Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year by Eric A. Kimmel, Jon J. Muth, Baal Shem Tov ISBN: 0-439-10839-X Publisher: Scholastic Pub. Date: September, 2000 Format: School & Library Binding Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A fable for everyone
Comment: This Jewish fable, retold by Eric A. Kimmel, isn't just for Jewish people. Anybody can relate to Gershon's behavior and its consequences.
The watercolor illustrations by Jon J Muth take the story to an even higher level. I especially love his impish black monsters. Kimmel and Muth are a wonderful pairing; I hope they do more books together!
Rating: 5
Summary: The way to return
Comment: Eric Kimmel takes great pains with all his stories, and this was no exception. As explained in his afterward, he derived this superb tale of T'Shuva (repentance, or to be more precise, returning to a righteous path) from an early Hasidic legend of the Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, who lived in Poland from 1700 to 1760 and was known as the Ba'al Shem Tov, or Master of the Good Name. Kimmel's ancestors came from that region, and he believes they knew him. Given his gift with story telling--an art for which the Ba'al Shem Tov was also famous--I can believe it. Not content, however, Kimmel also consulted work of the great 12th century Sephardic Rabbi, Moses Maimonides, known as the Ramban.
Hershel sins every day many times, but he counts himself lucky each week to be able to sweep his ill deeds aside. At the end of the year, on Rosh Hashonah, he gathers them in a giant bag, takes them to the sea and tosses them in. Kimmel derives this colorful part of Gershon's annual routine from the Jewish tradition of Tashlikh, when people walk to lakes, rivers or any moving water to toss away their crumbs. This prayerful "casting off of sins," concerns repentance and forgiveness.
But Hershel does not take the exercise seriously. He drags his satchel of sins to the sea, and then returns to his old ways--insulting people, forgetting to say Thank You, telling little untruths here and there. He even forgets to thank the Tzaddik, the holy man, whose prayers make it possible for his childless wife Fayge to bear twins. The Tzaddik warns him, though, that his bad habits will cause problems in a few short years.
Sure enough, they do. Hershel's wife has beautiful twins, but all nearly comes to ruin. To discover how Hershel finds the path to T'Shuva and saves his family, indulge in this book brilliantly illustrated by Jon Muth. You and your children will treasure it. Alyssa A. Lappen
Rating: 5
Summary: Repentance and The Return to Wonder
Comment: While looking for something else entirely, my eye fell on this short illustrated retelling of a Hasidic legend, and in very short order I was totally entranced. The story, a cautionary tale relative to the nature of sin and redemption is ostensibly for children. But, in these times, it has as much meaning for the adult reading it to the child as it does for the child who is listening.
.
Gershon is a baker. He lives a small, ungenerous life, never committing a 'big' sin but often doing the little wrong things that can leave a bitter taste behind. He orders rather than asks, forgets to thank people and never feels regret for his actions. Instead he stores his errors in the basement and then, at Rosh Hashanah, he follows the old tashlikh ceremony and empties his sins into the ocean as if they were bread crumbs.
.
One day Gershon and his wife, who are childless, decide to consult a wise man, a tzaddik, to see if they might have children. The tzaddik, modeled after Rabbi Israel ben Elieser (the nearly legendary Baal Shem Tov), warns Gershon off, telling him that all the sins he has fouled the ocean with will come back to haunt him if he has children. Gershon is not to be put off though, and the Rabbi relents. He provides a cantrip and Gershon and his wife soon have twins.
.
When the children are five, the Tzaddik's warning starts to come to pass, and Gershon sees the monster he has created rise from the ocean and threaten his children. For the fist time in his life Gershon truly repents and, as the monster fades away Gershon clasps his children and finally understands what he must do.
.
Eric Kimmel's telling of this tale is crisp and clear, capable of withstanding many re-readings and the magnificent illustrations by Jon Muth which ornament the book are unforgettable. The final piece is a one page explanation of the book and some discussion of the nature of t'shuvah (repentance). Repentance is not simply apologizing, one must experience remorse and a commitment to change, and be willing to do whatever is needed to make restitution. Rarely are cautionary tales so well presented. Highly recommended for children and their parents.
 |
Title: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, Trina Schart Hyman, Mayer ISBN: 0823407691 Publisher: Holiday House Pub. Date: September, 1989 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
 |
Title: The Magic Dreidels: A Hanukkah Story by Eric A. Kimmel, Katya Krenina ISBN: 0823412741 Publisher: Holiday House Pub. Date: September, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
 |
Title: What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street by Marjorie Priceman, Elsa Okon Rael ISBN: 0689835353 Publisher: Aladdin Library Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic by Howard Schwartz, Monique Passicot ISBN: 0670887331 Publisher: Viking Childrens Books Pub. Date: July, 2000 List Price(USD): $15.99 |
 |
Title: The Peddler's Gift by Maxine Rose Schur, Kimberly Bulcken Root, Diane Arico ISBN: 0803719787 Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $15.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
