Some of the Most Beloved Jewish Bedtime Stories
For many of us, some of the best memories from childhood involve stories—stories that our parents read to us before bed, stories that helped us learn the fundamentals of language and reading. They are stories that inform our entire lives, that resonate with us from decade to decade. Here are some of the most cherished books our loved ones read to us when we were young.
- Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories, by Isaac Bashevis Singer—First published nearly a half a century ago, this collection of stories by the Nobel Prize winning author includes a number of classics, from Singer’s retelling of Peter and the Wolf to Pincas and the Pig, where the protagonists, all animals, are portrayed by klezmer instruments. The title story speaks volumes about the value of true companionship, as a merchant decides not to sell his goat after they bond during a storm. The original version of the book has illustrations by Maurice Sendak.
- The Carp in the Bathtub, by Barbara Cohen—In this legendary book, penned in 1972, two small children form a friendship with a carp, whom they have nicknamed “Joe,” but who is about to become gefilte fish for Passover, if their mother has her wishes. They try, unsuccessfully, to conceal Joe so that their mother can’t make a meal out of him.
- Chicken Man, by Michelle Edwards—The protagonist of this tale works on a kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley in Israel, overseeing the chicken coop. He’s so good at what he does and so clearly loves his work that everyone else wants his job. When he’s given a new position at the kibbutz, he approaches it with the same enthusiasm. Throughout the course of the book, he moves from job to job, continually exuding his positive attitude. The moral—it’s not what you do that brings you happiness, it’s how you do it.
- It Could Always Be Worse, by Margot Zemach—Zemach took home the 1974 Caldecott Medal for her work in illustration, but wrote this thought-provoking book in 1976. It tells the story of a downtrodden man at the end of his rope. He’s stuck inside a miniscule hovel with more family than the place can handle. Uncertain what to do, he consults his rabbi, who advises him to bring all his animals into the house, leading to even more internal crowding. When he returns for advice, the rabbi tells him to take the animals back out and notice how much room he how has in his house. The man sees that, while his situation at the end of the story is exactly the same as it was at the beginning of the story, it could be worse!
- Molly’s Pilgrim, also by Barbara Cohen—This 1983 book looks at the struggle to fit in to a new life. Protagonist Molly, of Jewish ancestry, is a recent immigrant into the United States. It’s now Thanksgiving and her class at school is learning about the history of the holiday. When Molly is assigned the task of making her own pilgrim doll, she turns to the pilgrims of Jewish heritage, bringing in something that her classmates don’t recognize and initially make fun of. In the end, though, they see that she came to America for many of the same reasons that the Mayflower pilgrims crossed the ocean centuries earlier.
- Toby Belfer Never Had a Christmas Tree, by Gloria Teles Pushker and Judith Hierstein—The title character in the 1991 book lives out in the country, where friends and classmates have little or no familiarity with Judaism, it’s holidays and customs. Perplexed by the fact that Toby and her family don’t celebrate certain holidays, they ask her why. She takes them home, teaches them about Jewish customs and shares a meal with them. The multi-volume set also has tales of Toby helping her friends learn about Rosh Hashanah, bar mitzvahs and seders.
Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit—Serving the Jewish Community for Over 130 Years
At Gutterman’s and Gutterman Warheit, with funeral chapels in New York and Florida, we have provided comprehensive and compassionate funeral and burial services to individuals and families in the Jewish community for more than five generations. We understand the unique funeral and burial customs within each Jewish tradition and can offer assistance and guidance on any matter, from the order of service at the memorial or the selection of a casket or monument to the details of sitting Shiva or the preparation of a Yahrzeit calendar. We will also work directly with the Chevra Kadisha to ensure proper preparation of the body according to Jewish law.
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