As Hannuka Approaches and the Year Draws to a Close Let Us Draw Attention to Some Recent

Dear Friends,

As Hannuka approaches and the year 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 Zvika force. This hero and others who fought in those battles saved mighty Israel, once again from destruction. They blocked the Syrian onslaught. To my mind, a real ‘Forest Gump,’ and much more. 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, for those who have not:

Dr. Esther Herzog is a social anthropologist Senior Lecturer. and head of Anthropology at Bet Berl 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.

The book 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 a must for any history or holocaust library merely for the comprehensive and coherent footnotes following each article.

The book includes much previously unpublished material including holocaust details, events and narratives.

Published by Gefen, isbn 978-965-229-429-6

Another important piece of Holocaust Literature and Holocaust research is, ‘The Massacre of the Jews of Lithuanaia,’ by Dr. Karen Sutton and 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