Book Selection Committee members read a lot of Hanukkah stories and many of them are very similar in theme or plot. Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas is different from most of the Hanukkah manuscripts we receive--in all the best ways possible. The story focuses on a Jewish family that also has Indian heritage. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen anyone from Hebrew school at the Indian Market,” the main character says, “and I’ve never seen anyone from the market dropping kids off at Hebrew School.” His family embraces its multilayered background by frying up crispy dosas (traditional Indian pancakes) instead of latkes. And when they get locked out of their house just before their Hanukkah party, the protagonist’s quirky little sister Sadie draws on her special talents and uniqueness to save the day. “From every human being there rises a light,” said Hasidic scholar, the Baal Shem Tov, and this little girl is no exception.
The Book Selection Committee loves how this book celebrates the varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds that make up today’s Jewish community, and encourages each of us to be proud of our individuality. Our differences make us special--and in this story, those differences also happen to be delicious.
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November 2, 2017