L'Chaim! To Jewish Life in America Celebrating from 1654 Until Today
592358
Book and delivery EXCELLENT!
The information, articles, photos, sorrows, tragedies of our Jews is presented clearly, better than any other book of its ilk.  I recommend it 100% per cent, and more.  Maggie Wise Riley
1378656
"The Yankee at the Seder" is a beautifully illustrated children's book. It is a 9 3/4 inch by 12 3/4 inch, 36 page book with a beautifully illustrated dust jacket and pictorial cover. The subject of the Civil War combined with the celebration of the Passover Seder is a wonderful story plot which can be enjoyed by all ages. Anyone in 4th grade or above should be able to read this book without much trouble. There are a few Jewish words that the average reader may not know like: Afikoman, Haggadah, Matzoh, and Seder. Fortunately the author includes a glossary at the beginning of the book which explains the meanings of these words. The author also includes a biographical sketch and historical information about the characters in the book and the historical account of the Passover at the end of the book. Every other page is a full color, full page illustration. These illustrations accurately portray the feelings and personalities of the characters through their facial expressions. This book is based on a true story which occurred at the end of the American Civil War.

 The long Civil War is finally over and 10 year old Jacob is sitting on his front porch eating a piece of matzoh and lamenting the Confederate loss of the War of Northern Aggression. Suddenly a Yankee Jewish corporal came walking down the street and asked Jacob for a piece of his matzoh. Jacob ran in the house and told his mother that a Yankee Jew was outside. Jacob's mother invites the Yankee stranger to their seder that evening. This southern Jewish family puts into practice the meaning of the Seder -- "All who are hungry, let them come and eat: all who are in need, let them join us for the Passover meal."  Although the Yankee corporal and Jacob and his family have their differences, they celebrate their commonality with each other. After the seder, the Yankee corporal leaves. A year later in the midst of the despair and economic hardships in the south, Jacob and his family receive a barrel from the Yankee corporal. Inside the barrel there was lots of matzoh and a bottle of wine for use at their seder. At the bottom of the barrel was a silver goblet inscribed in Hebrew with the following words, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

The author conveys the historical background of the Passover and the American Civil War in an easy to read and understand picture book. All children in 4th grade and above, could understand the comparison of the American Civil War and the deiverance of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage. This is a great way to teach some of the wonderful truths of the deliverance of the Jews from the Egyptians and also the struggle of the South against the North. The book teaches children that it is possible to overlook our differences and celebrate the things which we have in common.
147756
A journey through the History of a very enchanted People. The Sephardim, a minority within a minority. My People! Unlike the majority of Jewish People in the United States , Yiddish was not a part of our culture. Ladino, a mixture of Hebrew, Spanish and a little Portuguese made up our language and culture. Although barely in existence today, and found mostly in the older generation of Sephardic elders. Mr. Edery along with a few other young Sephardim are trying to bring our culture back to life and make it a vibrant and strong voice in Jewish- American life.
This selection of music is not only historical in context, but is also a painting with magnificent, colorful, musical brush strokes touching the heart and soul of any human being open to G-d and to life. Sit back in a comfortable chair, get your favorite coffee and maybe a little "nosh" and enjoy brilliance put to sound. Eleven songs touching on the broad aspects of Sephardic songs.
Give a listen you will not be disappointed.
2713500
I enjoyed the book very much. I'm still another one who applauds Rivkah for her boldness in including the very different accounts, even though she knew that many people, both Gentiles and Jews, would get offended at least once. I certainly had to set aside defensive and/or argumentative feelings more than once!  But, YES, the time has come, God is bringing us back together, Jew and Gentile, through our mutual love of God and Torah. Those 2 facts are what we have in common. Every Gentile who still doesn't love Israel and the Jewish people has no idea of what they're missing out on!
562517
American Jewish Classic! Real Authentic Torah Judaism!
To thieving lying fake "rabbis" & community-fleecing "official Jewish leaders" caused numerous heart-attacks & ulcers.
Book is just as relevant today as in the day it was written!!!
Rak "Kach"! Kahane Chai!
3634903
What a great treasure, this book! I feel so grateful to have it. A collection of incredible photos that transports one back to a time and place that, tragically, exists no longer. This book is a deeply loving tribute to the Blessed Memory of all those Yiddish souls captured in its pages. This is a book to be given a place of honour and treasured for generations to come. A Groysn Dank to the remarkable people who created this book!!
4454212
Please add recorded chassidus shiurim or perhaps the daily Hayom Yom portion, thanks!
1976691
Rabbi Alport has authored a sefer which anyone can enjoy from the novice to the Torah scholar . The amount of sources quoted in the sefer shows the hard work and effort Rabbi Alport put into making this wonderful sefer. My favorite part of the sefer is the questions and answers with their sources. Very happy with my purchase.
635243
The introduction opens with, "Mazal Tov, You've Had a Baby Girl!"  Everybody is familiar with a bris, or brit milah circumcision ceremony -- and in current practice, a festive celebration, for healthy baby boys on their eighth day after birth.  But what do you do when you have a daughter?  What are they, chopped liver?  Since the early 1970's, some Jewish parents have been celebrating their daughters in original ways (Ezrat Nashim published the first ceremonies in 1977, and the havurah and renewal movements wrote about theirs starting around 1973).  Debra Nussbaum Cohen, a resident of Park Slope Brooklyn, and mother who has known the joy of birth and the pain of loss, has created this essential guide to new and traditional ceremonies with which to welcome your new daughter to the world, the covenant, and the Jewish people.  It will be a welcome addition to your Jewish bookshelf and your life. Consider this: what you create today will be a "tradition" for your descendants! Cohen started collecting organic Simchat Bat ceremonies when she was pregnant with her first child. For your Simchat Bat ceremony and celebration, she includes readings, poems, specialized readings for adoptions, blessings, prayers (in Hebrew, English transliterations and translations), history, songs, and rituals.  It is an inclusive book that has sample ceremonies also crafted for adherents to traditional Orthodoxy, traditional Sephardic rite, contemporary rites, contemporary Orthodox, humanism, and modren mikveh rites.  Part One consists of about two dozen pages that introduce you to welcoming ceremonies and Jewish tradition, including the idea of covenant, brit milah, the custom of gomel, and that of a new father being called to the Torah to recite blessings, announce the birth, and pray for his wife's recovery. Part Two consists of about four dozen pages on seriously practical considerations for your ceremony.  It includes chapters on how to involve your non-Jewish loved ones or spouse, if necessary (through acknowledgement and readings); what to do in cases of adoption and cross-cultural adoption (remember, Moses was an adopted child, and Mordechai was probably an adoptive parent); and gay and lesbian parenthood.  Part Three focuses on planning the event, creating programs, sanctifying the space, and deciding when to have the Simchat Bat (eighth day, 30th day, etc.).  Part Four contains over 150 pages of sample ceremonies, and hundreds of readings and elements from which you can pick and choose.  It includes selections for welcoming, naming, prayers of thanksgiving, parental blessings, acrostics, psalms, readings for relatives and friends, blessings for wine and bread, and rituals for brit nerot (light), brit mikvah (immersion), brit rechitzah (footwashing/handwashing), brit tallit (enfolding her into the covenant), brit kehillah (community), brit melach, and brit havdalah (transitions).  The book succeeds so well, one wishes all the babies were girls (or maybe some things can be borrowed for future boys).
1550244
Such a fun read. Great for kids and adults alike! Fun story, beautiful illustrations, and a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty behind Judaism. 5 stars!!! Great Hanukkah gift.
4743249
This is an excellent book on the Jewish holidays for both Jews and non-Jews.  Elizabeth first explains the various branches of Judaism and the Jewish calender.  Then she discusses each Jewish holiday, the history and story of the holiday and how it's observed today.

