Chik Chak Shabbat

Bringing Shabbat to people of many cultures. Lovely illustrations, sweet story of kindness, sharing heritages and Shabbat. Particularly nice for people who live in diverse neighborhoods.

This is a great way to incorporate learning about lots of cultures and foods while teaching kids about showing compassion!

THIS BOOK IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR TORAH OBSERVANT FAMILIES. I ORDERED IT BECAUSE OF ITS CRITICAL ACCLAIM BUT IN REVIEWING IT BEFORE READING IT TO MY SON I REALIZED I COULDNt READ IT TO HIM OR MY GRANDDAUGHTER. THE PROTAGANIST IN THE STORY IS NOT SHOMER SHABBAT, AND SHE ALLOWS THE NEIGHBORS TO BRING UNKOSHER FOOD INTO HER HOME. THUS IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR MY FAMILY.

Great book with a nice message and a recipe on the back :).

Great book, timely delivery.

CHIK CHAK SHABBAT is a children's story about a woman named Goldie Simcha. Goldie lives in a diverse neighborhood. Every Saturday the aroma of her delicious cholent floats through the homes of her neighbors, filling them with happiness and joy. On Saturday night, her neighbors come over and together they enjoy the Shabbat meal she has prepared. However, one day the aroma of the cholent is not there and it wrecks havoc with everyone in the neighborhood. Where is Goldie and why is there no cholent? At the end of the book there is a recipe for vegetarian cholent. I enjoyed reading CHIK CHAK SHABBAT. Although Goldie is not a strictly Torah-observant woman, CHIK CHAK SHABBAT does a decent job of introducing Jewish traditions to those who are unfamiliar with the faith.

We are in love with this story for so many reasons. It is a wonderful story for anyone who celebrates Shabbat. It is a wonderful story for anyone who lives in an apartment building. It is a wonderful story for celebrating and discussing different cultures and religions. At the end of the day, however, it is a wonderful story about how neighbors come together to help each other out. When they gather around the table it isn't the cholent or the eclectic meal they later create that pulls them there. It is the company of one another. A warm, well paced, and moving story to share for generations to come.

Every Saturday Goldie Simcha welcomes her diverse neighbors with the long-simmered flavorful stew at the heart of her Shabbat tradition. When illness scuttles her Friday preparations her neighbors rally-round and each contribute a cultural dish that helps recreate the tastes, and more importantly, the spirit of togetherness at the heart of Shabbat. Whimsical and lively acrylic and collage illustrations convey the comfort and charm of traditions that foster community. Conversational text with elements of humor clearly, if not explicitly, convey the Jewish tradition of rest on the Sabbath. A recipe for a vegetarian version of the traditional Jewish Cholent is included.Far too many books that seek to explain religious and cultural traditions fall flat. Chick Chak Shabbat is the rare exception that shines as a story while retaining the essence of its cultural identity.

An adorable story of companionship and caring via sharing food and respecting everyone's cultural traditions. Highly recommended.