Jews live all over the world, which means there are plenty of differences in our day-to-day lives. But we still have a lot in common — especially when it comes to Jewish life. Hanukkah Upside Down, written by Elissa Brent Weissman, illustrated by Omer Hoffmann, published by Abrams, follows a pair of cousins, one in North America and one Down Under, who each think their celebration of Hanukkah is the best. For Noah in New York, Hanukkah comes at the darkest, snowiest time of the year. For Nora in New Zealand, Hanukkah comes during summer break. When it’s Saturday for Noah, it’s Sunday for Nora, and while Noah eats a pastrami on rye, Nora eats a hokey pokey in a cone. But when Hanukkah begins, they both light candles, sing blessings, eat latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and spin sevivon (dreidels). It turns out Jewish holidays can be fabulous no matter where they’re celebrated, something the Jewish people have understood for centuries.
November 11, 2024