“Brilliance… imaginative vitality…ironic humor…The Helmites are often destitute, but they are never discouraged and - even more important - never dull.” – Commentary“We must be grateful to Mr. Simon, who having fortuitously come upon the Town Record of Helm, faithfully transcribed it for us… he not only writes about rollicking episodes but also keeps in view the underlying truths of life…illustrations are delightfully refreshing and humorous…full of merriment and wisdom.” – The New York Times Book Review“Especially recommended to storytellers.” – Saturday Review of Literature“From the Treasure of Jewish folklore… they get down to basic elements in human nature - and in this case to the element that distinguishes out human species, the ability to laugh at ourselves.” - New York Herald Tribune Book Review“Solomon Simon’s Wise Men of Helm is a little town ‘deep in the forests of Poland,’ but suspiciously  like Gotham. The wise men, like the Gothamites, are fools of a lovable sort, and their misfortunes are merry. Folkloristic, if not folklore…” – New York Folklore Quarterly

“Brilliance… imaginative vitality…ironic humor…The Helmites are often destitute, but they are never discouraged and - even more important - never dull.” – Commentary“We must be grateful to Mr. Simon, who having fortuitously come upon the Town Record of Helm, faithfully transcribed it for us… he not only writes about rollicking episodes but also keeps in view the underlying truths of life…illustrations are delightfully refreshing and humorous…full of merriment and wisdom.” – The New York Times Book Review“Especially recommended to storytellers.” – Saturday Review of Literature“From the Treasure of Jewish folklore… they get down to basic elements in human nature - and in this case to the element that distinguishes out human species, the ability to laugh at ourselves.” - New York Herald Tribune Book Review“Solomon Simon’s Wise Men of Helm is a little town ‘deep in the forests of Poland,’ but suspiciously  like Gotham. The wise men, like the Gothamites, are fools of a lovable sort, and their misfortunes are merry. Folkloristic, if not folklore…” – New York Folklore Quarterly