Torah, Science and Stuff

The Science Behind the Mishnah by Rabbi Joel Padowitz and Rabbi Jonathan Sassen (Mosaica Press, 2024)  "attempts to explain the scientific topics encountered in the Mishnah to give the reader a better, deeper understanding of the Mishnah itself. At the same time... it explains more general issues to give the reader a better understanding of the larger scientific principles at work."

The authors emphasize the assertions of the Talmud, and many noted rabbis, that studying science "is often essential for a correct understanding and fulfillment of the Torah itself,'" and that "every Jew should have a basic understanding of, and familiarity with, the workings of the natural world because it enhances one's love and reverence for Hashem." 

First, physically it is a beautiful book. The clear, color photographs, are amazing and correspond well in illustrating the points brought out in the text. The figures and diagrams are also clear and clearly labeled. The combined index and glossary works adeptly to explain the scientific concepts, with easy reference to the pages on which they appear. The text itself is laid out to facilitate reading, with headings and subheadings, and text large enough so that the reader does not feel he is reading a textbook or a scientific manual.

Second, it has the approbations of noted rabbis, who not only "approve" of the content, but are excited that such a book is available. 

Mishnayos Brachos is the first tractate of Zeraim (seeds), the first order of the Mishnah [there are six orders of the Mishnah, which is the first written collection of oral traditions. It was redacted by Rabbi Yehudah Nasi at the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century CE]. This Mishnah discusses the laws of prayers, and blessings, many of which are recited over food. 

The Mishnah begins with a question about when one may recite the Shema prayer in the evening. In Chapter One, "Twilight," the authors present light and the horizon, photons from the sun, and how the rays of the sun travel through the atmosphere. Following the verses of the Mishnah, each chapter begins with the verse in the Mishnah and goes on to explain the science. Subsequent chapters discuss "Fats," color vision and how the eye works, whispering (in regard to pronouncing prayers correctly), flax and how it is prepared for use, and the movement of the earth around the sun. The 32 chapters contain scientific facts that are "cool," like how snakes kill their prey, how cheese is made, and "The Color of Fire," as well as more technical explanations of the chemical composition of sugar molecules and vinegar and acids, the process of cellular respiration, and the sound of thunder.

For those who watched The Big Bang Theory, I felt much like Penny, both reading a quote from Richard Feynman (noted Jewish-American theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1965), and reading about some of the more complicated science. You can "test" some of the information, especially things about light, color, and sound, and the fact that you cannot whisper the sound "z." What is even more astounding is that the rabbis of the Mishnah were aware of these things way before the science was documented.

It is hard to pinpoint the target audience. While people would study Mishnah would gain from it, as would people  interested in science, is there a significant intersection between the two groups who would be the "perfect" group? We could see these as the basis for a course in a Jewish school that has solid curriculum in both Mishnah and science. 

The End of an Era

This is the last round of the Jewish Book Carnival. Thanks to Heidi Rabinowitz and Marie Cloutier for starting it 14 years ago, and to the Association of Jewish Libraries for continuing the project. We have been fortunate to be able to muse about Jewish books (and other things) through these years. Thank you to all the hosts and hostesses for compiling the links. Thank you to all the authors and other interviewees. And thank you to all those who read these posts, so we didn't feel like a tree fell in the forest, but no one heard it!

As we wax nostalgic, here are our 5 personal favorites from Life Is Like a Library:

In 2011, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword won the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers. At the Association of Jewish Libraries Conference in Montreal, we met author Barry Deutsch and surprised him by showing up in costume as Mirka. We loved the whole series, and it yielded two blogs:

Being Mirka and Mussar from Mirka. 

Also in 2011, we went to a baseball game with my son. Seeing this blog reminds me of a beautiful day, and how many books there are about Jews and Baseball. 

From 2017, Knit One, Read Two is a compilation of Jewish books about knitting -- a combination of two of our favorite things to do. 

Also in 2017, we read the right books at the right time to commemorate our mother's yahrzeit (anniversary of death) on the Hebrew date 19 Tammuz.

In 2019, we interviewed Naomi Ragen. We was so honored that she graciously answered my questions. We felt like we "hit the big time" talking to a popular author.

