This week’s book recommendations from Ilka Gordon, on site director, Aaron Garber Library.
26500 Shaker Blvd.
Summer Hours: 9am-1pm Mon. – Thurs.
Hats in the Ring by Meir Persoff
How is the Chief Rabbi of England chosen? Meir Persoff’s fascinating book draws on unaccessed and unpublished material to describe in detail how the 7 Chief Rabbis of England have been appointed (although only six have been installed). The story of many of the Rabbis involves intrigue, in-fighting and self-interest. Recommended for history buffs and those interested in what goes on across the pond.
The Bronfman Haggadah by Edgar M. Bronfman, illustrated by Jan Aronson
Although Pesach is not near, this unique English language Haggadah which does not include the traditional text of the Haggadah, is worth perusing. This unique coffee table size book is composed of interesting text relating to the story of the exodus from Egypt, the golden calf and Had Gadyah. The pictures are outstanding, colorful, beautiful (especially the ten plagues) and imaginative. I highly recommend adults read this book and share the pictures with their children
Herod the Great : Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant by Norman Gelb
Herod, descendant of an Arab convert, appointed King of Judaea in 40 B.C.E. by the Romans is known as a brutal, ruthless tyrant, murderer of his sons, beloved wife and the infants in Bethlehem. Gelb’s book focuses on another aspect of Herod’s reign. Gelb presents Herod’s spectacular rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash, his skilled military prowess, his excellent horsemanship and his innovations and accomplishments to paint a fuller picture of this complex ruler. Especially interesting is the timeline at the beginning of the book which puts Herod’s life and times into perspective. Recommended for patrons interested in a multifaceted view of Herod.
The Short, Strange Life of Herschel Grynszpan by Jonathan Kirsch
“On the morning of November 7, 1938, a seventeen-year-old Jewish refugee, Herschel Grynszpan, walked into the German embassy in Paris and in an act of desperation assassinated Ernst vom Rath, a low level Nazi diplomat. …The Third Reich exploited his murder to inaugurate its long-planned campaign of terror against Germany’s Jewish citizens in the mass pogrom that became known as Kristallnacht…Jonathan Kirsch brings to light this wrenching story, reexamining the historical details and moral dimensions of one the most enigmatic cases of World War II.” From the book flap.
English Hebrew by Subject : Topic Dictionary for Learning and Reference by Hanna G. Perez
Are you taking a trip to Israel? Do you need a little help finding the correct word for some obscure topic you might not have studied in day school? Then this dictionary is for you. For example, one of the topics covered is medicine. Some sample words are: emergency room, pharmacist, syringe, bandage and cast (You shouldn’t need them.) Sports topics include treadmill, kayak, golf club, helmet and stadium. A CD with the correct pronunciation of each word is included.
Nothing to Speak of: Wartime Experiences of the Danish Jews 1943-1945, by Sofie Lene Bak.
The silence of Danish Jews about their flight, violent events, deportation and exile has been broken by this oversize remarkable book. 99% of the Jews in German-occupied Denmark survived. How were they able to survive while Jews in other German-occupied countries were brutally murdered? What part did the Danish government play in saving them? Nothing to Speak of chronicles, through many photographs, the endurance of the Danish Jews, their return to Denmark and their life after the war. Especially poignant are the photographs of the many children who were saved. Highly recommended.
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