The Cholent Brigade - Softcover

Michael Herman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 151240845X ISBN 13: 9781512408454

Publisher: Kar-Ben Copies Ltd, 2017

Synopsis

When a big snowstorm hits, Monty Nudelman happily shovels his neighbors' sidewalks, driveways, cars, and stepsuntil he hurts his back. He can't even make his Shabbat lunch. Luckily, his neighbors have all made cholenta delicious Shabbat stew.

About this title

Review

"When heavy snow falls, thoughtful Monty Nudelman get shovelling and clears his neighbours' paths. But just as he finishes, his back gives way. He has to miss Saturday-morning synagogue -- but all the people he has helped want to show him some kindness in return and all have the same idea -- to bring him a container of cholent. Not only is Michael Herman's The Cholent Brigade (Kar Ben, $5.99) a heartwarming story about one good deed deserving another, it also portrays, through Sharon Harmer's illustrations, a diverse Jewish population. Age three to seven." - The Jewish Chronicle

--Newspaper

"Monty Nudelman loves to help his neighbors and, after a big snowstorm, he shoveled their sidewalks and driveways. Sadly, he hurts his back, and he can't make his own Shabbat lunch. Luckily, his neighbors made cholent, a special Shabbat stew. See the classic recipe so you, too, can make the special stew." - Jewish Herald Voice

--Newspaper

"The Cholent Brigade by Michael Herman, illustrated by Sharon Harmer. Young readers will giggle at the main character's name: Mr. Monty Nudelman. Monty is the guy who shovels everyone's walk after a snowfall, but after one storm he hurts his back. When he misses shul, everyone says a mi sheberakh, and multiethnic Jewish families from all around the neighborhood send their kids to bring him cholent and good wishes. Everyone chows down, and on Sunday, the kids come back and shovel Monty's sidewalk. There's a recipe for cholent (made with BBQ sauce! What madness is this?) at the end. Riotous curly hair, soft clouds of snow, and textured-looking sweaters add to the low-stress fun. (Ages 4-7)" - Tablet Mag

--Magazine

"Monty Nudelman can't wait to shovel his neighbors' sidewalks, driveways, cars and more when a big snowstorm strikes - until he hurts his back. His back hurts so much he can't even make Shabbat lunch. Thankfully, his neighbors all made cholent and 'The Cholent Brigade' comes to the rescue. The book includes a cholent recipe." - Cleveland Jewish News

--Newspaper

"Mr. Monty Nudelman is a mensch (good person). On Friday morning following a big storm, he happily shovels snow from the sidewalks, alleys and front porches of his neighbors so they can prepare for Shabbat. When he does not show up for Shabbat services on Saturday morning, the congregation is worried. They learn he is home because he hurt his back shoveling snow - for all of them! Just before lunch, neighborhood children are sent to Monty's home with bowls, pots and thermoses filled with cholent (Shabbat stew) - a Cholent Brigade - to help him feel better. The children stay to help him eat all the varieties of cholent 'each dish filled with warmth and comfort, happiness and friendship, ' and on Sunday morning they return to shovel Monty's yard.

This sweet, simple story of friendship, bikkur cholim (visiting the sick)and tikkun olam (repairing the world), is a wonderful lesson for the current times. The illustrations, a mixture of digital art combined with hand drawings and paint, are colorful and perfectly reflect a snow covered town. There is a recipe for cholent in the back of the book."--Association of Jewish Libraries

--Other Print

This picture book is entirely predictable, and that may be a good thing. Monty Nudelman is the sort of neighbor everybody wants. He spends hours volunteering to shovel other people's yards. The text is very eloquent: 'He shoveled walkways, alleyways, steps and stoops.' He's so kind that the story pretty much demands that something terrible will happen to him, and it does. His back seizes up with a 'fiery pain.' And because this story isn't even the slightest bit cynical, almost every reader will see the happy ending coming: the people at his synagogue all help to shovel his sidewalk, and they make sure he has food to eat on the Jewish Sabbath. Even more-than-a-bit-cynical readers may be moved to see a whole community working together, without needing to be asked. And the book is full of small delights, most of them involving cholent, the traditional Jewish stew Monty loves to eat. There's a recipe at the end of the book and a colorful, illustrated scene that describes 'cholent with short ribs and sweet potatoes, and even chili cholent.' Harmer's pictures show that the Jewish community is refreshingly multiracial. There are no surprises here, but the acts of kindness don't feel like a plot convention. They feel like a philosophy for life. It's touching to see a town where kindness is no surprise."--Kirkus Reviews

--Journal

About the Author

Michael Herman has a passion for Jewish history and tradition and enjoys collecting antique Judaica. Every Friday evening he lights a 19th-century hanging Sabbath lamp of his own. Michael lives in Chicago, Illinois.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kar-Ben Copies Ltd
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 151240845X
• ISBN 13: 9781512408454
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 24