Wise Tales From the Jewish World: The Essential Collection

by Uri Kaplan

This book contains fifty-five of the most engaging fables and parables the Jewish tradition has to offer. It includes ancient tales taken from the Talmud and the Midrash, parables articulated by the rabbis of the Middle Ages, and more recent fables told by the charismatic leaders of the Hassidic Movement. If you take them seriously, these stories may make a real impact on the way you view your life.
Jewish readers may discover in these tales the wisdom of their ancestors. Teachers and educators may find them handy for preparing lectures and stimulating class debates. Parents may use them as instructive bedtime stories. And anyone else - no matter what his or her religious conviction or cultural background may be - would surely enjoy perusing through these enchanting tales of kings and princesses, mirrors and spoons, lions and foxes.

132 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2020

Reviews

[Debra Davidson-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wise Tales From the Jewish World by Uri Kaplan.
I’m really glad that I read this book, but I would say I appreciated it more from an academic and historical point of view rather than being genuinely entertained by the tales themselves.
Kaplan has collected together 55 Jewish fables and parables covering a period of almost two thousand years reflecting the strong tradition of storytelling within Judaism. His book includes ancient tales taken from the Talmud and the Midrash, parables told by the rabbis of the Middle Ages, and more recent fables told by the charismatic leaders of the Hassidic Movement.
In an interesting and informative Forward to the book, Kaplan suggests that while many of the tales are meant to help us reflect on our lives, they are also there to give us some respite from them. But while some of the stories are indeed charming and entertaining, some of them come across as a little too preachy and didactic for modern readers to enjoy.
Although Kaplan tells us about the origins of the tales in the Forward, I would have preferred to have had him put each one into context with some dates and background details.

With thanks to BookSirens for a free advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Sofe · Rating 5 out of 5]

EBook Review: WISE TALES FROM THE JEWISH WORLD by Uri Kaplan

(W) hat
( I ) nterested
(S) tudents
(E) xpect...

(T) o
(A) bsorb
(L) ines
(E) asily...
(S) urprisingly

(F) ind
(R) easons
(O) bstructed...
(M) emory's

(T) o
(H) onor
(E) verything...

(J) oyfully
(E) xperience
(W) isdom
( I ) s
(S) ilently
(H) eard...

(W) ithout
(O) bserving
(R) ules
(L) aid
(D) own

WISE TALES FROM THE JEWISH WORLD,
requires listening with more than time.

Not too fast or too slow,
teeth to chew tongue to taste.

A mind to understand,
that goal post changes.

As body grows older.
more from passages grasp.

Thus willing read over,
to always be learning.

To write as law.
not necessary at all.

I'll be reading again,
and slowly absorbing more.

[Janine Bourdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purposely worked to read this set of stories more slowly than I usually read things. Although not Jewish, I have a love for traditional Jewish stories. The author and I share a background in exploring Buddhism which has a tradition of telling stories that don’t make a lot of sense until one sits with them for a while, koans. He has stripped these Jewish stories down to the basics so that many of them read like koans. They are very short. Some of them gain with this treatment, but some stories feel as if they’re missing too much. They really would be best read one at a time, as a weekly reading perhaps or a story to be discussed and expanded.

I received a free ARC of this work in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Issababy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not Jewish and I don't know a lot of specifics about the religion other than what I've learned at my Christian church. I thought this book would be interesting to read to learn more about this faith. This is a book of parables/proverbs passed down through the ages. Most of them are nice stories telling how to live a nice life. There are a few that fell flat and seemed unfinished. And there were some that just seemed far-fetched and fantasy like. It's a quick read and I happily didn't find any typos so good job there!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Abantika(hiltonjenkin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wise Tales From The Jewish World by Uri Kaplan brings us the fables and short stories from the Jewish culture and tradition. It takes us back a thousand years in time yet the essence reflects itself in our everyday reality. Written in his trademark lucidity, this book is easy to follow. It imparts a kind of wisdom that is for everyone to take irrespective of age, colour, religion and conviction. It challenges your world view and provokes your thoughts. Definitely a great read.