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Available
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Publication
Tricycle Press (2009), 40 pages
Description
As a Confederate family prepares for Passover the day after the Civil War has ended, a Yankee arrives on their Virginia doorstep and is invited to share their meal, to the dismay of ten-year-old Jacob. Includes historical notes about Corporal Myer Levy, on whom the story is based, and his prominent Philadelphia family.
User reviews
LibraryThing member prkcs
As a Confederate family prepares for Passover the day after the Civil War has ended, a Yankee arrives on their Virginia doorstep and is invited to share their meal, to the dismay of ten-year-old Jacob. Includes historical notes about Corporal Myer Levy, on whom the story is based, and his prominent
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Philadelphia family. Show Less
LibraryThing member eurbanowicz
During Passover, the tradition is to welcome any guest who comes to the door. But when Jacob's mother invites a Yankee soldier to dinner he's unsure how to react. Jacob is a confederacy supporter, and the Civil War just ended. As the seder progresses the Jewish tradition of debate begins, and we
RESPONSE: I picked this up at the library, intrigued by the title and not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. I had never thought of there being Jewish people in the southern states, and given their history of oppression I never considered any to have been confederate sympathizers. But that's kind of the point of this book; things are rarely as simple as we consider them to be, and yet we can still agree to disagree and be peaceful and friendly.
THEMES/CONCEPTS: Judaism, Passover, Civil War, slavery, states' rights, friendly disagreement
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hear multiple sides of the civil war arguments, as well as multiple interpretations of the Passover story. RESPONSE: I picked this up at the library, intrigued by the title and not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. I had never thought of there being Jewish people in the southern states, and given their history of oppression I never considered any to have been confederate sympathizers. But that's kind of the point of this book; things are rarely as simple as we consider them to be, and yet we can still agree to disagree and be peaceful and friendly.
THEMES/CONCEPTS: Judaism, Passover, Civil War, slavery, states' rights, friendly disagreement
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LibraryThing member Stewart24
The flyleaf indicates a theme is “what it means to be free” and the story takes place right after the civil war, about a young Jewish boy who lives in the South. Through the story, it explains the traditions of Passover and Seder and weaves a beautifully crafted story of a Yankee soldier
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spending the Jewish holiday with a southern family. The story addresses assumptions, prejudice, bravery and acceptance. The gem of the story is the two pages at the end of the book that give actual historical facts about the man, Myer Samuel Levy, who inspired the story! Show Less
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
The Civil War is over, and ten-year-old Jacob is disappointed at the fact that he no longer has the opportunity to become a Confederate general, and to fight the Yankees. Then one day, right before Passover, a Yankee comes to his very door, asking to share a bite of his matzoh. Invited to the
The story in The Yankee at the Seder is a true one, retold by the real-life Corporal Levy to his family in Philadelphia, after he returned home from the Civil War. It highlights a number of interesting themes, from the idea that it is possible for co-religionists to have very different views of the world, and to approach the same issue - in this case, the cause of the American Civil War - from very different perspectives, to the notion that it is possible to put aside deeply-held differences, at least temporarily, in order to find common ground. Elka Weber's story here is engaging and well-told, and her afterword, which includes photographs of Levy and of his sword, provides more background information. The accompanying artwork from Adam Gustavson, done in oil paint, is likewise appealing, and ably captures the tension at the seder table, as the discussion turns to Passover, and the questions of tyrannical governments and slavery. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for historical stories, either set at Passover, or concerning the American Civil War.
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Josephson family's seder, Corporal Myer Levy of Philadelphia expands Jacob's worldview somewhat, through his very presence, and through his discussions of the meaning of Passover, with Jacob's father and grandfather. Although they disagree on many things, this Southern Jewish family and their Northern guest part amicably, and a year later, when times are hard, the Josephsons receive an unexpected gift...The story in The Yankee at the Seder is a true one, retold by the real-life Corporal Levy to his family in Philadelphia, after he returned home from the Civil War. It highlights a number of interesting themes, from the idea that it is possible for co-religionists to have very different views of the world, and to approach the same issue - in this case, the cause of the American Civil War - from very different perspectives, to the notion that it is possible to put aside deeply-held differences, at least temporarily, in order to find common ground. Elka Weber's story here is engaging and well-told, and her afterword, which includes photographs of Levy and of his sword, provides more background information. The accompanying artwork from Adam Gustavson, done in oil paint, is likewise appealing, and ably captures the tension at the seder table, as the discussion turns to Passover, and the questions of tyrannical governments and slavery. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for historical stories, either set at Passover, or concerning the American Civil War.
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Awards
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Mass Import -- Pending Differentiation)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Picture Books — 2009)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
40 p.; 9.9 inches
ISBN
9781582464312