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Jewish Children
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215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1920
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66 people want to read
About the author
Sholom Aleichem
290 books187 followersRussian-born American humorist Sholem Aleichem or Sholom Aleichem, originally Solomon Rabinowitz, in Yiddish originally wrote stories and plays, the basis for the musical
Fiddler on the Roof
.
He wrote under the pen name, Hebrew for "peace be upon you."
From 1883, he produced more than forty volumes as a central figure in literature before 1890.
His notable narratives accurately described shtetl life with the naturalness of speech of his characters. Early critics focused on the cheerfulness of the characters, interpreted as a way of coping with adversity. Later critics saw a tragic side. Because of the similar style of the author with the pen name of Mark Twain, people often referred to Aleichem as the Jewish version of Twain. Both authors wrote for adults and children and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States.
He wrote under the pen name, Hebrew for "peace be upon you."
From 1883, he produced more than forty volumes as a central figure in literature before 1890.
His notable narratives accurately described shtetl life with the naturalness of speech of his characters. Early critics focused on the cheerfulness of the characters, interpreted as a way of coping with adversity. Later critics saw a tragic side. Because of the similar style of the author with the pen name of Mark Twain, people often referred to Aleichem as the Jewish version of Twain. Both authors wrote for adults and children and lectured extensively in Europe and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 25, 2020
I think “Sholom Aleichem” - Peace be unto him! – is a sort of Wonder of wonders! An idyll, a living thing, or a symbol, an inanimate thing, is what this collection of short stories seems to describe. More or less, the story-telling is about things that have been standing since the creation of the world, and whose roots reach to God-knows-where, something which resembles the fairy tales land, such is about peasants that lived in the village a long time ago.
There is the author, so I presume and, why not!, who is trying to recollect some of the happenings from his childhood, by going back again in the village of his birth. Well, this is my impression, but I might be wrong too. Of course, a lot, a lot of water had flown by since that time and he finds that the people are different, and they are greatly changed, it’s almost impossible to recognize them. The old people of his day were all gone. There are new customs, but there also seems to be customs that remained unchanged, and this is what he is recollecting. The stories are mostly about his schoolboys, their games, schooldays of learning, and the days of holidays as they were enjoyed by all of them, being young or adults.
Good God! There are so many Festivals that are being held and enjoyed by the Jewish. I have actually been thrown into such a big world full of old customs and traditions, festivals and special holidays. One of these that impressed me deeply is an old custom amongst Jewish children to become war-like on the “Lag B’Omer’, and go off to wage war in a forest, after they arm themselves from head to foot with wooden swords, pop-guns, bows and arrows, and also take food with them. These holidays were dark, dreary, and taught the Jewish children that if it is not destined, neither wisdom nor strength nor smartness are of any avail. There was too much violence even if they were just children, and after this they arrived home exhausted, ragged, bruised, beaten. Most of them thought or imagined themselves as giants.
On a side note, I feel myself so stuffed with the naming and specific Jewish traditions and customs that I feel unable to remember some of my own, and sadly I am not very much familiar with the old traditions. Well, the basic excuse being that my parents, as the first generations that moved to live in the city, didn’t show much concern or preoccupation for these, and moreover they give us the children all the freedom to raise ourselves by ourselves. Eventually, I am to learn about traditions from reading or from conversing with old people from the country, especially as it was possible when grandparents were still with us.
Jewish children in general know everything. For example, one of them named Abramtzig knows: “there is a land far away called America, and in America they have a lot of relatives and friends. In that same America the Jews are well-off and happy – may no evil eye rest on them! Next year, if God wills it, they will go off to America- when they get tickets. Without tickets no one can go to America, because there is a sea. And on the sea there is a storm that shakes one to the very soul.” I assume this refers to the author himself having emigrated to America at the beginning of the 20th century and where indeed he became famous.
Most of the time the Jewish children are scolded by their parents, both father and mother, so they get a few good smacks and thumps, and punches and digs in the ribs, and twists of the ear. Mothers especially are never satisfied, always cross, and always sour. And yes, Jewish children do ask themselves, ‘why have you done this thing to me?’
