"It's for the thinking person who doesn't know anything, and gradually builds on the information as he goes along," he says. The book, just pub- lished, already is in its second printing. Rabbi Blech worked on this book for more than a year, doing the research and writing in Israel and Manhattan. Because of space limitations due to the book's specific format, he had to be extremely selective and leave things out. "I wasn't trying to be the last word on Jewish history," he says. The book reflects his view that, too often, history is taught dryly, and he seeks to correct that with humor and a light touch. "History is just gossip (but hopeful- ly true gossip) in scholarly language," he writes. "When its told right, it should be like Yiddish theater — it should make you laugh and make you cry, sometimes even simultaneously." The rabbi believes that humor is an important element in teaching, that emotions are the most powerful ways we can communicate something. When you feel good about what you've heard, you're more receptive." Written in a warm, conversational style, the book intersperses informa- tional sidebars throughout the text. They include "Yenta's Little Secrets," like why the prophet Elijah is a guest at every Jewish circumcision and Passover meal; "Listen to Your Bubbe," affectionate tips or warnings from a grandmother wagging her fin- ger; "Aha, That's It," a list of defini- tions; and "Sage Sayings," quotes from noted people like Gershon Sholem, Isaac Bashevis Singer and others. At the beginning of each of the 32 chapters, a bulleted list highlights the major points. A follow-up list at the end outlines "The Least You Need to Know." The guide also includes a bib- liography, glossary and a pullout refer- ence card with key historical dates. In his chapter on American Jewish history, "America the Beautiful," Rabbi Blech points out that Luis de Torres, a Hebrew-speaking Marrano Jew, was invited to join Christopher Columbus on his journey because the explorer thought that when he reached China, he would meet the exiled Jews from the 10 lost tribes and wanted de Torres to communicate with them. De Torres became the first white man to set foot in the Americas. Later in the chapter, Rabbi Blech writes about the history of the Touro Synagogue, the oldest in America; the Jewish role in the Revolutionary War; immigration, with a story about how a peddler named Levi Straus made pants from some extra canvas tenting cloth he couldn't sell; the development of trade unions; and the various Jewish denominations and their outlooks, with respect toward all. In fact, readers wouldn't necessarily know that Rabbi Blech is from an Orthodox back- ground. Rabbi Blech's. biggest challenge was how to handle the birth of Jesus and the Church — particularly the treat- ment of Jews by Christians in the Middle Ages — with sensitivity Humor is an important element in teaching. TRADITIONAL GREEK SALAD AND BOWL OF SOUP $5.50 GYRO SANDWICH (CHOICE OF CHICKEN OR LAMB) AND CUP OF SOUP $4.95 GREEK CHICKEN SALAD $5.95 SPINACH PIE SERVED WITH RICE $5,25 VEGGIE STIR FRY SERVED WITH RICE $5.25 " toward contemporary Christian read- ers. He relies on a 1963 quote from Pope John XXIII, asking for forgive- ness of unjust treatment of the Jews. Another challenge was to write about the Holocaust in a concise way; that is the longest chapter in the book; and its tone is also different, without the comic elements of other chapters. Born in Switzerland, Rabbi Blech came to the United States with his family in 1941 and grew up in Borough Park. His first pulpit after graduating from Yeshiva University was at Young Israel of Oceanside, Long Island, where he spent 37 years. A father and grandfather, he left there four years ago to pursue a life of teaching, international lecturing and writing. "I didn't so much retire as change venues," he says. Now, when he's not traveling, he attends services at the local Jewish center and enjoys being a congregant. Rabbi Blech, who also teaches Bible and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University in addition to Talmud, is slated to do two additional Jewish titles for the series. He's completing a guide to Jewish religion and after that will do a book on Yiddish. But the rabbi declined when asked to do a "Complete Idiot's" guide to Kabbalah. He thinks the subject doesn't lend itself to this format. Kabbalah "is not the sort of thing one should try to condense and teach in an offhand manner," he says. VEGGIE OMELETTE OR SPINACH & FETA OMELETTE $4.95 .THRU MONTH OF MARCH. e .. .•MAILABLA FOR PRIVATE PARTIES 50-I SO. Accomm:Itaticins up to 50 guest for Baby Sh: 'Os,. Bridal Showers, Rehearsal Dinner4. Anniversary Parties in our main Dining !Room., ThIlentire restaurant is available