I was familiar with some of the holidays, like Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanakah and Passover.  But Elizabeth provides some new details and background for those holidays.

She also discusses many other Jewish holidays like Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Shemini Atzerit (Eighth Day of Assembly), Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah), Purim (Feast of Lots), Yom Hashoah (holocaust Remembrance Day) and many more.

It's a well-written book and very informative. There are also a lot of links in the back for each holiday if you want to read more.

I'd highly recommend this book!
1115307
I learned so much from the book. I never knew about the this period in Jewish history and I love to read about it. Wonderfully told by the author. You will truly enjoy reading it.
1185152
This book captures the most important part of Hanukkah, a celebration of Jewish liberty.  For anyone who wants to learn more about the kinds of lives Jews lived, why liberty is such an essential aspect of Judaism, or why we must sometimes fight for the liberty and freedom we enjoy, this is the book for them.  It is beautifully written and joyous to read.
1381861
I am giving this book to my father, who was born and raised in Ridgefield, in 1919.  My grandfather owned the first garage there, which still stands today.  Being of Italian heritage, I felt this was the perfect gift for my dad who will be 95 in December.  I just know that he will read it and with his photographic memory, will see the names and photos  of those in it and say.."OMG, I remember those people!!"

Some of my family members have had their thoughts included in this book, as memories of times and events of the time.

Thank you for a classic work of the history of a small community in Connecticut, and raising the awareness of the role of the Italian immigrants who settled there.
4751612
Very good read. Brought back memories from that period. Was a young girl from four to eight reading the papers and keeping up to date in school. Much was written about the rounding up of those of the Jewish faith and their tribulations. Book has such a real feel to it. Would purchase book two and three if I could. If you are able to face this part of our past, GET THIS BOOK.I
4325892
Great book to understand the Jewish holidays in more detail a lot of insight given in this book. Not only from a knowledge perspective but also from a spiritual perspective. I Give It 2 Thumbs Up!
1897541
My wife and I both go to a ChaBad Synagoue and are consequentually highly interested in this subject. This is well researched and excelent information on Hassidism and the seventh Rebbe.  Both my wife and I managed to derive a lot of knowladge on the subject.