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This magnificent collection of color pho-
tographs reflects the words of the sages
who posited that "10 portions of beauty
descended to the world. Jerusalem ac-
quired nine." Mr. Cohen was one of the
editors of the award-winning A Day in the
Life book series, and that approach-is
strikingly evident here.

This is the perfect season to read
up on the dos and don'ts of social
ecumenism. Mr. Magida traces the
origins of religious beliefs and of-
fers practical tips on attire, gifts
and photography during the cere-
mony.

Ms. Korn assembles an impressive ar-
ray of art, photographs, artifacts and corn-
mentary on various unique objects that
bring Judaism to life.

Cookbooks

Moments in Jewish Life: The Folk Art
of Malcah Zeldis, text by Yonah Zeldis
McDonough. Friedman/Fairfax Pub-
lishers, New York, N.Y, $22.50.

In Memory's Kitchen: A Lega-
cy from the Women of Terezin,
translated by Bianca Steiner
Brown. Jason Aronson, Northvale,
N.J., $25.

A self-taught artist, Ms. Zeldis' bright
and richly detailed paintings evoke the
shtetls of Eastern Europe and her fami-
ly's emigration experiences at the turn of
the century. Ms. McDonough illuminates
her mother's work by placing it in context
and generously quoting the artist.

The Torah, edited by Rabbi Rodney
Mariner. Henry Holt, New York, N.Y., $30.

Scheduled for publication in December,
this edition of the Torah combines the
Jewish Publication Society's translation
with 125 color illustrations. Ancient fres-
coes, medieval illuminated manuscripts
and paintings by contemporary Ethiopi-
an Jewish artists are planned for inclu-
sion in this "illustrated Tanach."

.

What a Country! DRY BONES Looks
at Israel by Ya'akov Kirschen. Jewish
Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pa.,
$24.95.

This "best of volume assembles 23
years of Mr. Kirschen's work. The result
is a collection of more than 300 comic
strips. The American-born Kirschen is
syndicated in more than 30 North Amer-
ican newspapers and his political comic

This is a new and poignant en-
try into Holocaust literature. The
recipes, collected by Mina Pachter
from other starving inmates at the
Terezin concentration camp, were
written on scraps of paper. Mrs.
Pachter did not survive, but her
recipe for rich chocolate cake did, demon-
strating that food is as much about mem-
ory and survival as it is about sustenance.
This book belongs in every Jewish kitchen
as a memorial to the courage and re-
silience of these women.

The Book of Jewish Food: An
Odyssey from Samarkand to New
York by Claudia Roden. Knopf, New
York, N.Y., $35.
This tour de force offers 800 exquisite

recipes while blending Jewish history with
the story of Jewish cooking. Ms. Roden's
monumental accomplishment traces the
development of both the Ashkenazic and
Sephardic cultures in relationship to their
cuisine. Fifteen years in the making, this
cookbook brings to light previously un-
documented recipes from all
over the world.

The Sephardic Kitchen:
The Healthful Food and
Rich Culture of Mediter-
ranean Jews by Rabbi
Robert Sternberg. Harper-
Collins, New York, N.Y.,
$30.

The Healtithil Food. and
Rich Culture of the
Mediterranean Jews

RABBI ROBER1 STERNBERG

Auk o 114+ Ca..s.. , . cr

Appearances can be de-
ceiving is the moral of this qui-
et tale. Rachel, who is
spending the first night of
Chanukah with her recently
widowed grandmother, won-
ders why her grandmother
keeps such an ugly menorah.
As it turns out, it was made by
her late grandfather. The only
menorah he could afford dur-
ing the Depression, it was a
symbol of his love for his wife.
The simple illustrations em-
phasize that appearances are
secondary. For ages 5 to 8.

How To Be a Perfect Stranger:
A Guide to Etiquette in Other
People's Religious Ceremonies,
edited by Arthur J. Magida. Jew-
ish Lights, Woodstock, Vt. $24.95.

