Customer Reviews

Sound the Shofar!: A Story for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

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As a middle school social studies teacher who teaches world cultures, I wanted to expose my students to the High Holy Days, I was seeking a colorful, fun and informative introduction to this most important time in the Jewish year. My mostly Christian students knew nothing of Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur which led me to choose a book that was very simple and straight forward. When I discovered Sound the Shofar, I knew that it was perfect.

The story centers on one family's celebration of the High Holy Days and focuses on the reasons behind some of the more allegorical traditions (such as blowing the shofar, dipping apples in honey...)My students did gain a basic understanding, but the book, in my opinion, is really meant for a much younger audience (perhaps kindergarten - second grade) although children through 10 will most likely enjoy it.

This book is very focused on the Jewish High Holy Days. It starts with the start of Rosh Hashanah and ends on right at the close of Yom Kippur.

While many may feel that the Day of Atonement may not make for a good story, this book does a very nice job of it. It touches on the home and the synagogue. The children experience the joys of the holidays while also reflecting on the more serious aspects (the are sorry for the bad things they have done in the previous year and promise to do better in the coming year). All of this is wrapped around the Uncle who has been practicing blowing the Shofar as he will have the honor for the holidays.

A very nice and simple story that does a pretty good job of showing and explaining the High Holy Days.

It's Rosh Hashana. Uncle jake is practicing the Shofar. All the relatives come for dinner. There are candles, wine, apples, honey, and a round challah. Even the cats lick up some honey for a sweet new year. At the synagogue the rabbi and cantor, a man and a woman (which is which? hehe), lead the congregation and a portly Uncle Jake sounds the Shafar. For Yom Kippur, there is a collection of canned goods for a food bank tzedakah contribution, and a chance to change our ways. Finally, it's evening, and Uncle Jake sounds the neillah Shofar