Books published by publisher Jewish Publication Society

Ages 8 and up. Fourteen-year-old Heather Hopkowitz can’t imagine life without bacon, cheeseburgers, or bowling on Friday nights. But she gives them all up when she spends an entire month as the guest of an Orthodox Jewish family while her parents are away on vacation. As Heather begins to appreciate the traditional rituals, she considers becoming observant. What will her friends think? What will her parents think?

Over the past 100 years, Jewish immigrants, and their children and grandchildren, have made major contributions to our country’s growth and development. In Forged in Freedom, Finkelstein brings to life 10 key turning points in history that affected both the U.S. and American Jews. It includes chapters on labor and justice, Jewish political coming-of-age, the fight against bigotry, the growth of a rich and varied U.S. culture, and the creation of uniquely American expressions of Judaism. There are 65 black and white photos and over 20 feature boxes throughout, as well as a glossary, a timeline of key events, bibliography, notes, and index.

Yemenite Jews were the victims of harsh laws and persecution, yet out of their troubled lives came tales of joy as well as of sorrow. When the Jews left Yemen for Israel, the stories came with them, reflecting their culture, their heritage, and their struggle to survive. Mishael Caspi collected these stories and translated them for Sharlya Gold, who adapted them for children. The wonderful illustrations by Marjory Wunsch highlight the authenticity and spirit of Yemenite Jewish life. This collection of 12 folktales, originally published by JPS in 1990, is sure to entertain new readers and introduce them to the rich lore of this ancient culture.

Meet Hanina, the daughter of a Jewish tailor who cures a sultan’s only child by taming a lioness to get her milk. And Nahum Bilbas, the brave rabbi-in-training who dares to confront the great warrior El Cid in order to secure peace for the Jews of Valencia. These and countless other colorful characters will entertain and intrigue you in this delightful collection that contains lessons, truths, surprises, and happy endings. When the Jews fled the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 and scattered all over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, they took with them the folktales that were an integral part of their heritage. As they settled into their new homelands, they borrowed many of the literary devices and motifs from their adopted countries, adding varied flavor to the traditional Jewish stories. For ages eight and up, The Power of Song includes a glossary of foreign words, and each story is accompanied by a short commentary on its origin and meaning. The author's introduction gives special attention to the history of Jewish folktales and specifically those of the Sephardic Jews.

Twelve-year-old David takes his basketball along on summer vacation, hoping to find a court and some friends at the beach community. Whatever happens, he knows that he can count on Max, his grandfather, for good times and lots of laughs. He finds much more. Unexpectedly, David and Max, along with David’s new friend Candy, become caught up in a search for a man Max thought had died in the Holocaust. Slowly, David learns about Max’s terrible years during World War II, information that Max had never intended to tell. As he comes to terms with Max’s horrific memories, David grows to understand more about the meaning of honesty—and about himself.