While teaching at our local Hebrew school, I facilitated a curriculum on Jewish immigration with the third grade students in my classes. Part of this program incorporated reading both fiction and nonfiction books relating to the Jewish immigrant experience. The books we used gave the students a general understanding of some of the challenges their ancestors may have faced and stirred their interest in discovering more about their own Jewish immigrant ancestors. My goal was for each of my students to be able to answer these questions; "How did I, a Jewish American, arrive here, living in this place and time? Who helped to make it possible for me to be here?"
If the school year began right before Rosh Hashanah, the first book we shared was Avram's Gift written by Margie Blumberg and illustrated by Laurie McGaw. The story travels in time from the present day of a boy named Mark back to the childhood of his grandfather Morris in Russia. The catalyst is an old picture of a man dressed in strange clothes. Mark is actually afraid of it, until he learns the story behind the picture.
The joyous present day High Holy Day celebrations Mark enjoys with his family are contrasted with the difficulties experienced by his grandfather's family in Russia. The tearful parting at the train station in Russia and the triumphant shofar sounding at the story's conclusion, emotionally portray the strength of the Jewish people despite adversity.
Avram's Gift is best for children, seven to ten years of age, but it touched me (yes, I cry every time) even as an adult. This book connects personally with our family because one of our cousins, the rabbi in the family, sounds our immigrant Zayde's shofar each year. We also have pictures that my own children might have at one time considered scary, including this one:
Avram's Gift is among the books I am saving for each of my children, who will hopefully share them with their own children one day.
Wishing you a happy and sweet New Year!
Jennifer
Jewish Kids Books Circle Maven
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Recommended by the Jewish Kids Books Circle Maven:
The PJ Library offers free Jewish children's literature and music : http://www.pjlibrary.org/About-pj-library.aspx
