TEN AND A KID

by Sadie Rose Weilerstein ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 20, 1961

The Jewish community of Lithuania in the 1880's was a self-sufficient cultural group guided by the tenets of religion and steeped in the rich heritage of Judaism. Jewish folklore and legends, the observance of the Sabbath and the yearly holidays, the practice of a thousand and one customs were an integral part of the ghetto and inseparable from the ""outside interests"" of its members. The reader is assimilated into this life from Passover to Purim in the company of one large, close-knit family. The goat that arrives Elijah-style at the Passover Seder brings luck for the following year. As it materializes in episodes that are stories in themselves, we also taste the succulent treats of shabbos, the harvest fruits of Shevuos and Sukkos and the excitement of Hanukah. There are special adventures too. Kezele's trusting soul gets him in trouble with a band of gypsies and Fayge's poetic nature sets her apart on many delightful occasions. The author uses her characters as foils for invoking the spirit of Jewish life at that time- and she succeeds most admirably.

Pub Date: Oct. 20, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1961

Categories: FICTION