Book review: ‘An Invitation to Passover’ PA and 3 other states have primaries that fall on 1st day of Passover 2024

By Sean Boyle Special to Hakol

The first children’s picture book collaboration between renowned rabbi authors Kerry Olitzky and Deborah Bodin Cohen, “An Invitation to Passover,’’ illustrated by Mariia Kolker, introduces us to Hannah and her diverse group of friends, each of whom each brings a unique aspect of their cultures to Hannah’s family’s Passover seder.

Hannah’s extended family is unable to come this year for the Passover seder, and instead of having a small seder, Hannah decides to invite her friends. She wants to make them excited about coming while explaining a little about what Passover represents. So her invitations address different themes central to Passover. In turn, each of her friends brings an item from their own culture (India, Korea, Russia and the U.S. South) that relate to the Passover themes of freedom, hope and thanks. Hannah then perfectly weaves her friends’ gifts into her Passover story to demonstrate the universal connections between all cultures and nationalities.

The book includes a glossary as well as “The Story of Passover” with expansions on the themes Hannah uses in her invitations. The pub- lisher, Kalaniot Books, offers a free seven-page activity guide to go with the book. It includes recipes and instructions on how to replicate and include in your home seder the gifts brought by Hannah’s friends.

Highly recommended for ages 4-120 and perfect as a gift for non-Jewish children to learn about shared values and experiences.

“An Invitation to Passover,” by Rabbis Kerry Olitzky and Deborah Bodin, illustrated by Mariia Kolker, Kalaniot Books, 32 pages, 2023.

Sean Boyle is Congregation Keneseth Israel’s librarian and serves as vice president, president-elect, of the Association of Jewish Libraries.