Clearly detailed diagrams and captions explain all the steps for an entire year's worth of holiday projects — from Chanukah dreidels and a menorah with candles, to Passover pyramids and an image of the Red Sea parting.

The atlas of great Jewish communities : a voyage through history / Sondra Leiman

Uses narrative, maps, pictures, personal tales, and primary texts to explore Jewish history, from Jerusalem in the first century to modern-day Israel.

Myriam Mendilow : mother of Jerusalem : do not forsake me when I grow old /...

Relates the story of Myriam Mendilow, who started a number of programs designed to help the elderly citizens of Jerusalem.

Dreamer from the village : the story of Marc Chagall / by Michelle Markel

Chronicles the life of Marc Chagall, a celebrated twentieth-century artist who was born in Russia.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas : A Fable / Boyne, John

Bored and lonely after his family moves from Berlin to a place called "Out-With" in 1942, Bruno, the son of a Nazi officer, befriends a boy in striped pajamas who lives behind a wire fence.

Eight wild nights : a family Hanukkah / by Brian Cleary

A large family celebrates Hanukkah by cleaning the house, entertaining guests, and preparing delicious food.

The seventh day / Deborah Bodin Cohen

Like a potter, a painter, and a musician, God creates the earth and what dwells there, then celebrates having finished his work by sharing a cup of grape juice with the boy and girl he made in his image and resting on the first Shabbat.

Lilith's ark : teenage tales of biblical women / Deborah Bodin Cohen

A collection of midrashim about the teen years of ten women in Genesis melds text, biblical commentaries, and historic details about the ancient world with the experiences of modern women and the author's own imagination.

The little room / by Chaim Desnick

An unused room in the back of a grocery store is very proud to serve Passover foods from her newly cleaned shelves.

Julia's Kitchen / Ferber, Brenda A.

After losing her mother and sister to a devastating fire and completing the mourning period of a Jewish shiva, Cara Segal comes to realize that everything in her life has changed, yet determined to regain some normalcy in the family she has left, Cara decides to reopen Julia's Kitchen--her mother's catering business--in the hopes of reconnecting with the life she once had.

Immigrant girl : Becky of Eldridge Street / by Brett Harvey

Becky, whose family has emigrated from Russia to avoid being persecuted as Jews, finds growing up in New York City in 1910 a vivid and exciting experience.

The Ziz and the Hanukkah miracle / by Jacqueline Jules

The Ziz, a huge and clumsy bird, helps the Macabees find enough oil to light the menorah and restore the temple, leading to the miracle that is celebrated every year at Hanukkah.

Noah and the Ziz / Jacqueline Jules

The Ziz, a huge and clumsy but well-meaning bird, tries to help Noah gather all the animals together before the flood, but his strength, size, and enthusiasm create some problems.

Hanukkah at Valley Forge / Krensky, Stephen

During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington finds an unexpected source of inspiration when a soldier, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, tells the miraculous story of how a ragtag army of Jewish soldiers defeated the Greeks.

The mouse in the matzah factory / by Francine Medoff

A mouse observes wheat being harvested, ground into flour, mixed into dough, and baked into matzah.

Passover is here! / by Bobby Pearlman

A young boy participates in the Passover tradition of asking the four questions during the Seder, as a family remembers its heritage. Lift the flaps to discover why certain foods are eaten and why certain questions are asked during this holiday.

Ghosts and golems : haunting tales of the supernatural / compiled by Malka Penn

A collection of ten original contemporary stories of the supernatural which reflect a Jewish tradition that can be traced to the biblical story of Saul and the spirit of Samuel.

Dinosaur on Passover / by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

An enthusiastic dinosaur comes to a young boy’s house to join him in celebrating Passover.

Dinosaur on Hanukkah / by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

A dinosaur comes to a young boy’s house to join him in celebrating Hanukkah.

Dinosaur on Shabbat / by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

An excited dinosaur comes to a young boy’s house to join him in celebrating Shabbat.

Best friends / Elisabeth Reuter

Judith and Lisa's friendship is broken up by Hitler's determination to single out the Jews for destruction.

Grandma Like Yours / Rosenbaum, Andria Warmflash

Two rhyming stories of wonderful Jewish grandmothers and grandfathers.

No rules for Michael / Sylvia Rouss

While studying the Ten Commandments Michael says he would rather there were no rules, but when his teacher gives him a day without rules, Michael learns an important lesson.

The littlest candlesticks . by Sylvia Rouss

Little Abby wants a pair of candlesticks like her older sisters, so her teacher helps her make her own glass candlesticks to celebrate Shabbat.

The littlest frog / by Sylvia Rouss

When Pharaoh refuses to free the Israelites, Moses warns him that God will bring a mighty plague of frogs against him and Pharaoh suffers the consequences of his stubbornness.

The littlest pair / by Sylvia Rouss

As the animals line up, two-by-two, ready to enter the Ark, termites, the littlest pair appear. The other animals protest , but the termites save the day with some excellent munching and crunching, to become the biggest littlest heroes on the Ark.

Rebecca's journey home / by Brynn Olenberg Sugarman

Mr. and Mrs. Stein and their young sons Gabe and Jacob adopt a baby girl from Vietnam.

Bubbe Isabella and the Sukkot cake / Kelly Terwilliger

Bubbe Isabella invites many animal guests to spend Sukkot with her, but they are more interested in eating the Sukkah than her lovely lemon cake.

Let's build a sukkah / [story by Madeline Wikler and Judyth Groner

A group of children build a sukkah and prepare the harvest feast. On board pages.

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