By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
The interest in Yiddish literature seems to be increasing. Books – from newly discovered works to writings ignored for decades – have been translated for an English speaking audience. These translations include two recent books: the historical graphic novel “W…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
“It is also to share our story... yours and mine... as I grew to appreciate that what I initially thought was a mistake on the part of our Creator, was, in fact, a gift, one that I did not fully appreciate, well, into far too long a time.” – Ahava Ehrenpreis …
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Alternate reality, fantasy or a combination of both? Wikipedia defines fantasy as “a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore,” and alternate history as “a g…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
I always celebrate when I see Jewish-themed novels being published for the younger generation, particularly tweens. “Eddie Whatever” by Lois Ruby (Carolrhoda Books) seemed perfect for our annual b’nai mitzvah issue because the plot centers on a bar mitzvah st…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Humans are storytellers and the stories we tell give insight into our particular culture. We use stories to teach lessons to the younger generations or offer quiet criticism of the status quo, in addition to their being an entertaining way to pass the time. Whether…
