While Standing on One Foot: Puzzle Stories and Wisdom Tales from the Jewish Tradition [Paperback]

Nina Jaffe (Author), Steve Zeitlin (Author), John Segal (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Here are eighteen stories from the Jewish tradition that challenge you to answer a question or solve a puzzle. When you've done your best, the authors give you answers that have come down through time. Can you outthink the sages, or will they help you out of a tight spot?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW's starred review praised the "craftily honed narratives" and "pithy prefatory comments" in this collection of 18 Jewish tales that challenge readers to a test of wits. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-The 17 brief selections in this book come from many eras and places in Jewish history and geography. Among them are "The Grand Inquistor," set in medieval Spain, in which a vicious inquisitor schemes to trick an innocent rabbi into admitting his (and by extension, all the Jews') guilt for a terrible crime. Others tell how a fox outwitted Leviathan, the powerful sea monster; how the boy who would later become King Solomon outsmarted a surly innkeeper; how a jester avoided dying by choosing the right form of death; and how a barren wife kept her husband through cleverness. Those who have read classical versions know that the originals meander, lack drama, and are dull. They have been adapted here so as to be short enough for memorizing and telling; all have a hero, a villain, a challenge, and a punch-line. Introductions supply background information. Just before revealing the outcome of each tale, the teller pauses, sums up the dilemma, and then asks readers what they would do in the same situation. Excellent for group discussions.
Marcia Posner, Federation of New York and the Jewish Book Council, New York City
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805050736
• ISBN-13: 978-0805050738
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,027,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Provocative!, November 26, 1999

By 

Betsy R. Marks (Birmingham, Alabama) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: While Standing on One Foot: Puzzle Stories and Wisdom Tales from the Jewish Tradition (Paperback)

Even though described for 9-12 year olds (which surprised me), this is a terrific thought provoking book. Perfect for d'var Torahs and teaching. Lots of Talmudic wisdom and midrashim packed in a delightful edition. A great gift idea as well. I really enjoyed reading and rereading the different chapters.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Divine, January 10, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: While Standing on One Foot: Puzzle Stories and Wisdom Tales from the Jewish Tradition (Paperback)

This collection of 18 stories (in Hebrew Chai means both 18 and life) was masterfully collated by Judaic storyteller and Bank Street College professor Nina Jaffe and Steve Zeitlin, a Ph.D. in urban folklore at a New York cultural heritage foundation called City Lore.

Each piece is accompanied by a brief introduction explaining the background for the story. Some tell where the story is from--the Torah, Talmud, or rabbinic legends called Midrash and a bit about each tradition. Others tell fascinating background. Bet you didn't know that Herschel of Ostropol--whom Eric Kimmel has brought to life in a recent Chanukah goblin tale--was a real person, born in the Ukraine in the mid-18th century.

The stories themselves are short, but told as riddles. Each one thoroughly enthralls children from the beginning.

Take the Midrash about the Leviathan and the Fox, a tale about a small creature who dared to defy an enormous beast. The Leviathan, knowing the fox is clever, assumes that if he eats the latter he will be not only the strongest creature alive but also the most clever. Thus he sends the Swordfish and Sea Bass to find and bring the fox to him. They lure the fox to come with the false promise of a feast.

Of course, the fox cannot swim, and so the fish agree to carry him. Once he is on their backs at sea, they tell him the truth--that the Leviathan plans to make a meal of him. Now the story breaks, and the child is asked, if he were in the fox' place, what would he do? This is a tough one, and most children will not know (although there are other tales where they can easily guess the riddle). Alas, says the fox, I left my heart at home. "We foxes never travel with our hearts unless it is for a very important reason." He would hate to disappoint the Leviathan, and so the fishes take the fox back to shore. Whereupon the fox dances with joy and runs off. He has even escaped the Angel of Death, he tells them. "Do you think I could be fooled by a couple of silly fish?"

There are stories from famous sages--like Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav and Rabbi Hillel of ancient Palestine, the wise and patient teacher. One story hails from New York's Lower East Side, another from Chelm, that mythic town where God deposited all the fools, and still another from Eastern Europe's maggid (traveling preachers). The last of these involves a coachman who exchanges places with a great maggid of Lublin.

These stunning tales are perfect children who have begun to reach for big ideas, but still enjoy special read-aloud time with Mom or Dad. They provide endless joy and learning. Alyssa A. Lappen

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clever, February 5, 2009

By 

J. Choate (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: While Standing on One Foot: Puzzle Stories and Wisdom Tales from the Jewish Tradition (Paperback)

This book is such a great collection of wise and clever jewish tales. Worth a read, wonderful for historical insight.