A fresh look at Jewish folktales—wise, witty, hilarious.
After finishing school in New York, Rabbi Harvey traveled west in search of adventure and, hopefully, work as a rabbi. His journey took him to Elk Spring, Colorado, a small town in the Rocky Mountains. When he managed to outwit the ruthless gang that had been ruling Elk Spring, the people invited Harvey to stay on as the town's rabbi. In Harvey's adventures in Elk Spring, he settles disputes, tricks criminals into confessing, and offers unsolicited bits of Talmudic insight and Hasidic wisdom. Each story presents Harvey with a unique challenge—from convincing a child that he is not actually a chicken, to retrieving stolen money from a sweet-faced bubbe gone bad. Like any good collection of Jewish folktales, these stories contain layers of humor and timeless wisdom that will entertain, teach and, especially, make you laugh.
Jewish and American folklore are combined in this witty and original collection of comic Jewish folktales creatively retold and set on the western frontier of the 1870s. Presented in a full-color graphic novel format, these are the legends of Harvey- part Wild West sheriff, part old world rabbi.
"For every kid who ever sneaked a comic book into the synagogue, there is a new hero-Rabbi Harvey, who tamed the Old West with Jewish wisdom and humor. I'm hiding a copy of this book in my tallis bag, hoping my kids will find it!"
-Rabbi Edward Feinstein, author of Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life
"Rabbi Harvey tames the West with wisdom on one hip, humor on the other."
-Stan Mack, author of The Story of the Jews: A 4,000-Year Adventure-A Graphic History Book
"Sheinkin has a comedian's flair for the ridiculous (and I mean that in a good way). That, coupled with his whimsical illustrations, makes The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey a hilarious read!"
-Arie Kaplan, author of Masters of the Comic Book Universe Revealed!
"With a blend of concise illustrations and snappy banter Steve Sheinkin pioneers Jewish folklore in novel directions. A friendly starter for readers of all ages wishing to explore Judaic parables of logic and wit. A jovial read that left me smiling."
-JT Waldman, author of Megillat Esther
"Imparts so much memorable, useful and enjoyable wisdom. And you gotta love the cartoons that deliver homey Jewish Yiddishkeit in a post-modern format. Move over Aesop's Fables, make room for Rabbi Harvey's tales."
-Shulamit Reinharz, PhD, Brandeis University, coauthor of The JGirl's Guide: The Young Jewish Woman's Handbook for Coming of Age
