Review Detail

‘A Synagogue Just Like Home’ by Alice Blumenthal McGinty, illustrated by Laurel Molk, does a nice job showcasing the beauty of a synagogue, not only by providing glimpses into the look and feel of the place itself, but into the way people work together and engage with each other to make change.

Rabbi Ruben is distressed to learn that his synagogue is not quite up to snuff. With a sink leaking, creaking floors in the library, and drafts in the sanctuary, he makes it his mission to fix up the trouble spots and bring the synagogue back to its glory. As he begins fixing things up, the people who are working in the library, putting food together in the kitchen, and otherwise attending to synagogue matters, begin to help the rabbi to ensure that Shabbat services will occur as they are meant to. When the rabbi’s fixing up goes awry, they all step up and make it their goal to have the synagogue be “just like home”—a place where they can be comfortable in their Judaism and their relationships with each other.

A handy glossary that contains some of the book’s commonly used Jewish words, along with creative illustrations that highlight the sweetness of community, round out the book. A nice, pleasant read that readers of any age will enjoy.