A Bunch of Jews (And other Stuff) by Max
Perlson & Trina Robbins by Bedside Press is realistically an old fascinating book with an amazing story behind. I start to tell that I would want to read also the version written by Max B.Perlson. Living in a countryside I know the dynamics told by the author.
Realized in cartoon and taking in consideration some of the stories written by Perlson, this book was firstly written and published in yiddish in 1938: a series of short tales about the people living in Duboy a shtelt of the modern Belarus.
Once emigrated in the USA Max learned english very well, read all the possible beautiful literature, and had wagons of books, all reads; books that later would have been read by Trina as well. Living in America Trina didn't pay attention at the love and devotion that her father manifested for yiddish. He wrote everything in yiddish; pieces, books. Once he released this book written in yiddish, she didn't mind. It was of course just for people in grade of understanding that tongue. Trina thought that yiddish was a foreign element in a culture like the USA; she wanted to live completely integrated with the rest of her American friendsf
She completely forgot that book written by her dad.
It was a casuality. Her daughter one day surfing the web discovered the book of her grand-dad reprinted on Abebooks, and, curious they decided of buying some copies. Trina discovered a precious book. Her dad portrayed and remembered the most interesting men and women who lived in Duboy and the fresco is vivid, beautiful still now. Anecdots, facts, of remarkable people. After all the story of a community.
It seems that when the book appeared there were polemics, but it is pretty normal when someone want to portray people living in a microcosm.

Trina thought that more than re-publish the book with these stories, it was better to create a series of cartoons and asked to various cartooonists of helping her.

This one the final result.

I loved the story of Rebitshe the Melamed, the teaacher barely touching the ground when he walked, and respected by everyone; Yosl Meyer having travelled a lot wasn't absolutely anymore suprirsed of anything, so when someone described him a complete different world, a big lake, a wonderful city, be sure that he had seen it, in another part of the world and wasn't surprised. "There was nothing new under the sun" could have been his motto.
I loved the story of matzos; the one of Khayim introduces us at a jewish, who, with the time became poor.
Prepare yourself for rhe recipe of the Kotletn. The story is so tender. One of my favorite ones.
Faydo was a beloved dog and the departure of her beloved owner meant also the the one of Faydo.
Even Goats love Flowers is a sunny and funny story and I also love the beautiful cartoons.

I highy recoommend to you this book. It is funny but it will also let you think about life, destinies, and daily-life of a vital community.

I thank NetGalley for this ebook.

Anna Maria Polidori