Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Jewish Folktales

Rate this book
Translated by Hillel Halkin, this is a remarkably diverse and immensely entertaining gathering of Jewish legends and the first worldwide anthology of Jewish folktales. It draws from both traditional Eastern European literary sources and the vast body of oral material from the Middle East and North Africa.

443 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

6 people are currently reading
118 people want to read

About the author

Pinhas Sadeh

15 books6 followers
Pinchas Sadeh, also Pinhas Sadeh, (Hebrew: פנחס שדה‎‎) was a Polish-born Israeli novelist and poet.

Sadehwas born Pinhas Feldman, in Galicia (then part of Poland). His family immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1934, settling in Tel Aviv. He lived and studied in Kibbutz Sarid. Later, he studied in England. Sadeh worked as a shepherd at Kvutzat Kinneret. There he met Yael Sacks, whom he married in 1956 but the union lasted only three months. In 1962-1969, he was married to Yehudit. He began publishing his work in 1945.

Sadeh died in Jerusalem at the age of 64.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
11 (35%)
4 stars
9 (29%)
3 stars
7 (22%)
2 stars
3 (9%)
1 star
1 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Eyes Of .
85 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2016
An eclectic collection of folktales with familiar refrains across many cultures and religions, some even echoing famous fables and fairy tales. The only critique I could give is a preference for the folktales to be prefaced, rather than their origins organized at the end of the book. I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in the genre or cultural studies.
Profile Image for Nicole.
2,043 reviews7 followers
March 27, 2019
Some of the weirdest tales I've read! Not so weird as some of the Brothers Grimm, but still. Fascinating.
Profile Image for Tamara.
269 reviews
September 20, 2022
5 stars times a lifetime.
Reading this book, along with the Tanakh, has lead me to,
Siddur: Prayer Book: Weekday, Sabbath, and the Festival (English and Hebrew Edition).
I'm very excited to fall asleep to such beauty.

The Hebrews are a very interesting band of historic understanding in kismet portions, that I have come to love.
Their folktales and scriptures flower the very essence of peace "beyond all understandings".
I think that must be where God is.

Jewish Folktales, unlike the Brothers Grimm, end in "happily ever after" with the hero being Wisdom.


#2)Re-read: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Will re-read again, and again, and again....
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.