Even if they like company, sometimes Jewish children discover that a real pleasure is a pleasure that one enjoys by one’s self, without a companion, and without a single argument. When no one bothers you and no one prevents you from doing what you like. No one sees you but God. I think I can sympathize with this very well 😉
I found very amusing and witty all the curses and oaths used in the frequent dialogue between grown-ups and also parents and children. There is such a wide variety of these, and despite their instant discomfort they still leave you with a smile on your face.
‘Salt in their eyes, and stones in their hearts! Whoever begrudges me what I have, let him have nothing. I wish them to be in my position next year.” It could be said that a curious feeling of vengefulness takes possession of Jewish children, and they begin to avenge themselves of their enemies. The Festival “Lag B’Omer” allowed them this freedom, sometimes they waged war against their school-fellows, their teacher, sometimes they simply waged war against the vegetables harvest in a garden by bringing it to a complete ruin 😊
The “Cheder” and the words spoken by the teacher were almost a law. Personally, I had myself a feeling when young that we were raised as real wild savages, that is to say enjoying freedom, a lot of freedom if I am to make a comparison with the tales told in this book..
Other times the children are very much afraid by their teacher, they are taken by the ear, dragged to the door, and beaten over the neck and shoulders. In various cases, the system of teaching was founded on one thing – whippings. Why whippings? One teacher explained the reason by bringing forward the case of the horse: “Why does a horse go? Because it is afraid. What is it afraid of? Whippings. And it is the same with a child. A child must be afraid. He must fear God and his teacher, and his father and his mother, a sin and a bad thought. And in order that a child should be really afraid, he must be laid down, in true style, and given a score or so lashes. There is nothing better in the world than the rod. May the whip live long!” …Simply Speechless, still this system was carried on for lots and lots of years down the ages… In a word, it was whippings, rods, fears and tears. In our foolish little world, these prevailed at that time, without a single solution to the problems they brought into being, without a single remedy for the evils, without a single ray of hope that we would ever free ourselves from the fiendish system under which we lived.
Well, I am not sure how much these are fairy tales, some invented stories by which you get fooled and get yourself into ‘slavery’. But for sure I have read about such wild tales that makes my hair stand on end, regardless if it’s coiled and/or kept in a tight pony-tail.
Jewish children were really sweet, funny children, and as all children they were carried away by golden dreams when their young fancies were enkindled. They dreamed of freedom, of running down hill, of wading barefoot in the river, playing horses, jumping over the logs. These were good, sweet, foolish dreams that were not destined to be realized, especially when their ‘Cheder’ teacher approached them. Away from school, they felt lively, joyful, signing, like giants who knews how to overcome the enemy and win the battle.
But, there is Book of Genesis, learning the Torah, the Song of Songs, the Ethics of the Fathers, the Psalms, books of tales from Talmud, etc – simply too big Bibles, that the Jewish children should learn diligently and say their prayers willingly. But then again, all children are alike. A boy is as mischievous as any other boy. Playing was to the children the finest thing in the world. I do agree wholeheartedly.
Somehow, it makes you believe that there are people who have never been taught anything, and know everything, have never been anywhere, and understand everything, have never given a moment’s thought to anything, and comprehend everything.
These were fine stories, a sort of regular Arabian Nights tale. It’s a desire to talk of the good old times, the dear good days of our childhood, and the foolish things we did then. And, it’s to forget, in a moment, all the harshness, abuse and blows that were suffered during the same times.
In couple of moments, I was struck dumb with astonishment, especially the parts covering the Song of Songs that is focusing on a love tale, once on a time, years ago – that is to say immemorial times – when people could do wonderful tricks and loved to live same like in the amazing stories that they were rendering between themselves. Guess it’s now like finding the answer to: “what has become of my “Song of Songs” world that was, at one time, so fresh and clear and bright – the world that was as fragrant as though filled with spices?”
