Review: An Etrog From Across the Sea
An Etrog From Across the Sea
by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen
Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Suzanne Grossman
Buy at Bookshop.org
Two children and their mother anxiously await their father’s return from his perilous journey on business from New York to Corsica in the 1700’s. Will he be home in time for Sukkot, bringing the special etrog as promised? Or will he be shipwrecked, lost at sea, or attacked by pirates? While he’s delayed, his family travels from their northern homestead amidst the Native American tribes to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with their grandfather in the city. When they must head home without their father, their grandfather gifts them a valuable etrog holder along with the gift of faith that their father will return safely in time. With a smattering of sibling rivalry and moments of worry and fear, the love of the family always shines through. As the holiday draws closer and the father has not returned, the family builds a sukkah together with materials from the surrounding woods. Just as they are about to begin the holiday, their father appears with the etrog in hand.
Two children and their mother anxiously await their father’s return from his perilous journey on business from New York to Corsica in the 1700’s. Will he be home in time for Sukkot, bringing the special etrog as promised? Or will he be shipwrecked, lost at sea, or attacked by pirates? While he’s delayed, his family travels from their northern homestead amidst the Native American tribes to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with their grandfather in the city. When they must head home without their father, their grandfather gifts them a valuable etrog holder along with the gift of faith that their father will return safely in time. With a smattering of sibling rivalry and moments of worry and fear, the love of the family always shines through. As the holiday draws closer and the father has not returned, the family builds a sukkah together with materials from the surrounding woods. Just as they are about to begin the holiday, their father appears with the etrog in hand.
McQueen’s sophisticated pencil, oil and acrylic artwork, reminiscent of art of the colonial period, smoothly matches and enhances the tone and setting of this tale. The story is inspired by an actual Sephardic family that lived in America in this area at that time. Fascinating backmatter offers detailed history of their unusual prosperous beginnings. The beautiful mustard cup portrayed in the book was used as an etrog holder by the family and is now in the American Jewish Historical Society. A perfect picture book for older readers interested in holidays including sukkot as well as those learning about early American history. A lovely addition to Judaic collections as well as public and school libraries.
The representation of affluent Jewish life in early America is authentic and integral to the story. The fair-skinned family is dressed in mainstream garb of that period and the males do not have head coverings, demonstrating a level of assimilation. The fall chagim feature prominently as the backdrop to the plot with the emphasis on the importance of enhancing Sukkot with a beautiful etrog being central. All readers would take away an understanding of the challenges and dangers of life in those days as well as an appreciation of the importance of the observance of Jewish holidays to families then as well as it is now.
The representation of affluent Jewish life in early America is authentic and integral to the story. The fair-skinned family is dressed in mainstream garb of that period and the males do not have head coverings, demonstrating a level of assimilation. The fall chagim feature prominently as the backdrop to the plot with the emphasis on the importance of enhancing Sukkot with a beautiful etrog being central. All readers would take away an understanding of the challenges and dangers of life in those days as well as an appreciation of the importance of the observance of Jewish holidays to families then as well as it is now.
Editor's Note: The story is fictional but the character of the grandfather is based on Luis Moses Gomez, whom the backmatter identifies as a slaveholder. This aspect of his history is not mentioned in the story itself.
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