Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish Holidays - Hardcover

The Jewish holidays are called the "jewels in the crown" of the Jewish year. This jewel of a collection by respected author Gilda Berger is a celebration of Jewish traditions, including Bible stories, time lines, recipes, crafts, and commentaries on the holidays. Each chapter covers one Jewish holiday, with a retelling of a related story from the Bible, followed by sections called "What We Celebrate," "How We Celebrate," and "Crafts and Food." A time line in each chapter places the origins of that holiday in its historical context, and a map of the Middle East and a complete index are also included. Glowing paintings by Peter Catalanotto introduce and follow each Bible story. The crafts and recipes are written with careful, simple directions, illustrated with clear diagrams when appropriate. Children (with a little help from an adult) can make a homemade dreidel or menorah, stir up a batch of latkes or cheese blintzes, or create Purim puppets with the directions given here. The author's goal in writing this book was to create one source that could be used by families throughout the year at each Jewish holiday. A superb choice for Jewish families or anyone interested in learning more about these ancient traditions. (Age 4 to adult) --Marcie Bovetz

Did you know that every major annual Jewish holiday plus the weekly holiday, Shabbat, is linked to a story from the Bible? A lively retelling of the brave deeds of such favorite heroes as Queen Esther and Moses opens each of the eight chapters and lays the foundations for the holiday celebrations. Three sections follow each story. WHAT WE CELEBRATE explores the background of the holidays. HOW WE CELEBRATE describes traditional ways of observing the holidays. CRAFTS AND FOOD provides hands-on activities, complete with easy-to-follow recipes and instructions, to bring more depth and fun to the holiday experience.

Gilda Berger's seamless retellings and thoughtful commentary will fascinate and enlighten, as she breathes life into these favorite old tales and illuminates the modern-day significance of ancient traditions. In perfect complement, Peter Catalanatto's exquisitely rendered paintings glow with warmth and emotion. A true family treasury in the Jewish storytelling tradition, Celebrate! is meant to be shared among children, parents, and grandparents throughout the year.