A Project by Hadassa Ben Ari Illustrations by Tehila Bar-Hama |
Mural by Liran Tapiro at entrance to new war room in Re'im "The flowers will continue to bloom" |
Neria and Daniel Sharabi |
Salman Habaka |
Amit Mann |
Life is like a library owned by an author. In it are a few books, which he wrote himself, but most of them were written for him. --Harry Emerson Fosdick
A Project by Hadassa Ben Ari Illustrations by Tehila Bar-Hama |
Mural by Liran Tapiro at entrance to new war room in Re'im "The flowers will continue to bloom" |
Neria and Daniel Sharabi |
Salman Habaka |
Amit Mann |
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
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:
Besorot tovot,
May we hear good tidings soon!
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!
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:
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!)!
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. EisenhowerThe world changed on October 7th, and since then, it's been hard to focus on a lot of things, especially when a siren goes off. But as a corollary to two of SR Ranganathan's Five Rules of Library Science (Every person his or her book; every book its reader), the right books often come along at the right time for the person who needs to read them.
During this "matsav" (situation), one of the most interesting things in the book was Yitzchak Rabin's answer when Avner asked him, in 1995, why he shook Arafat's hand. Rabin answered that
"Israel is surrounded by two concentric circles. The inner circle is comprised of our immediate neighbors. The outer circle comprises their neighbors -- Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya. Virtually all of them are rogue states, and some are going nuclear. Iranian-inspired Islamic fundamentalism is striving to destabilize the Gulf Emirates, has already created havoc in Syria...in Algeria...in Egypt...in Jordan...in the Sudan and Somalia...and in Yemen. And now it is gaining influence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip...At the end of the day, the inner circle recognizes they have less to fear from Israel than from their Muslim neighbors, not least from radicalized Islamic powers going nuclear."
Wow! If you think this situation is something new, it has been brewing for 30 years. A hefty read at over 700 pages, but very worthwhile.
Once again, winter has arrived in Israel, with a nice bit of rain, and some brisk, sunny weather. As the Talking Heads so eloquently expressed it in "Life During Wartime," "this ain't no party, this ain't no disco." So we have to look extra hard to bright moments in the dark days of Kislev and the "matsav" (situation).
The idea for the book germinated many years ago, when she heard a "put the chicken in the pot" song on a CD. As Chaya Bluma was looking for books to share with kindergarteners in her groups, her list of criteria included simple words, a positive message, appealing illustrations, and Jewish values. She remembered the song and realized it would make a great book. The book features her grandson, who is old enough to help and enjoys cooking with his grandmother.
SPOILER ALERT!: The book begins with some wordless pages. A young boy is dropped off by an apartment building, and he climbs the steps to his grandparents' apartment with his school tik (bag) and two bags of groceries in tow. Grandmother (Grandma, Nana, Bubbe, Savta, Nona) is delighted to see him, and after he washes up, his grandmother asks what he wants to put in the pot. In go chicken, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, spices, potatoes, parsley, and finally, water. The words fit the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down." With the addition of each ingredient, Grandmother "stirs it up, nice and hot, we're getting ready for Shabbat." The soup, now ready for Shabbat, sits in the middle of the table. This beautiful double spread captures the colors and the amazing energy of a family around a Shabbat table.
©2023 by Chaya Bluma Gadenyan. Used with permission. |
Cooking and singing at the same time, especially with young children, would be very challenging, so Chaya Bluma commissioned a crochet artist to make some of the ingredients in the book. She also created a coloring page, so that a group can review the items, and then follow along with the book.
As for Chaya Bluma's chicken soup, she grew up in an Ashkenazi home and married a Jerusalem-born Persian man, so her repertoire has literally been "spiced up." She makes Gomeh sabzi, which is a chicken soup with lots of fresh herbs and dried lime - her own "fusion" recipe.
We loved hearing about Chaya Bluma's self-publishing journey from finding an illustrator to picking a printer. There are two versions of the book. The original has activities like a maze and a crossword puzzle at the end, the recipe for Chaya Bluma's chicken soup, as well as QR codes to access the internet, and information about names and Shabbat. The second edition has question prompts, is less expensive, and does not include the activities (or the codes). Both versions have vibrant pictures, and because Chaya Bluma was able to work so closely with the illustrator, the boy looks like her grandson, and the grandmother looks like...Chaya Bluma.
Chaya Bluma has also published an adorable coloring book for girls -- Girls' Names from the Hebrew Bible. On the left of each double spread is a "modern" girl dressed modestly, and on the right is her biblical counterpart: Sarah, Rivka, Leah, and more. She has developed a card name based on the soup book, and is working on several children's picture book manuscripts.
It was a pleasure meeting Chaya Bluma and learning about all her creative projects.