Well, once on a time, years ago, I was happy, and I remember that I felt happy without an end -without a limit! As for now, in the light and spirit of the story, “May no evil eye harm me!”, HA 😉 😊
There is the author, so I presume and, why not!, who is trying to recollect some of the happenings from his childhood, by going back again in the village of his birth. Well, this is my impression, but I might be wrong too. Of course, a lot, a lot of water had flown by since that time and he finds that the people are different, and they are greatly changed, it’s almost impossible to recognize them. The old people of his day were all gone. There are new customs, but there also seems to be customs that remained unchanged, and this is what he is recollecting. The stories are mostly about his schoolboys, their games, schooldays of learning, and the days of holidays as they were enjoyed by all of them, being young or adults.
Good God! There are so many Festivals that are being held and enjoyed by the Jewish. I have actually been thrown into such a big world full of old customs and traditions, festivals and special holidays. One of these that impressed me deeply is an old custom amongst Jewish children to become war-like on the “Lag B’Omer’, and go off to wage war in a forest, after they arm themselves from head to foot with wooden swords, pop-guns, bows and arrows, and also take food with them. These holidays were dark, dreary, and taught the Jewish children that if it is not destined, neither wisdom nor strength nor smartness are of any avail. There was too much violence even if they were just children, and after this they arrived home exhausted, ragged, bruised, beaten. Most of them thought or imagined themselves as giants.
On a side note, I feel myself so stuffed with the naming and specific Jewish traditions and customs that I feel unable to remember some of my own, and sadly I am not very much familiar with the old traditions. Well, the basic excuse being that my parents, as the first generations that moved to live in the city, didn’t show much concern or preoccupation for these, and moreover they give us the children all the freedom to raise ourselves by ourselves. Eventually, I am to learn about traditions from reading or from conversing with old people from the country, especially as it was possible when grandparents were still with us.
Jewish children in general know everything. For example, one of them named Abramtzig knows: “there is a land far away called America, and in America they have a lot of relatives and friends. In that same America the Jews are well-off and happy – may no evil eye rest on them! Next year, if God wills it, they will go off to America- when they get tickets. Without tickets no one can go to America, because there is a sea. And on the sea there is a storm that shakes one to the very soul.” I assume this refers to the author himself having emigrated to America at the beginning of the 20th century and where indeed he became famous.
Most of the time the Jewish children are scolded by their parents, both father and mother, so they get a few good smacks and thumps, and punches and digs in the ribs, and twists of the ear. Mothers especially are never satisfied, always cross, and always sour. And yes, Jewish children do ask themselves, ‘why have you done this thing to me?’
Even if they like company, sometimes Jewish children discover that a real pleasure is a pleasure that one enjoys by one’s self, without a companion, and without a single argument. When no one bothers you and no one prevents you from doing what you like. No one sees you but God. I think I can sympathize with this very well 😉
I found very amusing and witty all the curses and oaths used in the frequent dialogue between grown-ups and also parents and children. There is such a wide variety of these, and despite their instant discomfort they still leave you with a smile on your face.
‘Salt in their eyes, and stones in their hearts! Whoever begrudges me what I have, let him have nothing. I wish them to be in my position next year.” It could be said that a curious feeling of vengefulness takes possession of Jewish children, and they begin to avenge themselves of their enemies. The Festival “Lag B’Omer” allowed them this freedom, sometimes they waged war against their school-fellows, their teacher, sometimes they simply waged war against the vegetables harvest in a garden by bringing it to a complete ruin 😊
The “Cheder” and the words spoken by the teacher were almost a law. Personally, I had myself a feeling when young that we were raised as real wild savages, that is to say enjoying freedom, a lot of freedom if I am to make a comparison with the tales told in this book..
