Oberman, Sheldon. By the Hanukkah Light. Honesdale, Pa.: Boyds
Mills Press, 1997. Illus. by Neil Waldman. (grandfather-granddaughter and
grandson)
Preserving meaningful memories of the past is a major theme of this
beautiful, enlightening story of a family celebrating Hanukkah. The book
is full of depth as the grandfather shares the story of Hanukkah and of
his youth with his children and grandchildren.
The grandfather relates the struggles and trials that the Jewish people, in order to survive, experienced throughout history; He tells his family about the wicked King Antiochus and the brave Maccabees who fought the war with Antiochus and his soldiers so that Jews could observe their faith and pray together in their holy temple.
After he shares the story of Hanukkah, he tells of his narrow escape from the Nazis in Europe. Since he had to leave Europe to save his life, he had to bury his menorah in the hopes of finding it after the Holocaust. At the end of the war, when the grandfather sees the ruins of all he has lost, and mourns the deaths of many people he knew, he notices his Hanukkah menorah amidst the ashes and the ruins. Children and adult readers of all backgrounds can see that there is hope and great fulfillment for those who are willing to overcome obstacles in order to observe their religion with pride.