The Classic Tales: 4,000 Years of Jewish Lore
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
A retelling of 300 Jewish stories spanning 4,000 years and three continents. Drawing on biblical, talmudic, and hasidic tales, the author creates a classic_a map resource book for the brightest jewels in the vast treasure chest of Jewish lore. Six useful indexes, chronological table of contents, glossary, and bibliography.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1568210388
ISBN13:9781568210384
Release Date:July 1993
Publisher:Jason Aronson
Length:704 Pages
Weight:2.08 lbs.
Dimensions:1.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Great footnotes
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I collect stories to have as a resource. But the most important part of any story book is when they cite their resources. Ms. Frankel cites all the places she's seen a story: Citing midrashim and talmud. I haven't even started reading the stories, but I am already so excited. And there really are 300 stories in here! And the table of contents is also user friendly for choosing appropriate stories. In the back, it even tells you which stories are related to which parsha or haftorah reading! (The only reason I gave it four stars, is because I haven't read the stories yet... but I can't imagine that the stories won't be great)
This book is a treasure trove
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I absolutely loved this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the Apocrypha , folklore, and mysticism. The majority of these stories are midrashic, embellished, and often very entertaining, retellings of Bible stories, others are more like fables. This collection is rendered by a modern woman who has tried to eliminate derogatory references to women. It also has a glossary of unfamiliar words. One particular story "The Hunter and the Bird" stayed with me. A bird offers the hunter three pieces of wisdom in exchange for its freedom. 1. Do not seek what you can not obtain. 2.Do not regret what you have lost. 3. Do not believe what can not be. As the tiny bird flies away she informs the hunter that she has a pearl the size of an ostrich egg inside of her. A slightly different version of this story appears in another excellent book, Wisdom of the Dervishes by Idries Shah
Wonderful, rich stories
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is a wonderful book full of stories perfect for children and adults. It focuses on values in a way that is positive, endearing and educational. Nearly all the stories have a lesson that is appropriate for the times we live in - even though the origin of many of them lies in books and teachings which are thousands of years old. This is a great book for students of Judaica, teachers, camp counselors/directors, or anyone who tells stories from time to time. It's also perfect to keep in one's own home library to share with others.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
