An Invitation to Passover

by Kerry M. Olitzky, Mariia Kolker (Illustrator), Deborah Bodin Cohen

When Hannah's extended family isn't able to join her for their traditional Passover seder, she invites her diverse group of friends to experience the holiday with her. From Ha-joon's Korean kimchi, to Monique's hymn lyrics, each friend brings a bit of their own culture to the celebration. And with each guest the themes of freedom, hope, and thanks become more meaningful. A note tells the Passover story and a glossary defines vocabulary.

Genres: Picture Books, Jewish, Holiday, Realistic Fiction, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2023

About the author

Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky is a leader in the development of Jewish education, particularly for adults. He has shaped training programs for clergy of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He is the author of over 75 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields. He is known for books that bring the insights of Jewish wisdom into everyday living. His opinion pieces are published in leading publications throughout North America and in Israel. Most of his recent publications are children's picture books, as well as the early reader The Adventures of Leila and Ilana

Reviews

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah loves having a big Passover celebration, so when her extended family is unable to visit and celebrate together, Hannah and her parents decide to invite their closest friends, Jewish or not. In her invitations, Hannah highlights different aspects of Passover, which prompts each invitee to bring a gift from their own culture to honor the Passover tradition. One family brings kimchi in recognition of bitter herbs and another brings a kite to celebrate to onset of spring. Hannah, her family, and their culturally and religiously diverse friends celebrate and honor tradition together, reverencing Jewish history and strengthening cross-cultural connections. While these subjects may appear heavy, the focus of An Invitation to Passover is clearly friendship and children sharing what matters most to them. This picture book is itself a celebration of friendship and the reverence friends have for one another's faiths and cultures. The effective combination of text and illustration welcome the reader into Hannah's home for one extraordinary seder meal; the audience will enjoy Hannah's problem-solving, her parents' support of her ideas, and finally the back matter explaining Passover practices.

An Invitation to Passover is a win for faith representation - it's a worthwhile read in its own right and has the added value of depicting the integral part religious tradition has in some families. And at this point I think we all know that it is just as important for children to see themselves in literature as it is for them to see lifestyles different from their own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to be swept away by the heartwarming tale of "Passover with Friends." As Hannah's family gathering for Passover falls through, she opens her home and heart to her diverse group of friends, transforming the occasion into an unforgettable celebration of unity and belonging.

From Ha-Joon's tangy kimchi to Monique's soulful hymns, each friend infuses the gathering with the richness of their own heritage, weaving a tapestry of culture, tradition, and friendship. As the evening unfolds, themes of freedom, hope, and gratitude resonate deeply, reminding us of the power of shared experiences to transcend boundaries and foster understanding.

𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 is more than just a story; it's a testament to the beauty of embracing diversity, honoring traditions, and forging connections that enrich our lives in ways we never imagined. This book has sparked some amazing conversations in our household. If you're on the lookout for a new addition to your classroom or home library, trust me, you don't want to miss out on this heartfelt adventure!

The resources in this book are awesome, the Let's Chat section at the front, the story of Passover and glossary at the end of the book, and recipe for Rina's matzah are a wonderful aid for adults to better engage the children in the story and underlying lessons of the book.

*I received a free copy from the publisher.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy to have reviewed this book for Jewish Book Council.

This delight­ful sto­ry illus­trates the tra­di­tions of Passover by link­ing them to the cus­toms of oth­er cul­tures. When Hannah’s extend­ed fam­i­ly is unable to join her imme­di­ate fam­i­ly at their annu­al seder, she and her par­ents (and their fluffy dog, Mitzi) invite a diverse group of friends to join their rit­u­al din­ner. Each con­tributes some­thing from his or her tra­di­tion that con­nects to Passover. Her Indi­an bestie, for exam­ple, brings a kite, which is used to cel­e­brate spring in her cul­ture. The friends share in the fes­tive meal and each other’s traditions.

An Invi­ta­tion to Passover offers a won­der­ful mes­sage: that no mat­ter our back­grounds, we are all con­nect­ed. The joy­ous and some­times humor­ous illus­tra­tions include details to which chil­dren and adults alike can relate — from Mitzi’s wag­ging tail, to Hannah’s friend’s baby sis­ter with a binky in her mouth, to the tra­di­tion­al seder plate.

This high­ly rec­om­mend­ed sto­ry is a great read-aloud for Jew­ish fam­i­lies, and a must-have for school libraries everywhere.

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/boo...

[Lynsaroo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eight day Jewish holiday known as Passover begins tomorrow!
It’s the first year that Hannah’s extended family can’t attend their traditional Passover seder, a holiday meal. To keep the event festive, they decide to invite friends instead. Families of all different nationalities and backgrounds attend their seder, many of whom have never celebrated before. Each brings a little special something 🎼 to represent their culture and interpretation of the holiday’s 🪁 themes. Once they are all gathered around the seder🕯️table Hannah takes the opportunity to explain the importance of the holiday, celebrating the new beginnings and hope of 🌱 springtime, and reflecting on their history and freedom from slavery.
What a great book for those less familiar with Passover like our family is. The story is a simple tale of celebration, culture, community and good food. The themes of the holiday are discussed in the story but you’ll find a much deeper explanation in the back, along with a glossary and a recipe for matzah, a symbolic flat bread.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hannah doesn't have any other family coming to their seder she asks if she can invite friends. She creates invitations which include a few basics about Passover. With these attendees who are unfamiliar with the Passover seder, Hannah offers simple explanations. Her friends supply variants of various symbols and practices reflecting their own backgrounds which widens the understanding and appeal of the seder. This is a wonderful introduction to Passover and the seder for those who are not familiar with it.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hannah doesn't have any other family coming to their seder she asks if she can invite friends. She creates invitations which include a few basics about Passover. With these attendees who are unfamiliar with the Passover seder, Hannah offers simple explanations. Her friends supply variants of various symbols and practices reflecting their own backgrounds which widens the understanding and appeal of the seder.

This is a wonderful introduction to Passover and the seder for those who are not familiar with it. A helpful read for children ages 5 - 9.

M.P.
Ret. Libr Asso.

[Yapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic picture book explores Passover and is perfect for both those who celebrate and those who want to learn more. I love the new additions to the Passover Seder, keeping in the tradition of welcoming strangers and retelling the story in ways that keep it fresh and new. Highly recommended for grades K & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
A really great introduction to Passover and sharing it with the community. Thanks, Edelweiss for the advance copy!

[Abigail Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A goodread aloud to teach kids about Passover. Features very diverse group of characters.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing better than Passover food is sharing it with family and friends. When Hannah’s extended family can’t visit for the Seder, she invites some of her closest friends and their families. Her personalized invitations each mention a different meaning of Passover: Springtime, freedom, and great food. Hannah’s friends each bring something that relates to the meaning she mentioned. They come from diverse backgrounds and the gifts bring a multicultural aspect to the seder. Rabbis Olitzky and Cohen have written an adorable book that not only celebrates a Jewish holiday and culture, but friendship as well. The multicultural seder demonstrates how all people are connected regardless of their background. There is an afterward that includes explanatory notes, a glossary and a recipe for matzah. Maria Kolker’s delightful illustrations are full of charming details that the whole family will enjoy.

Many Jewish families invites friends or strangers to their Passover Seder. When I was growing up, we always invited close family friends and a few others who were interested in learning about Passover. The book captured the feeling of a large diverse Seder, and I recommend this book for any Jewish home.