Customer Reviews

A Never-Ending Tale: Illustrated Parables of the Ba'al Shem Tov and His Disciples

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Gifted artist Gadi Pollack takes parables from the Ba'al Shem Tov and brings them to life in a unique way. Fishel the Simpleton and Robert the Rogue take the reader into many fun and meaningful adventures that are based on the parables and that are told in a very kid-friendly way.

Pollack's cartoon-like illustrations contain little explanations of good behavior written by various rabbis.

This book is a "must have" for any Jewish family that wants their children to understand the Ba'al Shem Tov parables in a unique and fun way, as well as for anyone who wishes to know more about the Jewish faith and its many hidden treasures, such as these parables.

I give this book a High Five for the terrific quality of the book in all areas--text, illustrations, and learning in a fun way. The book itself is quite beautiful, too.

The illustrations are truly illustrative in the third of a series of books of parables (One Upon a Tale; A Moving Tale). Fishel is back, and as his day progresses, each situation offers an opportunity to learn through the stories of great rabbis. The Ba'al Shem Tov, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Rabbi Nachman of Breslav and other Chassidic luminaries use stories to teach the power of the yetzer ha-ra (evil inclination), the proper way to approach davening (prayer), not blaming others when things don't go our way, recognizing God's involvement in our lives, and finding the right path with the help of our tzaddikim (righteous people) and Talmidei Chachamim (learned scholars). Gadi Pollack's detailed, muted illustrations tie these stories together. The double spreads have bubbles for the words spoken by the characters in the scene and the parable boxed for emphasis. There are bits of whimsy that included a hot air balloon on each spread, some cats looking for food, and a lizard. But with no glossary, no biographies of the rabbis, and no historical context, the book will find limited readership outside the Orthodox community. While these insightful parables and masterful pictures are accessible to readers of all ages, those from an Orthodox background would enjoy it most. Ages 10 - 14.Kathe Pinchuck