Finally, thank you to The Real Cats of Israel for allowing us to include you in my blog. This feature started in 2013, when Cats of Ben Yehuda (Kar-Ben) was published. Many cats fans and non-Israelis love that they are so many cats wandering the streets of Israel, but most residents find these feral felines, who often travel in packs and pick through garbage dumpsters, a nuisance. The trend continued with Hard Hat Cat (Kar-Ben, 2020), And a Cat from Carmel Market (Kar-Ben 2021) and Professor Buber and His Cats (Kar-Ben, 2022). 

We at Life Is Like a Library are cat lovers, so here's yet another Real Cat:

Happy Reading!

One Day in October

 

One Day in October (Toby Press, 2024) is a book about heroes. "Like the heroes of old, like the heroes of the Bible, the stuff of stories and legends. Confronting the sadness and loss and depths of hell, they give us hope and inspiration and the chance to tell another kind of story." While the subtitle tells the reader there are forty stories about forty heroes, the count is higher, as in many of these accounts, more heroes are mentioned and their heroism revealed. And, the book "is only a rivulet of a sweeping torrent of heroism. There are many stories that we missed, heroes who wouldn't -- or couldn't -- speak; some are still catching their breath and piecing their own stories together. We could produce another dozen volumes of incredible stories of courage from that cursed day."

Some reviewer notes before we dive into the incredible stories: Sara Daniel's translation from the Hebrew is excellent. The authors did a superlative job capturing each hero's story with each one's authentic voice shining through, whether Camilla Jesalva, the Filipino caretaker that saved her elderly patient, or eight-year-old Emily Hand, who was taken hostage and released after 50 days. The map is key to putting the stories in the context, and the chart of the murdered and hostages succinctly captures the magnitude of the horror that day.

Some accounts are first person. Many are related by parents, siblings and spouses of those who made the ultimate sacrifice on October 7th. 

Shlomo Ron's is "The Exact Opposite of All Those Hero Stories." When the 85-year-old realized what was happening at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, he sent his wife, two daughters and grandson to the safe room, while he sat in an armchair in the living room. Thinking he was an old man sitting by himself, the terrorists shot him on sight and left the house. He saved his family with this quiet act of heroism.

Guy Simhi, 20, saved at least 30 lives on October 7th. He directed drivers from the Nova Festival to the back roads to avoid the terrorists. At Kibbutz Re'im, he left the safe room and went out to gather more people who had run away from the festival. He confronted the terrorists with a friend, and subsequently died from injuries sustained when the terrorists threw grenades into the house.

Yonatan Elazari, 19, was in yeshiva in Ofakim on Simchat Torah. When he heard gunfire, he left and joined other soldiers in defending the residents. He climbed to a rooftop to take a position. After a few minutes of fighting, he was shot and killed.

Tali Hadad displayed "The Power of Motherhood." Her son Itamar went out in Ofakim to fight the terrorists, and he has injured. Tali realizes that the ambulances can't get through, she took her car and evacuated the wounded, including her son, to an urgent care center that was set up at the entrance to the city. 

She explains her heroism: "Every woman has power; in every home, the mother is the one who leads the way, who sets the tone, who wields the strength within the home. It's all written; I'm not making anything up. The homemaker is the one who makes the home what it is, and we need to appreciate how strong that is, how powerful it is, even on the battlefield. We are there too; I was there too. I'm just a simple woman. Who am I? Just a retired kindergarten teacher. I've been a homemaker for three years now; I'm not working. I'm not a captain in the army, I'm not a commander, I'm no one really. So if I did what I did, then surely every woman should understand the kind of strength she has inside her."

Nasreen Yousef, a 46-year-old mother of four, lives in Yated, a community in the triangle between Egypt and Gaza. She save that community on October 7th when she used her Arabic to convince the invading terrorists she was helping them. She collected critical information about the invasion, which she passed on to the IDF, which led to the capture of 15 terrorists.

