Dear Friends,
As Hannuka gets underway (or begins to wind down) and 2008 draws to a
close let us draw attention to some recent highlights. The year has
been tumultuous and while some things have changed, others remain
constant. For example, scholarship continues, as does research and publishing.
In the area of History of Israel and thirty five years after the Yom
Kippur War, Modan has published, 'Koah Zvika, Zvika Force,' about and
by Zvika Grengold a young soldier who fought on the Golan Heights.
Those were bitter tank battles with many casualties and he fought
from battle to battle against tens, perhaps hundreds of Syrian tanks.
He became known to HQ on the radio as the "Zvika Force". This hero
and others who fought in those battles saved mighty Israel, once
again from destruction. They blocked the Syrian onslaught. In my
mind, a real 'Forest Gump' but much more than that. The author is
from a kibbutz up north, Lohame Ha-Geta'ot and the son of holocaust
survivors.
Cat. # 68936 $ 24.00
Some of you may have already seen my recommendation of the next
holocaust book in English - Life, Death and Sacrifice. For those who have not:
Dr. Esther Herzog is a social anthropologist Senior Lecturer, head of
Anthropology at Bet Berl College and the daughter of survivors. The
book is a collection of serious academic papers, (many), presented
at 3 international conferences at Beit Berl College, Bet Terezin and
Beit Lohamei HaGhettaot.
"Life, Death and Sacrifice: Women and Family in the Holocaust" is
an important milestone in holocaust research demonstrates the
important contribution to holocaust study of specialized approaches
and disciplines such as Women's Studies. Issues of roles and status
are explored as well as family structures and mechanisms for survival
and coping with the horror, hunger, violence, stress and loss are
discussed and examined. The history of holocaust literature is
explored from the early women's diaries through the legal
documentation, through the more ideological histories, of course with
serious analysis and citation.
The book would be necessary for any history or holocaust library
merely for the comprehensive and coherent footnotes following each
article. It includes much previously unpublished material including
holocaust details, events and narratives. Published by Gefen, isbn
978-965-229-429-6. Cat.no. 68973 $24.00
Another important piece of Holocaust Literature and Holocaust
research is, 'The Massacre of the Jews of Lithuanaia,' by Dr. Karen
Sutton and also published by Gefen 2008 in English. The work is
fascinating and scholarly and examines many of the myths regarding
local complicity in the genocide against the Jewish population versus
examples of Lithuanian independence in many other spheres. The
portrayal of Jews, or "the Jews' " betrayal of Lithuanaia through
their support or involvement with communism and the USSR is a major
focus of this serious work.
Cat. # 69269 $ 26.00
Normally, I never mention cookbooks. 'Melting Pot,' produced and
edited by Dafi Forer Kremer is an exception. This is a really nice
coffee table type cookbook with 214 pages of recipes and photos
ordered according to the Bible portions parshiot.
Genesis / Bereshit is appetizers, Shemot / Exodus, soups, through
Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim, main dishes, desserts and cakes, respectively.
Included are UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs recipe for Kubaneh, Rabbi
Riskin's roast peppers, preceded by a drasha on raising children,
Zeev Bielsky, head of the Jewish Agency and his recipe for Injera,
Ethiopian bread, preceded by an article about Jewish Identity.
Everything about this book is beautiful and impressive from the
dishes, variety, to the contributors and their thinking. The book is
published by Dani Sefarim 2008 .
Cat. # 69085 $39.00
In the area of Israeli DVD's or Israeli documentaries we have
supplied two relatively new, interesting ones:
'Wolgin's Selected Shorts 2008, 'Nivhare taharut wolgin..' which
includes ten short films on two discs. Naturally, some of the new,
Israeli talented actors and directors are featured and topics such as
repentance on the High Holidays, encounters between Russian Jewish
soldiers and Hamas militants, Ethiopian Israelis and conflicts
between old and new cultures are all depicted.
Cat. # 69217 $ 48.00
'Children of the Sun, Yalde Ha-Shemesh,' a film by Ron
Tal has been
produced by Hed Arzi. It includes footage shot from 1930-1970 and
deals with the myth and reality of childhood on kibbutzim.
Cat. # 69216 $ 36.00
To sign off on a cheery note I would like to mention a new 2008 gold
CD hit, ' Nekuda Tova Good Point,' by Shuly Rand. The singer acted
in the wonderful film, previously plugged by me, 'Ushpizin.'
The album of pop- folk rock was a surprise success and one of those
crossovers from the religious to the secular world that are so interesting.
All of us at Jerusalem Books wish you a Happy Hannuka.
Sincerely, Jeff Spitzer
Wendy Weiss Simon
Jerusalem Books Ltd.
POB 26190
Jerusalem, 91261, Israel
(Tel) 972-2-642-6653/6576
(Fax) 972-2-643-3580
www.jerusalembooks.co.il
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
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