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A Treasury of Jewish Folklore
edited by Nathan Ausubel

A celebration of the stories, traditions, legends, humor,
wisdom, heroes and songs of the Jewish People

I purchased this book on e-Bay during their 'Auction for America' (the September 11 fundraiser) a few years ago, and I'm glad I did. It took me awhile to get around to reading it, but once I started it, I found that it is a most enjoyable book. I've been using it as my 'read-a-few-pages-before-bedtime' book for the last few weeks, and some nights it is hard to put down. When I found the Parable of the Two Gems near the front of the book, I knew I had to add it to my collection here at www.GodLovesEveryone.org. Click here to read this delightful parable, then scroll down that page to read the Parable of the Three Rings which I found on the Internet. They are wonderful parables that illustrate how we cannot judge, ourselves, whether one religion is better than another.

If you enjoy parables, stories, legends, wisdom and humor, then you should get this book and add it to your library. I highly recommend it, and if this book is any indication, any book by Nathan Ausubel should be fantastic. I recommend this book whether you are Jewish or not. I'm not Jewish, though I do visit a Jewish congregation once in awhile. I grew up Lutheran and loved this book. I believe you will enjoy this book no matter what your faith. It includes stories about people important to Christian and Muslim history, including Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Jeremiah, Jonah, and of course, many tales from periods of time that we don't study in church, including early common era and medieval period people that most of us have never heard of, including Akiba, Mar Zutra, Spinoza, Mikhail Ivanovitch, Alexander, Kunz, Gershon, Godfrey, Amram, Hershel, Zusskind, Pope Elhanan. Even Einstein and Babe Ruth show up in comments by people in these folk tales.

I was delighted to see what might have been a precursor to the Frankenstein legend in the "Demon Tales" section, in the tale of the "Prague of Golem". That same story had an element similar to one plot element of "The Sorceror's Apprentice" where the Golem, told to bring water from the well, keeps bringing water until the barrels overflow and the house is awash with water. (I can just imagine Mickey Mouse telling the animated broom to do the same, but not know how to tell him to stop.)

Sections of the book include Jewish Salt, Wise and Learned Men, Parables, The Ancient Art of Reasoning, Wise Judges, Riddle Solvers, Miracles, Cabalists Mystics and Wonder-Workers, Messiah Stories, Skeptics and Scoffers, The Human Comedy, Droll Characters, Schnorrers and Beggars, Wags and Wits, Hershel Ostropolier, Fools and Simpletons, The Wisdom of Chelm, Schlemihls and Schlimazls, Ignoramuses and Pretenders, Rogues and Sinners, Tricksters and Rogues, Liars and Braggarts, Misers and Stingy Men, Sinners, Traditional Types, Rothschild and Other Rich Men, Tailors, Scholars and Scripture Teachers, Merchants Shopkeepers Peddlers, Doctors and Patients, Waiters and Restaurants, Matchmakers, Humorous Anecdotes and Jests, Retorts, Bitter Jests, Tales and Legends, Biblical Sidelights, The World to Come, Folk Tales, Demon Tales, Animal Tales, Proverbs and Folk Sayings, Folkquips, Riddles, Conundrums, Notes, a Glossary, and Index.

I especially enjoyed the discussion about the difference between Schlemihls and Schlimazls. A Schlemihl is an awkward, bungling fellow, a butterfingers. He has no skill in coping with any situation in life. He spoils everything that he attempts. A Schlimazl is first cousin to the Schlemihl. Everything he attempts is spoiled, not because of skill (he has great skill) but because of his terrible luck. I especially enjoyed this one sentence comparison of the difference between the two:

"A schlemihl is a man who spills a bowl of hot soup on a schlimazl."

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