Devra Newberger Speregen – författare

Few rescue missions have succeeded like "Operation Thunderbolt," the Israeli plan led by Yoni Netanyahu on July 4, 1976, to rescue 105 hijacked Jewish passengers held captive in Uganda's Entebbe Airport. In her gripping biography Speregen introduces young readers to one of Israel's bravest soldiers. She paints a dramatic portrait of the young man who came to embody Judaism's highest values through his commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. Includes black and white photographs and maps.

Black and White photographs A Sydney Taylor Awards Notable Book Ilan Ramon was a hero in every sense of the word. As a bold fighter pilot, Air Force colonel in the Israeli army, and payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia, he was a role model for many young Israelis. As Israel's first astronaut, he captured the hearts of Jews all around the world and was a national hero and a symbol of hope. Ramon's journey into space occurred as Israelis continued to suffer through a horrendous period of violence, and it helped lift the nation's spirits. For 16 exciting days, Ramon managed to bring a bit of Jewish culture, tradition, and history to the millions of people who followed the space mission. And then tragedy struck: on February 1, 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia and all seven brave astronauts were destroyed during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "The day will come when we will launch more Israeli astronauts into space. I am sure that each and every one of them will carry in his heart the memory of Ilan Ramon, a pioneer in space travel." Young readers will be captivated by this biography—with its rich portrait of Ramon in words and photographs—it celebrates the life of an extraordinary man and pays tribute to his enormous courage.

A young adult biography that focuses on Einstein as a great Jewish thinker and champion of Israel. In 2005, the world celebrated Albert Einstein's annus mirabile, the miraculous year. It was the 100th anniversary of the publication of his five pioneering papers that led to revolutionary changes in our understanding of the properties of space and time. The anniversary of the Einstein's theory of relativity and the publication of his famous formula, e=mc2, presents JPS with an opportunity to educate a new generation of young readers about Einstein's importance as a scientist and, more specifically, as a Jew. Speregen fully explores the fascinating story of Albert Einstein's connection to his Jewish roots and the growth of his commitment to the creation of the State of Israel. She describes Einstein's difficult early years as a student in Germany's repressive school system and details his struggle to respond to his stubborn questioning nature and personal search for answers to some of the great questions of the universe. The author discusses how Einstein's ties to his people grew as he witnessed the rise of anti-Semitism in the early 1900s and his relentless efforts to raise money and public awareness to promote the creation of the State of Israel. (In fact, he was even offered the presidency of Israel after the death of Chaim Weizman.)