“Tzaki and His Holiday Miracles” by Avraham Feder (Mosaica Press, August 2012)
When you receive a review copy written by a former neighbor and friend, you can’t help but take notice, and this was the case when this book arrived in our post office box.
Rabbi Avraham Feder is a charming man with a great gift for conversation and an outstanding voice. His wife, Tzipora, had told me once about the great stories he would tell to the children at his former synagogue, Beth Tikvah in Toronto.
The hero, Tzaki, is based upon a real-life man by the same name. The real Tzaki is the son of the rabbi’s cousin who lives in Rishon l’Tzion. From the age of 6, Tzaki insisted on sleeping in the sukkah during Sukkot. The real-life Tzaki grew up, served in the Israel Defense Forces for 20 years flying helicopters, and today is 51 years old. The three stories are all based, to some extent, on truth.
In “Tzaki and his Sukkah”, Tzaki helps some Israeli soldiers behind enemy lines, near the Suez Canal, with the help of his “flying sukkah,” the etrog and other Sukkot symbols.
In “Tzaki’s Sukkah and his Magic Dreidel,” Tzaki goes into action helping Israeli navy men and their gunboats.
In “Tzaki and the Frozen Helicopters,” Tzaki is called upon to assist in another adventure — 12 helicopters and their crews stranded during a blizzard in the Austrian Alps.
The stories are all very cleverly written, and for young readers, particularly boys ages 9 and up, these are really a good read.
Besides being a rabbi in Toronto, Rabbi Feder, who moved to Israel in 1981, has lectured at various schools of higher learning and the Israel Defense Forces. He has written two books and numerous essays and articles. He and his wife Tzipora live in Jerusalem.
“Be Like God” by Dr. Ron Wolfson (Jewish Lights Publishing, June 2012)
Dr. Ron Wolfson, professor of education at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, has written about 10 books for children and adults.
Now he has written this stimulating handbook for 8- to 12-year-olds to motivate them to be a partner with God. He helps them define how to create a personal relationship with God and uses kid-friendly stories to illustrate his points.
He tells his readers that “this book is written to inspire you to create your own God’s to-do list.” He begins his interactive book with 10 chapters suggesting 10 “superpowers” — create, bless, rest, call, comfort, care, repair, wrestle, give and forgive. He asks his reader to read each chapter, which has examples of good that God does and how people use their powers to imitate God’s ways.
He then asks his readers to consider doing items on God’s to-do list. He suggests readers create a to-do list, then actually do one of those things every day. Once they’re done, he recommends thinking about how doing these changes your life. He also believes you should read the list every day and share it with others.
In the conclusion, Wolfson guides the readers with three more ways to be a superhero and do God’s work on earth; analyzes Shalom Aleichem; and provides a space for the reader’s to-do list.
Notes and a bibliography conclude the book.
I would take exception to this being a book for 8- to 12-year-olds and instead suggest it for 10- to 12-year-olds as an outstanding companion to studying for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
“It’s a Mitzvah” by Liz Suneby and Diane Heiman (Jewish Lights Publishing, September 2012)
If you know any 3- to 6-year-olds, sit them down and read this to them. As you show them the illustrations of animals they will probably squeal with delight as did the 3-year-old on whom I practiced reading this book.
Each set of pages illustrates animals such as bears, beavers, kangaroos, zebras and others in actions regarding a particular mitzvah. The refrain — it’s a … it’s a … it’s a mitzvah is so catchy, soon the children anticipate it and say it with you.
A meerkat, also known as a mongoose from South Africa, which stands on its back legs and uses its tale to balance, sits on each set of pages. It is the narrator and explains each mitzvah in a sidebar. Regretfully, a brief explanation about the meerkat and why it’s on the pages is needed in this book.
The book will make a wonderful introduction to good deeds for young readers because its style is so appealing, encouraging and animated. Welcoming new friends, forgiving someone who makes a mistake, cheering on your friends and giving tzedakah are just a few of the 12 mitzvot mentioned.
