What do a prayer book, a mezuzah, a dreidel, and a miniature Torah, all have in common? … One answer is: they’ve all been to space! – thanks to Jeffrey Hoffman, the third Jewish astronaut in space, and the first to bring Jewish artifacts on space missions.
In realistic illustrations with luminous space-scapes throughout, picture book biography, Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah, tells the story of Jeffrey Hoffman’s love of outer space and of Judaism, and how during one special Shabbat, he read from the Book of Genesis while orbiting the Earth at 17,400 miles per an hour! The book’s backmatter includes an afterward by Jeffrey Hoffman, and a note from the author, Rachelle Burk, full of interesting facts about the obstacles Jeffrey Hoffman overcame in planning his cosmic mitzvah.
Space Torah is a truly inspiring story about someone who lived their dream while honoring the traditions of their faith. The PJ Library Book Selection Committee thinks this book will appeal to all readers, especially those with a particular interest in space.
July 1, 2025