Keeping the Promise: A Torah's Journey (General Jewish Interest) [Paperback]

Tami Lehman-Wilzig (Author), Craig Orback (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5–A Dutch rabbi named Simon Dasberg carried a tiny Torah scroll with him wherever he went. He even carried it with him to Bergen-Belsen. There, he carried out a Bar Mitzvah for a 13-year-old boy in the concentration camp. He gave the tiny Torah scroll to him as a gift, commanding him to keep it and always tell the story. It was this very scroll that was taken into space by Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon aboard the ill-fated Columbia. His inspiring words were "This little Sefer Torah in particular shows the ability of the Jewish people to survive everything, even the darkest of times, and to always look forward with hope and faith for the future." This book belongs on the shelves of Hebrew day schools and synagogue libraries nationwide. Paired with Barbara Sofer's Ilan Ramon: Israel's Space Hero (Kar-Ben, 2004), it will give students insight into a true hero's journey as well as a lesson in history and humanity. Orback's full-page oil paintings tell a story in themselves; while some tend to be on the dark side, they are in keeping with the tone of the presentation.–Sandra Kitain, Abrams Hebrew Academy, Yardley, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580131182
• ISBN-13: 978-1580131186
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Sacred Writings > Torah
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > World > Jewish > General
  • #41 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Holocaust

More About the Author

I love my Jewish heritage and I love interacting with kids. That's why I write Jewish content books that get my readers involved. My stories are always accompanied by an added value activity. It may be cooking a recipe related to the tale, finding a character playing hide 'n seek in a beautifully illustrated picture, or having the reader write his/her own story at the end of the book. Whatever the activity, I want my readers to connect to my books. Although I live in Israel, I travel to the United States 1-2 times a year to give interactive book presentations in schools and community centers. I do virtual author visits as well. To find out more about my books and why I write them, please visit my website: www.tlwkidsbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep Kleenex handy when you read Keeping the Promise, October 30, 2009

By 

Becky Kottwitz "The storyteller's take..." (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keeping the Promise: A Torah's Journey (General Jewish Interest) (Hardcover)

I went to see Tami Lehman-Wilzig read this book and talk about the process she went through to create the book. As she read the story, I began to sob and then I cried. I waited until the very last word and then I went to the bathroom and really cried for about 5 minutes. My tears reflected my feelings about this extraordinary story. She has captured not only an incredible story from the Holocaust, but also the story of a nation. The first Israeli astronaut and the impact he had on people around the world. This is a book for older children who can understand the gravity and enormity encompassing this story.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story for the ages, December 11, 2005

By 

Cecelia Danziger "Seal D." (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keeping the Promise: A Torah's Journey (General Jewish Interest) (Hardcover)

This story of a tiny Torah scroll that survives the Nazis to accompany Ilan Ramon on the doomed Columbia mission is one that all children, especially Jewish children should hear. The themes of hope and promise are universal. There are true heros in this world and Rabbi Dasberg (z"l) and Ilan Ramon (z"l) are two of them.