Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth: Inspiring Tales to Nourish the Heart and Soul

by Dov Peretz Elkins

Engage the Central Feelings, Ethics, Beliefs and History of the Jewish People in this Uplifting Collection of Stories from the Coeditor of Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul

"If Jews have survived for four thousand years, from the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs to David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Ariel Sharon and Albert Einstein, it is because no assembly of Jews has ever lived without carrying a bag chock-full of parables, anecdotes and narratives to share with family, neighbors, and anyone who loves a good story and who doesn't?!"

from the Introduction

More than simply stories or legends, real people recollect the joy, curiosity, celebration and sanctification of life from a Jewish perspective. People of all faith traditions will enjoy these exciting, inspiring, sometimes funny, sometimes hair-raising stories that trace the heights and depths of the Jewish People's experience. Stories of:

Simple Goodness

Hope and Endurance

Continuity and Tradition

Lessons Learned

Light Out of the Holocaust

Great Escapes

Words of the Wise

Providence

Israel

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite up to the Chicken Soup standard, but nice. I was disappointed in the bellicose tone of the last group of stories which were very Israeli nationalistic. I expected a number of holocaust stories and was happy to see that not everything came from this period. Some lovely stories. I enjoyed reading one or two in the evening before bed. With the exception of the last few they made for pleasant bedtime reading. I would have appreciated a glossary at the back to explain some of the religious terms that were unfamiliar. Luckily Google was there for me.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't particularly enjoy it because it wasn't what I was looking for, but I am sure others would enjoy this book, so I am adding it to my read list.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like inspiring prose, Jewish stories that will illuminate your thoughts and emotions, then Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth: Inspiring Tales to Nourish the Heart and Soul, by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins is a book you must read.

I read this before Yom Kippur, and found the stories to be refreshing, inspiring and written with insight into the suffering of Jews, and how survival, within the suffering, has been a constant throughout the centuries. Suffering isn’t the only subject matter written about, though, so don’t get put off by that statement.

I recommend Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth to those who like tales, stories, and words of radiance and inspiration.