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Of MOVtE

With a Foreword by Thomas Jefferson

Rosh Hashanah, there is a midrash about the origin
of mankind; for Chanukah, a touching tale about
the mitzvah of remembering the miracle that
occurred; for Passover, a folktale originally recount-
ed in Martin Buber's Tales of the Hasidim; and for
Purim, an original story about the lovable fools of
Chelm.
Maisel, a physician, and Shubert, an editor, write
in the books introduction: We are offering you an
easy and open invitation into the richness of Jewish
life — the aroma of freshly baked challah, the
warmth of a teacher's hug, the sound of the Red Sea
parting. We welcome anyone who thirsts and
hungers for a Jewish identity."

FOR THE ART LOVER

In The Jewish World: 365 Days (Abrams; $32.50),
the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the most important
repository in the world for art and objects that illus-
trate Jewish ritual and secular life, offers an encyclo-
pedic array of objects and artworks — from archeo-
logical finds from biblical times to contemporary art

— in a comprehensive look at the Jewish world.
Authors Daisy Raccah-Djivre, Silvia Rosenberg
and Yigal Zalmona configured this beautifully
illustrated volume to relate to the 365 days of the
year; in addition to art and artifacts, the book fea-
tures images that evoke everyday life in Jewish
communities throughout history: jewelry, toys, cos-
tumes, household items and period rooms. Texts
by the curators of the Israel museum accompany
each section.
As James S. Snyder, director of the Israel Museum,
writes, "We hope that the result also provides an
opportunity to explore the cycles of Jewish life with-
in the continuum of Jewish history. In this way, this
book opens 365 windows onto a varied landscape of
communal and private faith, creativity and engage-
ment with the Jewish tradition."

FOR THE NOSTALGIA BUFF

"Mama and Tateh, Bubbe and Zaideh, Aunt
Sophie, the gang of kids down at the ball field, the
waiters at the kosher resort in the Catskills — this is

the cast of characters in the Jewish family and
neighborhood ... and they're all here," writes Alan
King in the introduction to Matzo Balls for Breakfast
and Other Memories of Growing Up Jewish (Simon
and Schuster; $24), a collection of anecdotal person-
al memories by prominent Jewish Americans he
conceived and developed before his death in May
2004.
Some of the stories in store for readers include
Neil Sedaka on not becoming a cantor; Alan
Dershowitz on seeking a blessing for new
Brooklyn Dodger "Yakov" Robinson; and Jerry
Stiller on the Jewish origins of his ambitions to
become a comedian.
Also in the book, Larry King, Billy Crystal, Rick
Moranis and Barbara Waters reflect on their friend.
It "started as a collection of memories, stories, anec-
dotes and remembrances of lives of prominent Jews
about growing up Jewish," writes Larry King. "But
it is now more than that: Matzo Balls for Breakfast is

FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

on page 56

12/ 3
2004

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