I met Yossi Landau when I visited Kibbutz Nir Oz in January. He is the head of operations in the Lachish region in the south of Israel for ZAKA, a volunteer organization that has two missions: to save lives, and to treat the dead with dignity. Yossi's work started on October 7th, and, unfortunately, still continues. He recounts the work he and his volunteer teams did at the Nova Festival site. Working until 4:30 in the morning of October 8th, he and 180 volunteers "managed to honor the memory of 237 holy people."

There are 34 more stories -- all amazing. This is not a light read, but one that is very worthwhile. 

Heroes of October 7th

 

A Project by Hadassa Ben Ari
Illustrations by Tehila Bar-Hama

©2024 Yedioth Ahronoth -- Chemed Books

Many people will be marking the one-year anniversary of October 7th in many ways. This recently released book is a testament to the bravery and valor of so many on that horrible day. The subtitle of the book is "Heroic Stories for Children," and to that end, there are two introductory essays about what it means to be a hero and "How Do We Talk to Our Children About October 7th?" Both offer helpful tips to broach a difficult subject. While the 71 stories should probably be read by younger readers with parental directive, it is a book for all ages to learn  This could be the first of ten volumes, as the Iron Swords War has produced heroes on the battlefield and on the home front. You can also visit the website.

Each account is two pages and is accompanied by an illustration. They are about soldiers and civilians, people of all ages and backgrounds (and a dog). One can read the book in one sitting and be awed by the heroism of October 7th, or read a story at a time, learn more about the heroes, and grieve for the void left by those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

One heroine that stood out is Orly Ezra, who opens her home to soldiers that need showers, food, or rest. "Orly, the guardian angel of our soldiers in the north, has a saying, a guaranteed path to victory: 'What do you need in order to move the biggest desert in the world, the Sahara desert?' she aks, and immediately replies -- 'for each person to pick up a single grain of sand.'"

Another hero was Naro, a dog from the Oketz unit of the IDF. He was dispatched to locate terrorists and weapons. Naro revealed the location of an ambush waiting for the Oketz soldiers and attacked them. The unit's soldiers neutralized the terrorist cell. Naro was killed during the incident.

Mural by Liran Tapiro at entrance to new war room in Re'im
"The flowers will continue to bloom"

The illustrations do not show faces, so we wanted to put some faces to the names in the book. May God avenge their blood, and may their memories be a blessing.

Neria and Daniel Sharabi

Salman Habaka

Amit Mann

Poetry and War

 Since October 7th, life has a been a rollercoaster in many ways. For a long time, I could not read a book, could not focus long enough to read more than a page, could not do something so trivial or that could possibly be enjoyable when there had been so much horror and heartbreak. 

While bibliotherapy has gained credence in recent years, librarians have always known the serendipity of reading the right book at the right time. The same is true for poetry. 

During this phase, these words were a comfort:

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free

                -- Wendell Berry

As I attended more and more funerals and the cemetery started filling up, I remembered the poem I had to memorize in junior high school:

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset flow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
                                                                                                           -- John McCrae

I was also reminded of a poem written by my father, Edward Schapiro, who was a sergeant in the United States Army and served in the Detachment 12 Weather Squadron. He wrote it in 1945, after World War II ended.

They Say

They say that time is kind, those fools who sit
And wait to die, who never climb the sky
Or touch the glowing stars with magic lit
And watch unmoved the rushing years go by.
They say that love's a flame whose burn is slight
And quickly heals before the press of days,
Who never shared with you the star swept night
And knew the fiery heat the heart can blaze.
They say that passion gives the tortured heart
A dearer fondness when the loved on is far,
Who never spent the hours from you apart.
Playing a crazy manmade game called war,
They say these things, a smirk of wisdom in their eye,
And all that I can say is this:

Damn them! They lie!

Recently I heard about a song dedicated to the memory of Re'em Batito, who was killed on October 7th. As songs are poetry put to music, this beautiful tribute broke my heart yet again:

Stories of War by Eli Huli

Besorot tovot,

May we hear good tidings soon!

Booking in Tel Aviv (and Jaffa)

 With the good news of the rescue of four of the hostages (and the sad news that Almog Meir Jan's father died a few hours before the rescue, and that one of their rescuers, Arnon Zmora, died of injuries sustained in the rescue), it was time was a change of pace and a change of scenery. Off to Tel Aviv to go to bookstores!

