In Brooklyn in the late 1940s, adolescent Michael Devlin is a dutiful son to his widowed mother and a conscientious altar boy at the parish church. One day, he meets Rabbi Judah Hirsch, a chance encounter that inaugurates a friendship with vast consequences, good and bad, for both of them. Michael lost his father in the war, and the rabbi, a recent immigrant to this country, lost his wife. The threads of their connection widen and strengthen as the...

"Embraced over many decades by hundreds of thousands of readers, To Be a Jew offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to traditional Jewish laws and customs as they apply to daily life in the contemporary world. In simple and powerful language, Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin presents the fundamentals of Judaism, including the laws and observances for the Sabbath, the dietary laws, family life, prayer at home and in the synagogue, the major and minor...

"A profoundly inspiring yet practical guide to well-being from one of modern Judaism's most beloved sages.As a congregational rabbi for half a century and the bestselling author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People and twelve other books on faith, ethics, and how to translate the timeless wisdom of religious thought into dealing with everyday challenges, Harold Kushner knows a thing or two about living a good life. In this compassionate new work,...

Despite her grandmother's wise words about how moving to a new place can be both bitter and sweet, Hannah feels only bitterness as she tries to get used to her new house. But when she sees the new home in the soft light of the Shabbat candles and a new friend reaches out with a special gift, Hannah begins to realize that sweetness can come from unexpected places. Includes author's note about Jewish traditions. "When Hannah's family has to move, her...

A young girl explores the Jewish philosophy of tikkun olam and is inspired to make a positive change in the world as she fixes her local park and inspires other community members to help.

"In this retelling of a 2,000-year-old story from the Talmud (Jewish book of law), Hanina Chipmunk knows it's a mitzvah to help others . . . but how can she give food to a hungry friend without making her friend feel embarrassed? She tries to do her good deed in secret, under the cover of darkness. But Hanina will need her wits and bravery to complete her mitzvah. Endnotes unpack the original tale and the Jewish value of helping those in need (tzedakah)."--...