Hyman E. Goldin (1881–1971)

"A book for every member of your family"

Holiday Tales written by Hymin Goldin in 1929 is certainly an "interesting" book. Religion and/or Judaism is not one of my usual reading interests however the quirky presentation piqued my curiosity just enough to justify picking up this 84 year old book.

Content wise the book addresses the mythology behind ten Jewish holidays, namely: Sabbath, Pesah (Passover), Lag Beomer, Shabuoth (Pentecost), Tishah B'ab (Ninth of Ab), Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles), Hanukah & Purim.

I found it particularly.... discomforting that this book proudly states on the cover it's for every member of your family. The jovial cover and slightly larger text tend to indicate the publisher has in mind an audience made up of younger readers.

The reason for my discomfort is this book contains genocide, torture, murder of men, women & children, the cooking of human body parts as well as the suicide of children. I really don't see how these are acceptable topics for younger readers. Worse still, one segment of the book illustrates that asking questions is wrong - a person in the book after asking a question is struck down with leprosy. What better way to browbeat developing minds than tell them if they query anything they'll end up with a horrific disfiguring disease.

Overall a quaint book on Jewish mythology/legends that is easily read and digested.… (mehr)