Uncle Yossi's Grand Story Collection: A Treasury of Classic Jewish Tales for All Ages, by Yosef Goldstein (Jewish Learning Group, 2024, $29.95, 440pp, all ages) Review by Skye Anderson
About the Book
Look at that cover! And it's embossed, too.
The title is right on! This is indeed a "grand story collection" of tales from Jewish history and culture. The book itself is the size of a Bible and the tales come from the Talmud, the Torah, the Midrash and Jewish lore.
About the Storyteller
Author Rabbi Yosef Goldstein, Uncle Yossi, lived to be 85 (1927-2013) and was well-known for 50 years for his teachings and stories on tape and on radio. His stories appealed to all and many ended with an explanation or discussion of universal truths, morals and ethics.
This collection of tales, both contemporary and traditional, collected by one of the Rabbi's ten sons, Zalman, will last a lifetime. The hardcopy version even has an attached ribbon to hold your place as you zip around from story to story. Many stories are suspenseful and will keep you wanting to read the next one, and the next one.
About a Story
One grand story is about King Solomon - a story that perhaps may be new to you, about an old woman who baked three loaves of bread. She gave two to beggars who knocked on her door (the woman "hosted guests" and "gave charity") and the third one just blew away. It turned out that loaf of bread plugged a hole in the boat of a wealthy man who prayed to God to quell the storm and he would give away half his wealth. I won't reveal the ending but I'm sure you can guess. (p. 159)
No comments:
Post a Comment