Candle Feather Wooden Spoon
New Jewish Stories
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Published by: Reform Judaism Publishing
Release Date: May 1, 2023
Pages: 240
ISBN13: 978-0881233568
OVERVIEW
A collection of twenty-two original stories by acclaimed author Rabbi Zoë Klein, Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon invites readers on a magical, mystical journey. With settings both traditional and contemporary, the stories each highlight an essential aspect of living a meaningful Jewish life. Appropriate for all ages, the many tales include "Time Palace," a legend of how the Jewish people created Shabbat; "Yofiel," the story of an angel who keeps revealing the secrets of Torah; "Shalom Bayit," imagining the chuppah as a metaphor for powerful social change; and "Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon," which reframes these traditional Passover objects as tools for intergenerational healing. Each story is followed by discussion questions designed to deepen relationships through sharing and exploring.
CLICK HERE for synopses of the stories in Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon
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PRAISE
Bronze medal: Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards (Adult Fiction, Religious category)
"Klein presents a collection of original Jewish parables for all ages, told in the tradition of rabbinic legends and folktales. ... Lovely and entertaining folklore and parables that can proudly stand beside others in their tradition."
–Kirkus Reviews
"The stories in Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon range from dreamy and delightful to literary and profound, each delivering heaping servings of insight and perspective. You will be returning to it again and again.
–Lori Gottlieb, author of NYT bestseller Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
"In Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon, Rabbi Zoë Klein offers magical stories filled with wisdom to awaken our hearts, enchant our souls, and open our minds. Mystical sparks infuse the mundane until the whole world begins to shimmer. This book is a blessing you will want to share with friends, children, students, and mentors, a work that will introduce you to new and healing visions of Judaism, self, humanity, and our world."
–Rabbi Naomi Levy, author of Einstein and the Rabbi and To Begin Again
"Rarely are we gifted with a glimpse of such expansive imagination that our world opens up and everything suddenly seems possible. These stories are exhilarating and magical, playful and profound, moving and visionary. They are portals into worlds–both breathtakingly new and resonantly familiar--for us, the Jewish people, to inhabit. I will be teaching these stories, reading them to my congregation, and including them in my sermons. And so will every rabbi you know. Mark my words: they're going to change our world."
–Rabbi Rachel Timoner, author of Breath of Life: God as Spirit in Judaism
"'Magical' is the only word for Rabbi Zoë Klein's gathering of wise, deep, whimsical stories. In the tradition of the greatest of our rabbinical teachers--who used imagination to engage the mind, heart, and spirit of our people--Rabbi Klein's stories open our eyes, touch our souls, and invite us into a world of enchantment and wonder. This is a book to be cherished for the generations."
–Rabbi Edward Feinstein, author of The Chutzpah Imperative and Tough Questions Jews Ask
"Rabbi Zoë Klein speaks new light into Creation as she weaves her magical tales. You will get lost in her stories and find something surprising and new about Jewish tradition and yourself. ... From the magic of a candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon to the mystical shofar that carries the pain of the world, Rabbi Klein invites us into an enchanted world that entertains and amazes."
–From the foreword by Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of God's Paintbrush and In God's Name
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