The Genizah

On this rainy Friday evening, a boy dwells upon the frustrations of his week. But as the Shabbat candles dance and he feels the warmth of his family gathered around him, he is able to look back and remember that along with the challenges, he also experienced a great deal of joy and awe. From the unexpected kindness of a stranger to a funny joke he learned, the more the boy searches for the light in his life, the more he comes to see that hope, happiness, and gratitude can be found in even the smallest moments. With lyrical rhyming text from Rebecca Gardyn Levington and gorgeous illustrations from Diana Mayo, Looking for Light is a poignant story about a Jewish family celebrating Shabbat, the day of rest, that inspires us to realize that even when good things feel overshadowed, there is always a spark of light to lift us up―if only we choose to look for it. Back matter includes an author's note about Shabbat, as well as a section on “How to Look for Light,” which suggests different ways we can practice gratitude on Shabbat or any day of the week.

With the grocery store shelves bare, the first night of Hanukkah seems like it's going to be a bust. Now, quirky heroine Harriet must collaborate with friends and neighbors to create an unexpectedly perfect Hanukkah feast

Maya and Ethan's Bubbe tells them how, as a child, a storm flooded her Texas town, and she and her father, the local baker, floated down the streets in a barrel delivering challah to neighbors

In generation after generation, there are brilliant and inspiring Rabbis who have shaped Jewish tradition as we know it. Some faced persecution with great courage, some accomplished staggering works of scholarship in their time, and some creating lasting impressions that reverberate through the centuries. Meet Rashi, the father of all Torah and Talmud commentary and champion of women’s learning in the Middle Ages. The Chofetz Chaim, who taught a nation how to speak with kindness. Rabbi Lau, who survived the Holocaust at the age of 2 and went on to lead the State of Israel, and so many more. Each Rabbi is brought to life in full-color illustrations and their entries include dates, locations, and more. Taken together, these stories create a rich history of faith and tradition.

When his brother Aaron teases him, Benjamin gets revenge by taunting him with food during his Yom Kippur fast, until he embraces the spirit of the holiday and apologizes to Aaron.

It’s Rosh Hashanah and Stella is finally old enough to make her family’s famous stuffed cabbage rolls. The recipe has been passed down from her Bubbe Sophie to her Nana to her Mama, with each adding their own special touch to the recipe. Now it’s Stella’s turn. What will she add? Pumpkins, peas, potatoes? What is to be her special touch?

One Wednesday afternoon, in the fall of 1943, something momentous happened. Take a minute to find out what. During World War II, the Jews of Europe were in tremendous danger. Anti-Semitic laws were issued, and Jews were attacked and deported. What could be done to save them? A committee of determined American Jews wanted to bring attention to the tragedy going on in Europe. They decided to hold a major rally. Hundreds of rabbis marched to the White House in Washington, D.C., to try and speak with the president and beg for his help. March! is a compelling book about a pivotal event in American Jewish history.

For Ethan and his family, Passover, the Festival of Freedom, is a holiday full of longstanding traditions, food, family, and great company. And at Ethan’s family seder, one message of the Haggadah is never forgotten: let all who are hungry, come and eat. This year, however, Ethan is anticipating a very small seder. Until . . . Knock, Knock, Knock. Each unexpected guest brings something surprising and special, reminding us all that the seder’s most essential ingredient is community.