The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Secret Journey by Rivkah Yudasin, illustrated by Jacky Yarhi Hachai Publishing, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Chava Pinchuck Buy at Hachai.com Inspired by true events, The Secret Journey is the story of Reb Yitzchak Zilber and his family. In Communist Russia in 1953, it was a challenge to “live as a Torah Jew.” Reb Yitzchak is sent to a prison camp, and his family must prepare for Pesach. Mama, Sarah, and Bechik take the train to a small village, where an old man shows them the strip of land where he grows wheat for matzah. The family brings a heavy sack of flour home with them, and Mama adds it to her “stash.” She brings all the flour to a cellar, where Rabbi Sandok mixes the flour and water and Mama and Mrs. Sandok roll out the dough. Then the matzahs are put in the oven. When they are done baking, Mama loads her sled and covers them with a blanket. On her way home, she encounters two soldiers. They are suspicious about her cargo, but she says a silent prayer, and the so...

Hidden Junior Fun-to-Read Adventures series by Rivkah Yudasin, illustrated by Jacky Yarhi Hachai Publishing, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Leah Cypess Buy at Hachai.com Hidden is an early reader adventure story based on a true historical event. The book relates the struggles of Rav Yitzchak Zilber, a labor camp in Stalin’s USSR. His determination to keep Shabbos in the camp led to a series of trials and adventures that Yudasin deftly turns into an age-appropriate page turner. Yahri’s wonderfully-drawn illustrations work well with the text to tell the story and hold the reader’s interest. The book focuses on the immediate dangers to Rav Zilber, and includes only the historical background that is necessary to tell the story. This book should be a strong contender for the Sydney Taylor Book Award. It is an age-appropriate, fast-moving chapter book that reflects both an important part of Jewish history and a commitment to keeping Jewish tradition. Are you interested in reviewing ...

Beneath the Stars by Rivkah Yudasin, illustrated by Jacky Yarhi Hachai Publishing, 2023 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Jeff Gottesfeld Buy at Hachai In February and March of 2003, I was in the city of Tver and the village of Vishniy Volochek, Russia, to adopt my son. I lived with a Jewish family there for a month,. I am connected to some of those folks to this day. To a person, they talked of Russian Jewish history and the dark days of official oppression. This wonderful book, ostensibly an easy-reader aimed at Orthodox Jewish kids, makes those little-known-days-to-kids-today immediate for every reader. It deserves serious Sydney Taylor Award consideration. I mean, really serious consideration. Author Rivkah Yudasin, backed by the realistic and compelling art of Jacky Yarhi, tell a story from the youth of revered rabbi Yitchak Zilber. The reader feels the threat of Stalinist denunciation as teen Zilber joins a furtive 6:00 a.m. minyan, and leins from the Torah for the first time si...