The Jewish Primer

An addictively readable mix of practical information, fun facts and figures, and amusing trivia about Jewish life. This witty handbook serves up a hearty stew of all things Jew. Did Jew Know is filled with fun, surprising, and informative facts about all aspects of Jewish life. Need to know about all those second-tier holidays no one ever celebrates? We’ve got you covered. Curious about kosher laws and Kabbalah? Have no fear. Join us for a history of the Jewish people from Saul to Seinfeld, a rundown of bubbe-approved nosh, and details about the Jewish invention of . . . everything. Packed with infographics, quizzes, and charts, this handy primer is perfect for cocktail conversation, sharing facts around the Seder table, or celebrating the unlikely triumphs of the Chosen People.

Every holiday has two parts: its historical background and its laws. This unique new offering from Shmuel Blitz - especially for children - presents both. He begins by telling us the story. We'll learn the history of the Exodus from Egypt; the heroism of the Maccabees, Chana and her seven sons; and Yehudis; the story of Rabbi Akiva and his rise from unlearned shepherd to the great sage of our people. So it is with every one of our festivals. And then - once we know the story - we learn the laws. Everything is presented simply, accurately, and clearly, in the famous Shmuel Blitz manner. With Tova Katz's beautiful illustrations, it's a treasure house of fun-filled learning. Read it to your little ones. Before long they'll know it by heart and read it to you. Bring a sparkle to your holidays with this hit from a master storyteller.

What does it mean to be Jew(ish) in 2020? Caught between tradition and modernity, between a Jewish family and a non-Jewish son, Matt Greene ponders the big questions concerning identity, religion, family and Seinfeld. When his son was born to a non-Jewish mother, Matt began to consider the upbringing he'd put behind him--the sense of not belonging, the forbidden foods, the holidays that felt more like punishments. There are more types of Jew than there are bagel fillings, and for every two there are three opinions. But if you're not a black-hatted frummer, if you're allergic to groups, if you observe but don't believe, or you don't observe at all, does that make you less Jewish? In this wide-ranging series of essays, at turns irreverent, insightful, urgent and iconoclastic, Matt considers what might loosely be termed 'the modern Jewish experience', and asks what it means to be anything in a world obsessed with the self and the other.

Discusses the significance and the customs of various Jewish holidays including Sukkot, Purim, and Yom Hashoah. Provides activities and crafts for each holiday.

Journeys Through the Alef-Bet is a brand-new Hebrew pre-primer for second to third grade students offering Hebrew letter recognition skills and beginning at blending sounds.

From the original legends of the Bible to the peace accords of today's newspapers, this engaging, one-volume history of the Jews will fascinate and inform. 30 illustrations.

“In The Ruined House a ‘small harmless modicum of vanity’ turns into an apocalyptic bonfire. Shot through with humor and mystery and insight, Ruby Namdar's wonderful first novel examines how the real and the unreal merge. It's a daring study of madness, masculinity, myth-making and the human fragility that emerges in the mix." —Colum McCann, National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin Winner of the Sapir Prize, Israel’s highest literary award Picking up the mantle of legendary authors such as Saul Bellow and Philip Roth, an exquisite literary talent makes his debut with a nuanced and provocative tale of materialism, tradition, faith, and the search for meaning in contemporary American life. Andrew P. Cohen, a professor of comparative culture at New York University, is at the zenith of his life. Adored by his classes and published in prestigious literary magazines, he is about to receive a coveted promotion—the crowning achievement of an enviable career. He is on excellent terms with Linda, his ex-wife, and his two grown children admire and adore him. His girlfriend, Ann Lee, a former student half his age, offers lively companionship. A man of elevated taste, education, and culture, he is a model of urbanity and success. But the manicured surface of his world begins to crack when he is visited by a series of strange and inexplicable visions involving an ancient religious ritual that will upend his comfortable life. Beautiful, mesmerizing, and unsettling, The Ruined House unfolds over the course of one year, as Andrew’s world unravels and he is forced to question all his beliefs. Ruby Namdar’s brilliant novel embraces the themes of the American Jewish literary canon as it captures the privilege and pedantry of New York intellectual life in the opening years of the twenty-first century.

From the author of "Yiddish for Dogs" comes this eye-catching visual dictionary. With its charming photography, "Yiddish for Babies" will leave readers "ferklempt."