A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore

by Josepha Sherman

Overview

This anthology reveals the varieties of Jewish wisdom, cleverness, irony and humor through tales filled with allegories preaching humility and charity. -Publishers WeeklyThe vast body of Jewish folklore, influencing and influenced by the many and various cultures in which it came in contact over the ages, reflects both the struggle and the triumph of being a Jew. The stories in this book come from many sources and includes lunar holidays and everyday observances; wonder tales from the Sorcerer's Apprentice; a Jewish version of Cinderella; tales of dybbuks, golems and other supernatural beings; and superstitions and traditions surrounding birth, marriage, and death. Josepha Sherman strives to reveal the unique Jewish flavor, characterized by an enduring wit and humor alongside the path of surviving centuries of persecution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780874831931
Publisher:	August House Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/25/1993
Series:	American Folklore Series
Pages:	215
Product dimensions:	6.13(w) x 9.14(h) x 0.63(d)
Lexile:	960L (what's this?)
Age Range:	11 - 18 Years

About the Author

Josepha Sherman Bio:Josepha Sherman enjoyed success as a fantasy novelist, folklorist, and editor, who was a prolific writer. Her work ranged from adapting Star Trek novels to biographies of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon.com) to folktale collections like Trickster Tales. Sherman was the winner of the prestigious Compton Crook Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and has had many titles on the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Reader List. When she wasn’t busy writing, editing, or gathering folklore, Sherman loved to travel, learned how to do “Horse Whispering”, and once had a newborn foal fall asleep on her foot.

Editorial Reviews

Despite this collection's title, very few of its short tales, proverbs and riddles have anything to do with America. Rather, they largely stem from pre-New World Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jewish life. Sherman ( The Shining Falcon ), a specialist in comparative folklore, makes a number of mistakes and omissions (one note refers to ``The Babylonian Talmud . . . chapter 2,'' which is analogous to saying ``Shakespeare's Plays, Acts III''). These flaws aside, this enjoyable anthology reveals the varieties of Jewish wisdom, cleverness, irony and humor through tales filled with demons and dybbuks and allegories preaching humility and charity. A particularly fascinating section entitled ``Clever Folk and Survivors''--from a traveler who outwits a robber to a fox who outwits the Angel of Death--highlights the acuity that was nothing less than a prerequisite for Jews, who have so often found themselves in seemingly impossible predicaments. Sherman also is informative on the histories of some stories--we learn that the tales of the foolish ``Wise Men of Chelm'' date back to the 15th century--and on similarities between Jewish folktales and those of other ethnic traditions. Jewish Book Club selection. (June)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly