Barbara Diamond Goldin – författare

Award-winning storyteller Barbara Diamond Goldin has collected and retold twenty-four stories about tzedakah in this inspiring volume. Some of these stories are based on oral tales, like "The Two Beggars," which is from Afghanistan, and "The Rabbi's Blessing," which is from Tunisia. Some stories, like "A Town of Baruchs" and "The Rabbi and the Rag Dealer" are Hasidic in origin, while others, like "Ox and Herbs" and "The Two Keys," are from much older sources. Some of the stories are based on midrashic tales. The Hebrew word tzedakah is often translated as "charity," but it actually means "justice" or "righteousness." According to the Jewish Sages, tzedakah means we have an obligation to give to those in need, not only when we are feeling generous, but on a regular basis. Barbara Diamond Goldin has brought these stories of tzedakah together in the hope that they will inspire the young and the old, the rich and the poor, to give to those in need and to adopt a righteous sensibility and sensitivity akin to the commandment of performing acts of loving-kindness. By performing these mitzvoth, we all engage in tikkun olam, repair of the world, and, according to the Sages, each good deed we perform in the physical world creates an angel in the metaphysical world. This book should encourage readers to create their own angels and to recapture the significance of the mitzvah of tzedakah to the Jewish community, even to the world, today.

This collection gives the reader a taste of the thousands of stories one can find in the treasure house of rabbinic literature. Some of these stories are humorous, some mysteriuos, some tense with drama or adventure, some filled with the joy of a miracle and the beauty of faith. All of these stories come from either the Talmud or the Midrash. This collection shows that these rabbinical stories are not old and outdated, but alive and timeless, for future generations to continue to enjoy.

Join a big-hearted family as they prepare for Shavuot, the Jewish holiday celebrating the day Moses received the Torah, and discover—as the family does in a roundabout way that’s sure to spark giggles—the true meaning of cooperation.

Sometimes it's okay to need a night light!It's fun for Daniel to build and decorate a sukkah with his family, and to eat dinner with friends and neighbors, but he's a little nervous about sleeping in the little hut without a real roof. It's harder this year, because Grandpa has a cold and won't be with Daniel. His older sister, Naomi, seems so brave and keeps teasing him about being scared of the dark, but when night falls and the wind howls, even Naomi is a little afraid. Maybe they both need a night light. Luckily, they can see through the holes in the roof to the magnificent night sky....Realistic sibling relationships and the inspiration provided by the bravery of long-ago ancestors combine in this much-loved story about Sukkot, a weeklong holiday commemorating the forty years Israelites wandered in the desert. New illustrations lend contemporary appeal and a kid-friendly afterword explains more about the holiday and how it applies to peoples' search for shelter today.

​​"A charming, modern Purim story that rekindles the wondrous legacy of Persian Jewry."—Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles"Family traditions and intergenerational love are strong and endearing in this fresh look at Purim."​—Kirkus ReviewsRaya can't be in the Purim play this year--Purim will be no fun at all! But her grandmother, Maman joon, shares with Raya her sparkly scarves and Persian traditions. Together they discover how to make their American Purim uniquely Persian, delicious, and fun.

Passover starts tomorrow, and Benjy's room is a mess. His race car set, his superheroes, and his firetruck are spread across his room, along with all his other toys. He knows he needs to clean them up, especially with Passover and the breadcrumb hunt starting tonight. But it's much more fun to have a pretend hunt with his little sister, Shira. Benjy crumbles up pieces of paper to be the crumbs. He hides one under his race car, and under his firetruck, and all around his room. They get so caught up in the game, Benjy doesn't notice it was almost sundown. Now he'll never finish in time! That is until he realizes that cleaning might not have to be a chore.This story about making chores fun, and the bonds between siblings, introduces readers to bedikat hametz, a fun pre-Passover ritual in which families hunt for bread crumbs throughout the house on the night before Passover."Chametz hunt­ing meets sib­ling bond­ing in this cute and infor­ma­tive read." —Jewish Book Council"The book provides a useful starting point for thinking about how to approach a problem that seems overwhelming." —Association of Jewish Libraries

Presents stories of heroic individuals from the Talmud and Midrash.

This collection gives the reader a taste of the thousands of stories one can find in the treasure house of rabbinic literature. Some of these stories are humorous, some mysteriuos, some tense with drama or adventure, some filled with the joy of a miracle and the beauty of faith. All of these stories come from either the Talmud or the Midrash. This collection shows that these rabbinical stories are not old and outdated, but alive and timeless, for future generations to continue to enjoy.