Where We Once Gathered - Lost Synagogues of Europe - Softcover

Strongwater, Andrea

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1936172488 ISBN 13: 9781936172481

Publisher: Eifrig Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

20 beautifully painted synagogues that were destroyed between 1935-1945 across Europe

About this title

Review:

Book Review by Linda Short, JD, Penn State University.
 
... I recommend the book without reservation.
 
I was struck immediately by the beautifully detailed paintings that illustrate the selected synagogues which form the focus of the text.
 
....Readers of all ages will be drawn into the book and its images recalling another vibrant and glorious time in Jewish history.
 

           

Publishers Weekly:
 
Where We Once Gathered: Lost Synagogues of Europe

Pleasing illustrations and uncomplicated writing combine to make this volume a good choice for introducing older children to aspects of the Holocaust...The clarity and brevity of the profiles of the synagogues--especially the omission of details too gruesome or terrifying for children--and the bright paintings adorning each page will inspire readers to both appreciate and mourn what once was. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)

The Foreword Review:
This painted history of exceptional, sacred Jewish spaces, mostly from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, pivots around their destruction under German rule during WWII. Quoted passages referring to God's love for people of all faiths, used in the structures' original dedication ceremonies, are particularly stirring in this context. From Latvia to Italy, the prominence of the Jews as integral to their diverse communities shines through. A unique love letter from the author to her ancestors. Ages eight and up.
Julie Eakin, Foreword Reviews
March 2012

Review by Lauren Kramer Jewish Book Council

It is clear that a huge amount of research has gone into the writing of Where We Once Gathered, and Strongwater's beautiful illustrations and the background informa­tion enrich our understanding of just how much was swallowed into oblivion in the wake of the Holocaust. This makes her book a valuable resource for education and offers a deeper understanding of the Jewish life that thrived in Europe a century ago. Recom­mended for ages 12-adult.

About this edition

• Publisher: Eifrig Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1936172488
• ISBN 13: 9781936172481
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48