Read The Adventures of Jeremy and Heddy Levi Yaffa Ganz Avi Katz 9781930143517 Books

Product details Paperback 208 pages Publisher Simcha Media Group (March 1, 2003) Language English ISBN-10 1930143516

The Adventures of Jeremy and Heddy Levi Yaffa Ganz Avi Katz 9781930143517 Books Reviews

• There's a scene in T.A.O.J.L where the principal goes berserk and puts Jeremy back a grade for failing three tests. Jeremy turns the tables on him (in a positive way) and returns to 5th grade, but I'm not sure if this is the example we want to set. Children aren't necessarily gullible, but they're easily forced to do things. Do we want the kids to think this is normal?
  
  Coming from an Orthodox Jewish American family, I know how hard it can be for a kid like this to grow. Not only do you have to worry about nutrition, bullies, looking both ways when you cross the street, but the other things; checking the label for the "O.U"; all the things you can't do on Shabbat; secretly wishing your folks would stop reminding you to say grace after meals; feeling guilty because you're attracted to a girl who's not Jewish; wrestling with your "yetzah harrah" because, for just once, you'd rather sleep in than go to Shul. It all adds up.
  
  The conclusion to the story raises a question that's kind of a taboo subject among religious Jews; is a boy always ready for Bar Mitzvah at age 13? What if he doesn't understand the responsiblity? What if he's mature enough at 12? Is a mature boy of 12 old enough to be counted in the Minyan?
  
  I'd recommend Ganz' book not only to Jewish kids, but also to non-Jews trying to figure out how Jewish people think.