The Power of Song: And Other Sephardic Tales - Hardcover

Roth, Rita

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0827608446 ISBN 13: 9780827608443

Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society, 2007

Synopsis

Meet Hanina, the daughter of a Jewish tailor who cures a sultan’s only child by taming a lioness to get her milk. And Nahum Bilbas, the brave rabbi-in-training who dares to confront the great warrior El Cid in order to secure peace for the Jews of Valencia. These and countless other colorful characters will entertain and intrigue you in this delightful collection that contains lessons, truths, surprises, and happy endings.

When the Jews fled the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 and scattered all over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, they took with them the folktales that were an integral part of their heritage. As they settled into their new homelands, they borrowed many of the literary devices and motifs from their adopted countries, adding varied flavor to the traditional Jewish stories.
For ages eight and up, The Power of Song includes a glossary of foreign words, and each story is accompanied by a short commentary on its origin and meaning. The author's introduction gives special attention to the history of Jewish folktales and specifically those of the Sephardic Jews.
 

About this title

About the Author

Rita Roth was for twenty years an associate professor in the Education Department at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her master's degree in teaching from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri and her doctorate in education from Washington University.

Alexa Ginsburg holds a BFA from Cooper Union College. She is a graphic artist, a designer of homemade textiles, and the owner of a computer services company. She is also the illustrator of Wise and Not So Wise: Ten Tales from the Rabbis (JPS 2004).

From the Back Cover

The Power of Song And Other Sephardic Tales Rita Roth Designed and illustrated by Alexa Ginsburg "Once, there was a young man named Awad who wanted to see the world. When he decided to leave home, his parents, who were very poor, had nothing to give him--nothing but a few wise words.

"My son," they said. "Always be a ben-adam (a kind and good person). Work hard and remember: When you do a mitzvah you become a mitzvah." (When you do a good deed, you become a good person.)"

So begins one of the thirteen stories in this delightful collection for all ages. Based on tales collected by the Israel Folktales Archives, The Power of Song captures the unique spirit of Sephardic Jewish life as well as universal Jewish values that transcend culture and time. The Power of Song is wonderful book for parents, grandparents, and children to share together.

From the Inside Flap

The Power of Song And Other Sephardic Tales Rita Roth Designed and illustrated by Alexa Ginsburg

Tales of wit and wisdom to delight readers of all ages

Meet Hanina, the daughter of a Jewish tailor who cures a sultan's only child by taming a lioness to get her milk. Or Nahum Bilbas, the brave rabbi-in-training who dares to confront the great warrior El Cid in order to secure peace for the Jews of Valencia. These and countless other colorful characters will entertain and intrigue you in this delightful little collection that contains lessons, truths, surprises, and happy endings.

When the Jews fled the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 and scattered all over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, they took with them the folktales that were an integral part of their unique heritage. As they settled into their new homelands, they borrowed many of the literary devices and motifs from their adopted countries, adding unique flavor to the traditional Jewish story.

Each story in The Power of Song is accompanied by a commentary on its origin and meaning and a helpful glossary with definitions of foreign words is also included. The author's introduction gives special insight into the history of Jewish folktales and specifically those of the Sephardic Jews.

Rita Roth received her master's degree in teaching from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri and her doctorate in education from Washington University. She was an associate professor for twenty years in the department of education at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri.

Alexa Ginsburg holds a BFA from Cooper Union College. She is a graphic artist, a designer of homemade textiles, and the owner of a computer services company. She is also the illustrator of Wise and Not So Wise: Ten Tales from the Rabbis (JPS 2004).

Edition details

• Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0827608446
• ISBN 13: 9780827608443
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 150