Wise Men of Helm

by Solomon Simon

The collection of Jewish folktales that the New York Times called a delightful little book . . . a classic of its kind . . . full of merriment and wisdom. Illustrated with whimsical drawings these humorous stories are just right for children.

Genres: Jewish, Short Stories, Fiction, Judaica, Folklore

135 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Tandava Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d heard of Chelm before, but this was the first time I’ve gotten to actually read some of the stories. It’s a fun little collection, and I like how each story connects to it’s neighbors, even while being a separate tale.

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adore these stories, they were a part of my growing up and I reread them again this year. Timeless humour in my opinion! You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy them :)

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

These ridiculously elliptical tales are told in a way that would appeal to any young reader (Jewish or otherwise). Not only are the individual stories funny, but collectively there is a point: After the Chelmites succeed in burning down their own town, and manage to lose everything, there is no sorrow.

Near the end, Simon writes: "Like our forefathers of old, let us go forth with courage in our hearts to fulfill our destiny! ... And that is what the [C]helmites did. Not with sorrow and not with tears, but proudly, they went forth from [C]helm ... They mingled with all the peoples of the world and dutifully spread the wisdom that was once the pride of [C]helm alone."

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer Isaac Bashevis Singer's Zlateh the Goat. This one just didn't have the charm of Zlateh the Goat. Not all the stories in that book are about Chelmites but several are. This title by Simon is a perfectly decent introduction to a popular category of Jewish folktales. I'd love to see what Eric Kimmel could do with the Chelm stories and am surprised he hasn't tried any of those yet.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading aloud to my mom. Little slow, but nostalgic for my grandma.