- More than 300 stories selected from every period of Jewish history and from every Jewish tradition -- narratives, anecdotes, metaphors, analogies, folktales, and fantasies -- each story elegantly retold.
- The Essential Jewish Stories is arranged thematically for easy access, and contains three indices to simplify the process of finding just the right story, whether you are looking for an occasion (holy days or life observances), for a personality (who originally told the stories or who the stories are about), or for particular subject matter.
- Original sources are cited for every narrative and many are accompanied by special notes on their meaning, their origins, or their place in comparative world mythology.
- The Essential Jewish Stories is a perfect key for unlocking the riches of the Jewish tradition. It is also an invaluable tool for clergy of all faiths, for teachers, for storytellers, and for parents -- for all who wish to initiate discussions of tradition and values with children, friends, and community -- and certainly for those of us who simply love to share a good story.
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- Advance praise for The Essential Jewish Stories:
Seymour Rossel has gathered a lifetime's knowledge and study of Jewish stories into one inspiring collection. He draws widely from rabbinic texts, kabbalistic teachings, and Hasidic tales. His notes and sources greatly assist the reader and enrich the book. This one belongs in every Jewish library. -- Howard Schwartz, author of Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism
Rossel presents a rich collection of the narratives of Judaism, a religion that tells the truth in narrative form. A whole new generation is invited to join the story-tradition. -- Jacob Neusner, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College, author of Judaism: The Basics
Through these stories we can understand the Jewish mind at work. This is a book for your bedside, for all Jews, scholars and those beginning their Jewish journeys, young and old alike, and for those who would come close to the Jewish essence. You will be nourished for years to come. -- Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, Jewish Center of the Hamptons, NY, author of The Family Prayerbook
For anyone who has ever asked 'what's the story?' Seymour Rossel's book is a God-send. It is filled with stories from the entire sweep of Jewish history -- tales that will move you to tears and to laughter. We have needed this deeply rich resource for quite some time. -- Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, Temple Israel, Columbus, GA, author of Putting God On The Guest List: How To Reclaim The Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah
