JEWISH SENTINEL

12 JEWISH WORLD • DECEMBER 20-26, 2024 a novel that imagines Israel’s near future, an apocalyptic story about Jewish fundamentalism, prayer, sac- rifice, and IaPily set in the tiPe oI the titular The Third Temple. Told through the voice of the royal fami- ly’s third son, Jonathan—whose rul- ing father has made the Torah the law of the Land of Israel—the cau- tionary tale unfolds with descriptive power. The newly translated novel was awarded Israel’s distinguished %ernstein 3ri]e when it was first published in Hebrew in 2015. ;he ;hird ;emple )y @ishai Sarid ;ranslated by @ardenne .reenspan 9estless )ooks 7ages, . Rosenfeld The Talmudic aphorism kishmo ken hu, which means the name de- scribes itself, aptly characterizes a marketing tagline for Israeli writer Maya Kessler’s debut novel: A Grown-up Love Story for Grown- ups. Told in the first Serson Ey 1oa 6iPon, a young, driYen filPPaker, the book starts slowly, but soon the foreplay is over. Her affair with Ted- dy Rosenfeld, the gruff older CEO of her company, is steamy. Rosen- feld can be seen as a rejoinder to #MeToo certitudes since it is Noa who pursues her boss. While this book is not recommended for hu- man resources personnel or under- age readers, the rest of us can enjoy Winter’s Reading Curl up by your re, if you have one By SANDEE BRAWASKY T here is nothing like a good Jewish-themed book, a leather club chair with an ot- toman, and a cup of piping-hot tea to while away those cold winter days and nights. It’s true that most of us aren’t fortunate enough to have such a chair, much less an ot- toman. But the odds are excellent that once you bury yourself in any of the absorbing books described below, even a convertible sofa will do Must fine The Third Temple An Israeli lawyer and award-win- ning writer, Yishai Sarid has written BOOK REVIEWS this well-told tale of a ravenous ro- mance set in Israel. Pickleballers This energetic debut novel might Ee the first -ewish roPantic coPedy set around a pickleball court. A woman going through an unexpect- ed diYorce finds IriendshiS and heal- ing through the sport increasingly played all over America. As she per- Iects her Eackswing, she finds new romance, albeit with complications, spin and bounce. Readers will un- derstand why you never want to hit the ball into the kitchen and the na- ture of a mid-court crisis. 7ickleballers )y Ilana 3ong )erkley pages . Family Romance Behind artist John Singer Sar- gent’s many celebrated portraits are untold stories. Award-winning biog 9osenfeld )y 4aya 2essler A]id 9eader 7ress pages, . T he art world was shocked recently by the 6.2 million dollars a collector paid for Mauricio Cattelan’s 2019 artwork Comedian, which consists of a banana duct-taped to a wall. Cat- telan described the work as a “provocation” about the absurdity of value and meaning in art. Now, Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Director of Chabad Mineola, has transformed that provocation into a symbol of joy and timeless resilience with his Duct Tape to Wall Dreidel. While Cattelan’s work ques- tioned society’s obsession with value, Rabbi Perl’s inspires re- flection, joy, and gratitude. It re- minds us that even the simplest materials can convey profound truths about faith, resilience, and the unshakable connection between the Jewish people and their heritage. “For me, duct tape is about strength and connection,” said Rabbi Perl. “The dreidel isn’t just a game. It’s a reminder that just as the dreidel spins with the help of our hand, so, too, does our life flourish and turn with the guiding hand of Hashem.” Rabbi Perl’s dreidel is deeply rooted in the spirit of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, which cel- ebrates miracles and steadfast- ness in the face of oppression. From the Maccabees’ victory over Antiochus to the miracle of the oil lasting eight days, the story of Chanukah is one of hope. The duct tape securing the dreidel to the wall is a meta- phor for how faith and community bind us togeth- er, providing strength even in times of darkness. “Each spin of the dreidel reminds us that life, like the dreidel, is unpredictable,” Rabbi Perl said. “But Hashem’s hand is always guiding us. Wheth- er it lands on a moment of ‘great miracle’ or ‘small gain,’ every turn is an opportunity to find joy and meaning.” This powerful message comes as Rabbi Perl pre- pares for the Chabad Chanukah Telethon on Sun- day, December 22, from 7 to 10 p.m. The Telethon is dedicated to turning the recent sorrows afflict- ing the Jewish people into joy and celebrating the enduring miracles that light our way forward. Duct Tape to Wall Dreidel will be displayed at the Tele- thon to emphasize that theme. Rabbi Perl is proud to introduce Souls Study Across the County, a one-on- one Torah learning opportunity where he partners with partici- pants to explore the richness of our Jewish heritage. This initiative is free of charge and designed to fit seamless- ly into your schedule. Study sessions can range from 10 to 30-45 minutes, and you can participate via Zoom or phone from the comfort of your home or office. Rabbi Perl will work directly with you to guide your learning journey, fostering meaningful discussions and personal growth through shared study. What can you expect to learn? Whether you’re a profes- sional, student, homemaker, or simply curious about exploring Judaism, you will join Rabbi Perl in delving into the wisdom of the Torah, the intricate teach- ings of the Talmud, and the profound insights of Kabbalah. These one-on-one sessions are tailored to your interests and provide a unique op- portunity to deepen your understanding of Jewish tradition. With Souls Study Across the County, Rabbi Perl invites you to connect with him directly for an en- riching and transformative journey into the heart of Jewish learning—anytime, anywhere, and at no cost to you. From Banana To Dreidel : Duct Tape as a symbol of joy, resilience, and Divine connection Advertorial For more information on Rabbi Perl’s duct tape dreidel, the Chanukah Telethon, or Souls Study Across the Country, please contact him at 516-739-3636 or rabbiperl@chabadmineola.com continued on page 25