Algemene kennis

Geboortedatum: 1945-06-08
Geslacht: male
Nationaliteit: USA
Geboorteplaats: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Beroepen: artist
author

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A Jewish bestiary : a book of fabulous creatures… door Mark H. Podwal

One page descriptions of real and imaginary---fabulous---animals from Midrash, Zohar, and Jewish folklore on left page and ink sketch on right for:
the ant, serpent, ram, lion, stork, snail, ostrich, Behemoth, gnat, salamander, Leviathan, raven, ass, spider, fox, cock, swine, Azazel-goat, golden calf, dove, great fish (Jonah), unicorn, Nebuchadnezzar as a beast, barnacle goose, ziz.

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raizel | 2 andere besprekingen | Feb 6, 2020 |

The Golem: The Giant Made of Mud door Mark Podwal

It is interesting to me that the illustrations appear to be draw with mud and colored clays. It correlates with the title of the book - A Golem made with Mud. This folklore tale plays on the greediness of an emperor and his desire to turn iron into gold. It is a Jewish folklore with alchemists, wizards, and magicians. A rabbi wanted to prevent the burning of holy books because it angered the emperor that the secret was no hidden among them. The emperor neglected the city of Prague and the Jews were forced to live in ghettos. There are a lot of descriptive words that tell the story. "In its rage the golem grew larger and larger. Flames shot from its eyes and streaked across the sky. The terrified crowd ran in all directions." These words paint a vivid image in the readers head. There is a menorah in one of the illustrations even though the text does not mention it at all. The golem wore the emperor's palace on top of its head like a crown. This perhaps was my favorite page. The city is drawn in the shape of a crown and now the golem is King.
"A few years afterward the emperor died, One day after the death of his pet lion." This line confused me because a pet lion was not mentioned at all. Also the term "flower's fragence was the Angel of Death.

The last few pages..."& so today a golem might be anywhere.. or everywhere waiting to be brought back to life... or perhaps all that remains are the stories." Brings the folklore full circle as a story being told out loud.… (meer)

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mskathyphan | 1 andere bespreking | Oct 18, 2018 |

A sweet year : a taste of the Jewish holidays door Mark H. Podwal

I absolutely adore everything this book represented. Jews have a history of being an oppressed people and the fact that this author chose to celebrate their culture in such a great way made me proud to read it to my child. This book included things very specific to the Jewish beliefs and customs, food is a great way to measure the year and the symbolism each item means to the Jewish culture. I would highly recommend this book to children of ALL ages! I think everyone could stand to learn something about cultures that aren't their own. Grades K-12… (meer)

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nseugene | 3 andere besprekingen | Mar 8, 2017 |

Built by Angels: The Story of the Old-New Synagogue door Mark Podwal

Beautiful illustrations, and hints of mystery. "A synagogue with as many stories as stones." In the end, none of these stories are really told. There is just a cursory listing of legends and superstitions. Also, it makes a political statement -- that the stones of the synagogue are only borrowed until they are used to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem one day. The book is based on legends about an actual syngagoue, the Altneuschul or Prague, the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe. - Marla S.

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cavlibrary | 2 andere besprekingen | Nov 12, 2016 |

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