We stared in Jaffa at...the Yafa Bookstore and Coffee Shop. Why did we not know that this is an Arabic bookstore? They had a few used English books, and they graciously offered some romance novels "to read on the plane." A little miffed on both counts, since we live in Israel and prefer literary fiction and non-fiction, but it was nice that they tried. The reward for trekking way down to Jaffa was the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea and the architecture of the neighborhood.

From there, it was on to Sipur Pashut, which means "simply story." This bookstore is in the charming Neve Tzedek neighborhood, which is full of interesting stores and galleries. Again, not much of an English selection, but a fun place to look around.

Next stop, HaMigdalor. And yet again, not so many English books, but lots of games and toys in addition to the books.

And finally, Book Worm, which in Hebrew is Tola'at Sefarim. Here, it seemed the coffee and the snacks were the main attraction, although there were a lot of interesting books, many in English.

For our next trip, we will probably return to an old favorite, Halper's on Allenby, where there are plenty of English books!

Happy Reading!

Besorot Tovot!

May we hear good tidings soon!

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

 

Wisdom from the Witch of Endor: Four Rules for Living by Tikva Frymer-Kensky was recently published by Eerdmans Publishing Company. Frymer-Kensky died in 2006, and this posthumous volume is emblematic of her interests in drawing from the biblical text and championing women. To fully appreciate this little gem, we had to put a few pieces together.

Today, when we thick of witches, the coven from Macbeth comes to mind. This creepy group meets secretly and makes a nauseating brew in their cauldron:

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog, 

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing, 

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth, boil and bubble.

The witches predict that Macbeth will be king, but that Banquo's descendants will be monarchs. They tell Macbeth that "no man of woman born" can kill him, and that he will not be defeated "until Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane." All of which comes true. Macbeth is killed by Macduff, who was born via caesarian birth, and his forces cut down trees to use as camouflage when they attacked at Dunsinane.

Many assert that Shakespeare found inspiration in Samuel I, Chapter 28. Saul has been deteriorating, both mentally and physically, even more so since Samuel the Prophet's death. Saul tries praying and calling out, but he cannot reach God. Although he has outlawed necromancy, Saul disguises himself and brings two attendants to a witch. She is hesitant to help, since it is against the law, but Saul implores her, and she communicates with the deal Samuel. 

Samuel asks why the witch disturbed him, and he gives Saul the bad news: he and his son will be killed in battle the next day. Saul is distraught, and the witch sees he is upset and gives him bread and meat before he goes on his way. While the witch did not make the predictions, Samuel's prophecy comes true, and David becomes king.

We never learn the name of the sorceress (fun fact: Endora, Samantha's mother on the 1960s television show Bewitched got her name from this chapter). But she is not the spooky, cackling, stereotype that casts spells; she is a professional with empathy.

Fryer-Kensky elaborates on the four lessons we learn from the Witch of Endor:

1. Know your power.
2. Strive to excel.
3. Choose the moment.
4. Win well.

After recounting the biblical story, she explains how the Witch applied these rules. Finally, she illustrates how we can use the rules:

[The Witch of Endor's] story reminds us that even people whose actions are suspect in their own day can be wonderful, magnanimous, and benevolent spirits. And so can we.

A small book, a quick read, but one with a message relevant to our times. The "other" is often discounted or disparaged, but everyone should know their power and strive to excel. Their moment to shine will come, and when it does, they should take it with grace.

 Real Cats of Israel

These real cats were in Jerusalem, enjoying one of the first warm days of spring:

Happy Reading!

Besorot tovot (May we hear good news soon!)!

Life IS Like a Library

 Our blog gets its title from the quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick, and especially in these turbulent times, it is obvious that most books were written and are being written for us, and we have no control over anything that is happening. 