Other times the children are very much afraid by their teacher, they are taken by the ear, dragged to the door, and beaten over the neck and shoulders. In various cases, the system of teaching was founded on one thing – whippings. Why whippings? One teacher explained the reason by bringing forward the case of the horse: “Why does a horse go? Because it is afraid. What is it afraid of? Whippings. And it is the same with a child. A child must be afraid. He must fear God and his teacher, and his father and his mother, a sin and a bad thought. And in order that a child should be really afraid, he must be laid down, in true style, and given a score or so lashes. There is nothing better in the world than the rod. May the whip live long!” …Simply Speechless, still this system was carried on for lots and lots of years down the ages… In a word, it was whippings, rods, fears and tears. In our foolish little world, these prevailed at that time, without a single solution to the problems they brought into being, without a single remedy for the evils, without a single ray of hope that we would ever free ourselves from the fiendish system under which we lived.
Well, I am not sure how much these are fairy tales, some invented stories by which you get fooled and get yourself into ‘slavery’. But for sure I have read about such wild tales that makes my hair stand on end, regardless if it’s coiled and/or kept in a tight pony-tail.
Jewish children were really sweet, funny children, and as all children they were carried away by golden dreams when their young fancies were enkindled. They dreamed of freedom, of running down hill, of wading barefoot in the river, playing horses, jumping over the logs. These were good, sweet, foolish dreams that were not destined to be realized, especially when their ‘Cheder’ teacher approached them. Away from school, they felt lively, joyful, signing, like giants who knews how to overcome the enemy and win the battle.
But, there is Book of Genesis, learning the Torah, the Song of Songs, the Ethics of the Fathers, the Psalms, books of tales from Talmud, etc – simply too big Bibles, that the Jewish children should learn diligently and say their prayers willingly. But then again, all children are alike. A boy is as mischievous as any other boy. Playing was to the children the finest thing in the world. I do agree wholeheartedly.
Somehow, it makes you believe that there are people who have never been taught anything, and know everything, have never been anywhere, and understand everything, have never given a moment’s thought to anything, and comprehend everything.
These were fine stories, a sort of regular Arabian Nights tale. It’s a desire to talk of the good old times, the dear good days of our childhood, and the foolish things we did then. And, it’s to forget, in a moment, all the harshness, abuse and blows that were suffered during the same times.
In couple of moments, I was struck dumb with astonishment, especially the parts covering the Song of Songs that is focusing on a love tale, once on a time, years ago – that is to say immemorial times – when people could do wonderful tricks and loved to live same like in the amazing stories that they were rendering between themselves. Guess it’s now like finding the answer to: “what has become of my “Song of Songs” world that was, at one time, so fresh and clear and bright – the world that was as fragrant as though filled with spices?”
Well, once on a time, years ago, I was happy, and I remember that I felt happy without an end -without a limit! As for now, in the light and spirit of the story, “May no evil eye harm me!”, HA 😉 😊
September 13, 2013
Life is a circle. Much is written about the cycle of life and what else is a cycle than a circle? Children are children regardless of race, religion or circumstances. This book contains nineteen sketches of the daily life of a Jewish child growing up in Eastern Europe. Although some of the stories are amusing, a gray tint of depression seems to shade them. The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness seems to creep into each tale from all sides. The stories are written on an unsteady base as if life was built on a precarious precipice and sure to eventually fall into an abyss. This book, like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, is written from the perspective of a boy (child) looking out into an adult world and many of those scenes leave the receptive in a state of perplexity and confusion. Although a Semitic world abounds from every page, the thoughts and feelings expressed could easily be those of every child. This is a rare book and I am sure it will find a warm spot in the libraries and lives of countless readers. I highly recommend it to everyone that wishes to step back into the past when the youth was your generation.
December 15, 2024
The last story in the anthology, This Night, is what helped me come around on this book. The majority of the stories felt too brief or incomplete to really resonate with me. But This Night, which depicts a grown man returning to his childhood home only to realize that everything has changed and that he could never recapture the magic of his youth, was such a wonderful and touching conclusion that it made me want to revisit other parts of the book.
That helped me come to terms with some of the other stories as well. Upon first reading, some stories felt incomplete, without purpose, and too brief, but that's sometimes all we can maintain from our youth: that this kid was strange, or that this thing we couldn't explain at the time happened to us, or that that one adult was scary and had crooked teeth. It reminded me of the fragmented and realist nature of A Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce.
