The Family Book of Midrash: 52 Jewish Stories from the Sages

by Barbara Diamond Goldin

Overview

This collection gives the reader a taste of the thousands of stories one can find in the treasure house of rabbinic literature. Some of these stories are humorous, some mysteriuos, some tense with drama or adventure, some filled with the joy of a miracle and the beauty of faith. All of these stories come from either the Talmud or the Midrash. This collection shows that these rabbinical stories are not old and outdated, but alive and timeless, for future generations to continue to enjoy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742579675
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/27/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	1
File size:	640 KB

About the Author

Barbara Diamond Goldin is currently the youth librarian in a public library. She is the recipient of the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries for her significant contribution to Jewish children's literature. She is the author of many works of fiction and non-fiction.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 The Animals in the Ark
Chapter 3 How Dishonesty Entered the Ark
Chapter 4 Pharaoh's Crown
Chapter 5 Moses' Staff
Chapter 6 Why God Chose Mount Sinai
Chapter 7 The Most Precious Gift
Chapter 8 Moses Visits Akiva
Chapter 9 The Women's Reward
Chapter 10 The Widow's Gold
Chapter 11 David and the Spiderweb
Chapter 12 The Wind, the Widow, and Solomon
Chapter 13 The Tower in the Sea
Chapter 14 Solomon and the Demon King
Chapter 15 The Tower in the Sea
Chapter 16 Alexander's Lesson
Chapter 17 Never Too Poor to Study Torah
Chapter 18 A Test of Hillel's Patience
Chapter 19 Learning Torah on One Foot
Chapter 20 Honi the Circle Maker
Chapter 21 Honi and the Carob Tree
Chapter 22 Nicanor's Doors
Chapter 23 Rabbi Johanan's Escape
Chapter 24 The Argument
Chapter 25 A Thief in the Night
Chapter 26 The Goats That Once Were Chickens
Chapter 27 The Hallahs
Chapter 28 A Banquet for God
Chapter 29 To Look at God
Chapter 30 The Emperor's Daughter and the Wine Vessels
Chapter 31 The Rich Man's Son
Chapter 32 Rachel and Akiva
Chapter 33 The Candle, the Donkey, and the Rooster
Chapter 34 Prove It
Chapter 35 Like a Fish Out of Water
Chapter 36 A Little Grain
Chapter 37 Both Good and Evil
Chapter 38 My Brother Ki Tov
Chapter 39 Better a Change Than Death
Chapter 40 Rabbi Shimon, the Cave, and the Carob Tree
Chapter 41 A Wife's Love
Chapter 42 Elisha and the Dove
Chapter 43 Rabbi Hama's Son
Chapter 44 Judah and Antoninus
Chapter 45 The Missing Ingredient
Chapter 46 Rabbi Joshua and the Messiah
Chapter 47 The Pious Cow
Chapter 48 One More Try
Chapter 49 The Clever Thief
Chapter 50 The Will
Chapter 51 The Best Merchandise
Chapter 52 Leviathan and Fox
Chapter 53 A Man of Good Deeds
Chapter 54 The Brothers of Ashkelon
Chapter 55 Glossary
Chapter 56 Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

These stories, mined from the Midrash and Talmud and retold by gifted children's book author Barbara Diamond Goldin, are full of miracles and magic, full of wisdom and wit. They are just perfect for family sharing. There are 52 of these gems, lovingly polished by Ms. Goldin and made accessible even to the youngest children. Taken one a week for a year, they can be vitamins for the entire family's soul.

Jane Yolen

A thoroughly professional piece of work…In this collection of 52 stories from the Talmud and other sources, [Barbara Diamond Goldin] manages to maintain the integrity of the original stories while making them accessible to children. The stories…such as 'Moses Visits Akiva,' 'Honi the Circle Maker,' 'Honi and the Carob Tree,' and 'Rachel and Akiva,' are all exquisitely told. These are tales of adventure, mystery, humor, and faith, all related in a nondidactic manner…This beautifully designed and crafted book will make a treasured addition to a child's bookshelf.

The Jerusalem Post

Classic selections emphasize kindness and faith; miracles are celebrated, and strong plots reinforce moral and ethical values....With naturalness and warmth, Goldin offers plenty of old-time adventure, suspense, drama, and humor here. Once the stories have been shared aloud—there are enough for each week of the year—21st century childeren will want to return to reexperience them for themselves....

From the Publisher

Classic selections emphasize kindness and faith; miracles are celebrated, and strong plots reinforce moral and ethical values....With naturalness and warmth, Goldin offers plenty of old-time adventure, suspense, drama, and humor here. Once the stories have been shared aloud—there are enough for each week of the year—21st century childeren will want to return to reexperience them for themselves.

Jewish Book World

A thoroughly professional piece of work…In this collection of 52 stories from the Talmud and other sources, [Barbara Diamond Goldin] manages to maintain the integrity of the original stories while making them accessible to children. The stories…such as 'Moses Visits Akiva,' 'Honi the Circle Maker,' 'Honi and the Carob Tree,' and 'Rachel and Akiva,' are all exquisitely told. These are tales of adventure, mystery, humor, and faith, all related in a nondidactic manner…This beautifully designed and crafted book will make a treasured addition to a child's bookshelf.

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