For those of us who have had the privilege or working in or using a great library, we know it is a magical place, full of books and other materials just waiting to be discovered. As collectors of quotes, these came to mind:

A truly great library has something to offend everyone. - Jo Godwin (librarian)

A public library is the most democratic thing in the world. What can be found there has undone dictators and tyrants. - Doris Lessing

The libraries of America are and must ever remain the home of free and inquiring minds. To them, our citizens - of all ages and races, of all creeds and persuasions - must be able to turn with clear confidence that there they can freely seek the whole truth, unvarnished by fashion and uncompromised by expediency. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

We often participate in projects where book lists are compiled and created. Sometimes it's really fun to think of books on a particular subject or by certain authors. Other times, it's a little more challenging. There may be a book on the subject or by the author, but it may not be suitable for the intended age group or be the strongest book on the subject or by the author. Talking about books is something librarians LOVE to do, so while there can be a lot of back and forth about what books to include, the resulting list is usually created with care and purpose.

In the current "matsav" (situation) - after October 7th, we need books that educate and enlighten. As Rudine Sims Bishop so eloquently observed in her famous piece on "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors:"

Those of us who are children's literature enthusiasts tend to be somewhat idealistic, believing that some book, some story, some poem can speak to each individual child, and that if we have the time and the resources, we can find that book and help to change the child's life. If only for a brief time, and only for a tiny bit. On the other hand, we are realistic enough to know that literature, no matter how powerful, has its limits. It won't take the homeless of our streets; it won't feed the starving of the world; it won't stop people from attacking each other because of our racial differences; it won't stamp out the scrouge of drugs. It could, however, help us to understand each other better by helping change our attitudes toward difference. When there are enough books available that can act as both mirrors and windows for all our children, they will see that we can celebrate both our differences and similarities, because together they are what make us all human. 

With this in mind, we sought out books that could be "windows" into a culture with which we are unfamiliar. We hoped to find books with no agenda, no politics, no framing - just good stories and/or factual information. To say we went out of our comfort zone is an understatement. We walked into a neighborhood where we stuck out like huge, flashing sore thumbs, and we had to wade through books that were popular, but did have agendas, politics, etc.

Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! A Palestinian Folktale

Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald

Collected by Ibrahim Muhawi and Sharif Kanaana

Illustrated by Alik Arzoumanian

©2012 Two Lions

A charming story about a little pot who steals things and then gets her "just reward." Love, love, love the vibrant illustrations: the characters with big eyes, the geometric borders around the pictures, and the feisty little red pot.

The Magical Hands of Zalatimo

By Salam Akram Zalatimo

Illustrated by Margarita Fomenko

©2018 Create Space

An adorable rhyming book about a baker who makes the best mutabak (a treat made with sheets of dough, cheese curds, and sugar syrup). Based on a true family history (read more here), the delicious pastries (see how they are made here) put a smile on everyone's face.

While the original shop, opened in 1860, is still in Jerusalem's Old City, Momo's descendants have opened shops (and factories) all over the world.

Arab Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook

Tales by Karim Alrawi

Illustrations by Nahid Kazemi

Recipes by Sobhi al-Zobaidi & Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi and Karim Alrawi

©2021 Crocodile Books

Part of a series that includes Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts (2014) and Fairy Tale Feasts (2006), these "literary cookbooks" combine short tales with classic characters and classic recipes. This volume includes "Fish Soup in Gaza," accompanied by a recipe for fish soup. The notes include explanations of these characters like Goha (Joha), the wise fool, descriptions of the items in the recipes, and etymology of many of the Arabic words used in the stories and recipes. Colorful illustrations show the foods and compliment the text, like a picture of a winking girl who has outsmarted the teller of the "big fish tale." All the recipes are relative simple, although some of the ingredients are exotic.

We were saddened by the "coulda, shoulda, woulda" of so many books, and that out of nine books, only three fit the criteria. Some had incredible artwork, some showed beautiful examples of community caring and sharing, the richness of the culture, and some had a cute story. But the politics and the agenda overshadowed all these merits.

Real Cats of Israel

As for the Real Cats, this is about as real as it gets. We saw this crew outside when we went to pay a condolence to the family of 24-year-old Amichai Oster, who was killed in Gaza. Seeing this clowder of cats gave me a smile after a very sad visit.

Besorot tovot - May we hear good news soon!

Happy Reading!