Review by Booklist Review
Lyons details the story of India's Bene Israel Jews, who fled their homeland during the reign of the Greek King Antiochus (175 BCE), enduring a shipwreck that washed them ashore at Alibag. The survivors settled and became somewhat assimilated into Indian culture while still retaining their own religious beliefs; many years later, the group experiences a chariot visit from Eliyahu, who promises that one day they can return to Israel. Descendants of this group still commemorate their diaspora with Malida, a ceremonial dish of sweet rice, coconut, and fruits. Benjamin's vibrant, mixed--media illustrations bring this historical setting to life while also emphasizing specific details (mezuzot, six-pointed stars, Shabbat candles) that contemporary children will recognize. Blues and greens predominate, with red used to depict battle scenes and the fire surrounding Eliyahu's chariot. One of a growing number of titles emphasizing Jewish diversity, this will be welcomed by religious schools and those with larger Judaic collections. Appended with additional information and also mentions two other Jewish groups who also settled in India.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
While preparing for a special ceremony, a grandmother recounts to her granddaughter the origins of the tradition and of their Jewish community, known as the Bene Israel. More than 2,000 years ago, writes Lyons (Zhen Yu and the Snake), a tiny ship carried people fleeing "from ancient Israel in the days when the Greek tyrant Antiochus ruled." While some people stayed and joined a rebellion, others were forced to flee, escaping with all that was dear to them. Only seven men and seven women survived the terrible storm that shipwrecked the group on India's shore, where they established lives and slowly began to meld local customs with their own. Folktale-like text then describes how Eliyahu HaNavi--Elijah the prophet--descended from the heavens in a flaming chariot to promise that, because they had not abandoned their faith, the people would "one day... return to our home across the sea." Benjamin (I Am Hava), working in gouache, markers, and colored pencil and brush pens, creates dramatic, mural-like compositions and dreamy, swirling colors to offer a lesser-told story to a new generation. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
The Bene Israel, one of the "three largest groups of Jews in India," arrived around 175 BCE. They were fleeing the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes just before "the Maccabean Revolt...better known as the story of Hanukkah." Lyons's tale begins with a nani (grandmother) telling her granddaughter about their ancestors' dangerous sea voyage. A storm hits, and there are few survivors; those who do make it are welcomed to Alibag, India, a place where people "had their own religions, but respected the new traditions brought from far away." Benjamin's sumptuous-hued mixed-media illustrations swirl with color and movement in this story of an underrepresented aspect of Jewish history. Elissa GershowitzNovember/December 2024 p.15 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A grandmother tells her granddaughter about their ancestors, who fled Israel for India nearly 2,000 years ago. In 175 BCE, as Nani Penkar explains to young Maya, many Jews fought back against the Greek tyrant Antiochus, who ruled over Israel. Others--who became known as the Bene Israel--fled by ship. Their vessel was destroyed by a storm at sea; nearly everyone was killed, except for seven men and seven women who were rescued by Eliyahu HaNavi (the Old Testament prophet Elijah) and founded a community in their new home. Nani Penkar adds that Eliyahu HaNavi later appeared on a "flaming chariot" to tell the Bene Israel that they would one day return home. To mark the anniversary of this day, the Bene Israel prepare malida, a dish consisting of flattened rice, coconut, and fruit, and gather at Elijah Rock, where Eliyahu HaNavi is said to have come down from the heavens. Paired with matter-of-fact text, the intensely colored multimedia illustrations vividly highlight the stories of the past and the people who maintained their religious traditions while incorporating Indian customs into their daily lives (for example, speaking the Marathi language). A helpful author's note explains that most Bene Israel have left India for other countries; Lyons also discusses other Jewish communities in India. A visually enticing testament to the diversity of Jewish life. (glossary)(Informational picture book. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
