Partners With God [Paperback]

Gila Gevirtz (Author), Ruby Strauss (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Using full-color illustrations, photos, and stories, this book introduces theJewish concepts of God and holiness to the young reader and provides childrenwith a Jewish vocabulary for thinking and talking about God.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For children, seeing is believing. The formidable task parents and educators face in talking to children about God is that of describing a power without visible shape or form. Gevirtz tackles this task admirably, boiling profound theological concepts down to concrete situations and familiar contexts. In a gentle, poetic style, she evokes the wonders of creation as God's footprints, likens God's presence to a quiet voice that helps people do good and stresses that people are God's partners in caring for the world. To live as a Jew, she writes, is to feel the love and wisdom of God that is hidden in all things, from starry nights to the syrupy sweetness of honey on Rosh Hashanah to the delicate weave of a spider's web. Gevirtz challenges young readers to find God in their own lives and emphasizes each person's infinite worth. She addresses the subjects of monotheism and prayer, Shabbat and Torah, forgiveness and faith-all through legends, folktales, Bible stories, full-color photographs and thought-provoking activities. The reactions of 600 children around the country to early chapters of the manuscript shaped this thoughtful textbook, which parents can also use as a guide to a complex subject. Ages 8-10.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Scientific American

A ground-breaking contribution in the area of children being encouraged to express their thoughts, perceptions, and notions regarding God. The author has woven a rich text, filled with Bible stories, folk tales, and thought provoking questions. Take advantage of this wonderful, new book. Each reader will be enriched by the experience. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 3 pages
• Publisher: Behrman House (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874415802
• ISBN-13: 978-0874415803
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,485,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christian Review, March 30, 2011

By 

Will Riddle "and Jaime Riddle" (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Partners With God (Paperback)

I am really excited about using this devotional with my (Christian) kids. We're doing a homeschooling unit on Ancient Israel, but I'm trying to give my kids a taste of what it really means to be Jewish and appreciate the foundations of their faith. I picked this devotional because it seemed to be really geared towards the character of God and what it means to reflect God's character into the world (from a biblical point of view).

I haven't been disappointed. So far my kids have really gotten something from this book. We've worked through it together a little at a time, and I love how the lessons are short, to the point, and very age appropriate (our boys are 6, 7, and 8). They are very well versed in Bible study already, so I am not sure how it would come across to a kid not used to Scripture. But for our kids, it's been eye opening because they are so used to hearing Old Testament stories but not very much application into character and issues of the heart. This book gets beyond the typical "moral of the story" approach to Abraham, Moses, etc. It gets into how we view each other, how we reverence our spiritual leaders, how we respect our traditions and forefathers. It also gets into how we steward the world, how we care for the less fortunate, and other topics. But all very appropriate for a typical kid.

I am thankful that our kids can learn to view their faith from another angle. While I don't think taking them through a Jewish resource can teach them what it fully means to be Jewish, I do know they are getting a different view of God than they usually get, but one that is complementary with what we believe. And I know they are appreciating the Jewish heritage more than ever.