Beautiful as the Moon, Radiant as the Stars: Jewish Women in Yiddish Stories - An Anthology

by Sandra Bark

This book is certain to appeal to the millions of Jewish women interested in Jewish literature and the writings of Cynthia Ozick, Francine Prose, and Grace Paley. Beautifully packaged, it is an ideal Mother's Day or Bat-Mitzvah gift.

This volume contains translations of Yiddish stories from eminent scholars--including an Isaac Bashevis Singer story that has never before been published in English--and well-known tales that Jewish readers everywhere love.

As bestsellers such as Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer and For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander have demonstrated, there is a strong interest in Jewish stories.

Yiddish culture and music have seen a resurgence in recent years. NPR's All Things Considered aired a series of highly acclaimed documentaries about the Yiddish Radio Project and Klezmer musicians regularly play at top alternative venues.

Genres: Jewish

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Sandra Bark is a New York Times bestselling co-author who partners with icons and experts to write books that teach, share, and inspire. Her clients include Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Hannah Bronfman, Kat von D, and many more. She has written nine New York Times best sellers to date.

Reviews

[Toni Trager-bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was out of the norm for me. It took me along time to read only because I reread them. I enjoyed reading this one.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich chicken broth of savory stories, many written by women who had to struggle to learn to read and write in 19th and early 20th C. Eastern Europe. Insight into organizing for the Russian revolution, day-to-day life under German occupation, and the surprising mix of Judaism, superstition and witchcraft. Their stories are surprisingly iconoclastic, erotic and bold. I've only read about half, but wanted to highly recommend and share with others.
I'm keeping the five-star rating, and am sure I will return to these stories time and again. It's quite something how so many of the stories are about young girls who want to learn to read and study -- and will go to great lengths to do so. Sneaking off to a private tutor with purloined kopecks, disguising herself as a boy (and even going through with a marriage so as not to destroy the charade) and being beaten by her Chasidic Rebbe father....These wonderful stories are proof that some girls were able to break the barrier. What a proud tradition!

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with C. Winter's review. Some of the stories are very well written--others so-so. But it is good to have a collection of stories about Jewish women set in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many are sad, melancholy, and I found many difficult to read as such.

I enjoyed the last two the most: The fourth Mitzvah (which was more positive though there was a bit of sadness about the dutiful son who visited once a week to give her money) and the Death of My Aunt--though sad had a wistful ending....and both well written.

[Cwinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a gem. Most collections of short stories are uneven, with a few good ones and lots of odd or unsatisfying stories. This is an anthology of the best short stories about Yiddish women, most of them by women writers, collected from the writings of the past 100 years. Elegant, earthy and individual glimpses of voices we have rarely heard, seldom been able to enjoy or appreciate. This collection of stories gives us the chance to appreciate their lives and their art. A fine colection.

[Nina Flyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most stories incredibly interesting for those of us who want to know what shtetl life was like