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Jewish Holiday Books

Happy Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl!

Holiday-themed books aren't a tradition in Judaism the way they have become in American Christianity, and they're far from a cultural phenomenon. Furthermore, December is definitely not my holiday season. Yes, we have the minor festival of Hanukkah, but if we're really talking about a season, that would have been back in September-October with the High Holidays, Sukkot etc. That said, with a bit of digging, I managed to find some Hanukkah and other Jewish holiday books! I'm excited because I've never seen those books before and I've certainly never read any (re: not a Jewish phenomenon). However, here are some of the awesome books I found for all of my fellow Jews who are hunkering down amid this month of Christian festivities in the States.

Jewish Holiday Books and Stories
Hanukkah Romances (I haven't read any of these, but I'm glad they exist)

1. Eight Kisses: Eight All-New Tales of Holiday Romance by Mindy Klasky

2. "Eight Tiny Flames" by Crista McHugh in A Very Scandalous Holiday: Anthology

 3. Hearts of Hanukkah by Eve Paludan

4. Lighting the Flames: A Hanukkah Story by Sarah Wendell

5. A Whole Latke Love: A Hanukkah Short Story by Jodi Payne

Jewish Holiday Kids' Books

6. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (this is an old favorite picture book of mine)

7. The Mitzvah Gang and the Extraordinary Sukkah by Sarah Mazor (Jewish kids' book I found online)

8. Dreidels on the Brain by Joel Ben Izzy (a middle grade Hanukkah book)

9. Lights Out Shabbat by Sarene Shulimson

A Book I Should Probably Read

10. A Kosher Christmas: Tis the Season to Be Jewish by Joshua Eli Plaut


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Comments

Davida Chazan (The Chocolate Lady) said…
I've got another one for you - "Chanukah Guilt" by Ilene Schneider! My review is here: https://wp.me/pauSsa-h2
December 3, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Space Station Mir said…
Thanks for sharing @Davida! I'm definitely interested in reading about a woman rabbi!
December 3, 2019 at 11:21 AM
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse said…
What a cool post! I haven't seen one like this today and it's needed.

Here are some holiday reads I would like to read: My Top Ten Tuesday.
December 3, 2019 at 11:53 AM
P M Prescott said…
Wonderful list. https://pmprescottenterprises.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/top-ten-tuesday-winter-movies/
December 3, 2019 at 12:11 PM
Judy Krueger said…
One of my reading groups used to read a holiday themed book in December (now we just have a party, ha ha.) Since we have a mixed group when it comes to religion we once tried to find books appropriate to Chanukah and it was tough. Thanks for doing this.
December 3, 2019 at 12:11 PM
Emily @ Stuck in the Stacks said…
I love this list! Great selections and definitely glad to see other holidays being spotlighted! We did a take based on what characters we want to see at our holiday table because we couldn't come up with holiday books!!
December 3, 2019 at 12:35 PM
Lydia said…
I really need to read Eight Kisses. It sounds delightful. :)

My TTT.
December 3, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Wendy said…
Yeah, I've been thinking a bit about how much we push Christmas --even the secular components of it--everywhere, and how unwelcoming that is for others. I went with a snow/cold theme for my books.

My kids really liked the picture book Latkes and Applesauce when they were little, so that's my contribution!
December 3, 2019 at 6:22 PM
Space Station Mir said…
Thanks so much for the kind and thoughtful comments, everyone!
December 4, 2019 at 11:48 AM
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer said…
Yes, a much-needed list! Thank you so much for sharing!

My TTT
December 4, 2019 at 9:35 PM
Jessica at Booked J said…
Ooh, so many great picks! I like how you approached and changed this weeks topic. Thank you for sharing!
December 8, 2019 at 2:21 PM
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