The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey: A Graphic Novel of Jewish Wisdom and Wit in the Wild West by Steve SheinkinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I chose The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey for summer reading this year (2022). Students read the graphic novel and wrote their own comics on the topic of “advice.”
Steve Sheinkin’s The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey has been on my short list for summer reading for awhile, and one of my seniors requested it. It is a good choice not just because it is light and funny but also because it gives students a glance at a different culture and religion.
Sheinkin retells Jewish folktales in the setting of America’s old West. Rabbi Harvey is the clever protagonist, outwitting everyone and helping to support his community. Part sheriff and part congregational rabbi, he helps solve disputes and teaches people lessons.
In my students' favorite story, "Rabbi Harvey: Bearded Chicken," which is based on “The Turkey Prince,” Rabbi Harvey takes on a boy convinced he is a chicken. It becomes his job to bring the boy back from sitting naked under the table, clucking and pecking at crumbs—which the rabbi does by stripping down and joining him under the table. Hilarity ensues. By far, it was students’ favorite story.
One student was irritated by the silliness of the stories. The book is clearly aimed at younger children, but there is plenty for more sophisticated readers to dig into. For example, considering the overlap of the Jewish culture with the culture of the old West. Or how these tales fit in with other folktales or how logic is used (or misused) in the stories.
Would I teach this book? Well, yes, because I did, and I am glad I did. Students appreciated the book for many of the same reasons I did—the humor, yes, but also the depiction of a community that unites around a rabbi and looks to get along and maintain cohesion. They might, on occasion, try to cheat each other, but the threat of being on the outs is enough to make people back down or repent.
By the way—this year’s comics are incredible. Good work, students.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment