Rachel the Clever and Other Jewish Folktales
Although the 46 tales in this collection are as varied as the countries or regions from which they come Poland, central Asia, and Morocco, for example nearly all of them have been carried and passed on by immigrants to America. As a result, this collection is a world tour between two covers, but not at the expense of the unifying element common to these stories: their uniquely Jewish flavor, an emphasis on doing the right thing, on surviving by cleverness and kindness and on the need for...
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Although the 46 tales in this collection are as varied as the countries or regions from which they come Poland, central Asia, and Morocco, for example nearly all of them have been carried and passed on by immigrants to America. As a result, this collection is a world tour between two covers, but not at the expense of the unifying element common to these stories: their uniquely Jewish flavor, an emphasis on doing the right thing, on surviving by cleverness and kindness and on the need for keeping ....Library JournalSherman, author of A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore (August House, 1992), has brought together a treasure of stories--46 tales from places as disparate as Poland, central Asia, and Morocco. All are one or two pages in length (perfect for reading aloud) and have been passed on by immigrants to their children. The stories are meant for children, but their freshness and clarity will find them an adult audience as well. The Jewish emphasis on doing the right thing, on surviving by cleverness and kindness, and on maintaining a good sense of humor at all costs is seen throughout the collection. There are magical tales, such as ``The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' and ``The Dancing Demons,'' clever tales such as ``The Slave Who Was a Dectective,'' and the title story, where Rachel the Clever outwits the the king. Sherman's retelling is masterful, making these delightful stories available to a new generation. Highly recommended.-- Molly Abromowitz, Silver Spring, Md.
\ Library JournalSherman, author of A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore (August House, 1992), has brought together a treasure of stories--46 tales from places as disparate as Poland, central Asia, and Morocco. All are one or two pages in length (perfect for reading aloud) and have been passed on by immigrants to their children. The stories are meant for children, but their freshness and clarity will find them an adult audience as well. The Jewish emphasis on doing the right thing, on surviving by cleverness and kindness, and on maintaining a good sense of humor at all costs is seen throughout the collection. There are magical tales, such as ``The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' and ``The Dancing Demons,'' clever tales such as ``The Slave Who Was a Dectective,'' and the title story, where Rachel the Clever outwits the the king. Sherman's retelling is masterful, making these delightful stories available to a new generation. Highly recommended.-- Molly Abromowitz, Silver Spring, Md.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalGr 4 Up-A lively and well-rounded collection of folktales, ranging from humorous to hilarious to ghostly highjinks. It is refreshing that Sherman has chosen to present such a diversity of folklore, rather than relying strictly on tales from Eastern Europe. In this slim volume, 46 stories from Spain, Iran, Central Asia, Poland, and Tunisia, among others, portray the variety of Jewish experiences in the Diaspora. Readers and listeners will be intrigued by the similarity of cross-cultural folkloric traditions, and will delight in the familiar old stories of the Wise Men of Chelm. The author's notes add the right historical flavor. A fine choice for storytellers, it is also a wonderful pick for reading aloud.-Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA\ \