A Celebration of Judaism in Art by
Irene Korn. Smithmark Publishers, New
York, N.Y, $24.98.

2

The Ugly Menorah by
Marissa Moss. Farrar, Straus
& Giroux, New York, N.Y.,
$14.

strip, Dry Bones, runs in the
Jerusalem Post, an Israeli news-
paper.

Publishers, San Francisco, Calif, $35.

Rabbi Sternberg serves
up menus for all of the Jew-
ish holidays and, in the
process, includes a short his-
tory of Sephardic Jewry. A
welcome addition to Jewish
cookbooks.

Kosher Kettle: Interna-
tional Adventures in
Jewish Cooking by Sybil
Ruth Kaplan. Five Star
Publishing, Chandler, Ariz.,
$24.95.

This thick volume is
chock-full of recipes and
anecdotes about Jewish
cooking from around the
globe.

Celebrating Hanukkah by
Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Pho-
tos by Lawrence Migda,le. Hol-
iday House, New York, N.Y.,
$16.95.

In the Jewish Tradition: A Year of
Food and Festivities by Judith B. Fell-
ner. Smithmark, New York, N.Y., $24.98.

The history of the Jewish holidays is
told in words and expressed through elab-
orate recipes. Photographs depicting Jew-
ish rituals and lavish dishes of food
accompany the text in this coffee-table
cookbook.

Children's Chanukah

The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Pa-
tricia Polacco. Simon & Schuster,
New York, N.Y, $16.

This beautiful, heartwarming
tale reflects the spirit of the season
in words and pictures. Young Tr-
isha and her family, the only Jews
in their town, take it upon them-
selves to rescue Christmas for their
neighbors. Most of them have been
stricken with scarlet fever and can-
not even decorate their trees. In the
midst of helping their neighbors,
these "Jewish Santas" also celebrate
a meaningful and traditional
Chanukah. In the end they are re-
warded with a small miracle of their
own.

The text and photos link the
celebration of Chanukah to
Jewish practice in general.
Eleven-year-old Leora guides
readers through the history of
Chanukah and her family's
observance of the holiday. The photos
bring out the warmth and vibrancy of Leo-
ra's home, school and synagogue. Addi-
tionally, young readers see Leora's father,
a rabbi in San Francisco, preparing his
students to be bar and bat mitzvot. For

ages 8 to 12.

Papa's Latkes by Jane Breskin Zalben.
Henry Holt, New York, N.Y., $13.95.

Beni Bear's family holds a contest for
the best-tasting latkes. Although the win-
ner is indicated in the title, this charming

Beni's Family Cookbook

While the Candles Burn: Eight
Stories for Hanukkah by Bar-
bara Goldin Diamond. Illustrated
by Elaine Greenstein. Viking, New
York, N.Y, $15.99.

Ms. Diamond follows her enlightening
introduction with a unique selection of
folktales and her own original stories —
a different one for each night of
Chanukah. She includes a story by the
renowned Yiddish writer I.L. Peretz, a
folktale from Afghanistan and a chroni-
cle of young Israelis and Arabs attending
the same Israeli school. Ms. Greenstein's
illustrations, bright and fresh, enrich the
book's themes. While the Candles Burn
offers something to children of all ages.

FOR THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS

WRVITEN AN!) ILLUSIKATED 13?

JANE BRESKIN ZALBEN

Rwlyoni try Joan Nathan

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g

Aefi

book will still delight young readers. The
winning recipe is on the last page. For ages

4 to 8.

Beni's Family Cookbook for the Jew-
ish Holidays by Jane Breskin Zalben.
Henry Holt, New York, N.Y., $19.95.

More recipes from Beni Bear's family
for the Jewish holidays. The Chanukah
entries include recipes for Indian latkes,
apple chutney and dreidel cookies. For all

ages.

NOVEL IDEAS page 89