Customer Reviews

There's No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are so few books written and aimed at Jewish children this time of year, so it is a pleasure to find a good one. At the end of the year, it's not easy to explain why we don't have a Christmas tree. Another reviewer wrote that all the Jewish families they know have Christmas trees. I don't want to get into a debate, but in the interest of stating another side, some families observe both Chaunkah and Christmas and those families, I assume, would have a Christmas tree. But a Jewish family observing Chanukah, not Christmas, would have no reason to have a Christmas tree. The author shows how we can all help celebrate someone elses holiday. My daughters liked her story and so did I. It wasn't preachy or boring, but it was comforting.

"Do you have your tree yet," Heather asked Robin. "There it was! That question. Only this time it was worse, because of what Sandy Goldstein had done." Sandy's family had put up a Christmas tree and called it a Chanukah bush.

This nub of the first pages in this 9-chapter, 48-page easy reader captures the conflicted feelings of Robin, the main Jewish character whose best friend Heather was Christian. Heather naturally wanted Robin to share the joy of Christmas. Robin wanted to share it too. But of course, being Jewish, her family did not have a Christmas tree, and she had to tell her friend, "There is no such thing as a Chanukah bush."

Things got worse in school, when Robin's teacher directed the children to construct holiday decorations and Sandy Goldstein sat next to Robin, making the ugliest paper chains she had ever seen. Then all the other children started talking about their tree decorations and Santa Claus. Robin felt so, so, left out.

At home, Robin had a conversation with her mother about different ways of being Jewish. Robin's mother finished by saying that if Sandy Goldstein's family had a Christmas tree that was their business, but she would not have one in her house. They lit Chanukah candles.

Then Robin's Grandpa entered. His union was holding a Christmas party and he wanted Robin to go. The story travels through another five chapters and 28 pages before the girls reach an understanding about one another and their holidays. And that understanding is truly magnificent.

This book shows children the respect that they can and should have for others of varied faiths. Children (and people) can be different, but nevertheless help and love one another, deeply.

And PS, this book is not just for girls. Our copy was a gift from a relative whose son loved the story too. Alyssa A. Lappen

This book contains a universal theme that left me saying, "That's me." I was the odd one out. We've all been there at some point, and this book is outstanding. I also feel like it's a great way for kids outside of the Jewish faith to get that small perspective of what it is like for a Jewish child at Christmastime. It's one of those books that I remember fondly and remember well, even though I haven't read it in twenty years.

A warm and touching story addressing the difficult topic of Jewish children coping with the Christmas-dominated holiday season.

As a Christian who's best friend was Jewish in elementary school (and to this very day) the two of us found this story to be such an entertainment that we joke about it to this very day, some nearly twenty years later. It helped to bridge a gap in understanding about what Hanukkah means to the faithful, and even now I fondly remember feeling so special being the one Christian invited to light the candles and "tell the story of God and His glory and how precious freedom was won." Even now, I tell people I was raised by a Jewish mother too, with much pride, and look forward to the festival of lights year after year.

I read this to my kindergartner and it was just what we needed. Very well written and respectful of both Judaism and Christianity.

All the Jews I know have Christmas trees. They realize that Christmas is not solely a religious holiday but also a cultural, joyous time of year that everyone can enjoy.