Other stories in the anthology, the majority of them in fact, made me wonder why anyone would have wanted to remain Jewish in the past. It seems like the kids in this book are viewed as constant nuisances by their parents and teachers. They're constantly getting denigrated and beat. And on top of that, they're ostracized and demonized by the majority of their communities (gentiles).
However, in reflecting on the time period (late 1800s), I realized that Judaism and its insistence on education for children (cheder) meant that, despite these horrors, this was the closest thing that kids got in terms of childhood. While other children were put to work at the age of five, these Jewish children enjoyed the privilege of going to a space where other children went and to partake in childhood activities (such as Lag B’omer battles). It helps put into perspective how modern ideas such as “childhood” and “parenting” are and it makes me grateful to live in our modern era.
That's all to say that the specific contents of the book are definitely antiquated but that the ideas and feelings within it still resonate.
Some of my favorite stories are Passover in a Village, Isshur the Beadle, Esther, On the Fiddle, The Spinning Top, and This Night.
That helped me come to terms with some of the other stories as well. Upon first reading, some stories felt incomplete, without purpose, and too brief, but that's sometimes all we can maintain from our youth: that this kid was strange, or that this thing we couldn't explain at the time happened to us, or that that one adult was scary and had crooked teeth. It reminded me of the fragmented and realist nature of A Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce.
Other stories in the anthology, the majority of them in fact, made me wonder why anyone would have wanted to remain Jewish in the past. It seems like the kids in this book are viewed as constant nuisances by their parents and teachers. They're constantly getting denigrated and beat. And on top of that, they're ostracized and demonized by the majority of their communities (gentiles).
However, in reflecting on the time period (late 1800s), I realized that Judaism and its insistence on education for children (cheder) meant that, despite these horrors, this was the closest thing that kids got in terms of childhood. While other children were put to work at the age of five, these Jewish children enjoyed the privilege of going to a space where other children went and to partake in childhood activities (such as Lag B’omer battles). It helps put into perspective how modern ideas such as “childhood” and “parenting” are and it makes me grateful to live in our modern era.
That's all to say that the specific contents of the book are definitely antiquated but that the ideas and feelings within it still resonate.
Some of my favorite stories are Passover in a Village, Isshur the Beadle, Esther, On the Fiddle, The Spinning Top, and This Night.
September 8, 2015
A really deftly-rendered collection of stories depicting a place/time, and i enjoyed Aleichem's style (or how his style was interpreted by the translator, rather, i suppose). Not a book for readers who can't cope with unrelenting child-beating though. Every family portrayed, the fathers beat the crap out of their sons, and teachers beat the crap out of their students. Lots of physical abuse as a part of the everyday lives of these characters.
December 13, 2008
Adrian Praetzellis is one of my favorite LibriVox readers. The book itself is as described, a collage of stories about Jewish children in Russia or Eastern Europe.
January 16, 2014
This Night, the last story is especially beautiful.
October 7, 2016
Amazing
So sweet and witty and smart and reminded me of my grandparents childhood. It is really worth reading. Buy it.
So sweet and witty and smart and reminded me of my grandparents childhood. It is really worth reading. Buy it.
October 17, 2020
Grim tales of childhood that capture some existential realities of life, extremely well. I kept thinking of Alice Miller and how brutal childhood must have been for most children throughout history. Great book.
February 13, 2018
A collection of Jewish Children's tales.
July 18, 2021
What a Beautiful Collection
Vivid images of childhood told from the heart. You laugh out loud, you cry, as you share intimately in the experience.
Vivid images of childhood told from the heart. You laugh out loud, you cry, as you share intimately in the experience.
March 18, 2017
This is a collection of short stories, most of which revolve around the Jewish holidays. Overall, not my favorite collection of Sholem Aleichem tales, although I did enjoy the Song of Songs based stories and some of the others.
July 29, 2019
Just delightful tales told in the child's voice of a bygone era of Jewish communities.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews