Bubbee's Bedtime Stories

By Bubbee Levine

In an exciting way that only a grandmother can tell, Diana Levine writing as Bubbe Levine brings to life all the joy of Jewish holidays and traditions.

Imaging planning for a small family gathering and having the whole world come to it. Thats what happened when Bubbe and Zayda planned their oldest sons Bar Mitzvah. The date was set for August 16th according to the Jewish date of their sons birthday. Little did they know it would be the weekend of the famous Woodstock Music Festival ten miles from their home. Woodstock Bar Mitzvah tells that unforgettable story.

Bubbe Levine wields her pen with warmth, humor and compassion in this charming bookBUBBES BEDTIME STORIES is a book to treasure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 10, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465329622

Bubbee Levine

Diana Levine writing as Bubbe Levine has been a writer since 1981. She was a newspaper columnist before she began selling stories and poems to magazines. She has written five books for children before writing this, her sixth. Another book of children’s stories is a work in progress at this time. Bubbe Levine was a teacher before becoming a published author. She is a widow with two sons, eleven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She lives in New York State.

Book preview

Bubbee’s Bedtime Stories

Bubbee Levine

Copyright © 2009 by Diana Levine, writing as Bubbee Levine.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

51708

Contents

Prologue

MALKA, THE LITTLE SABBATH QUEEN

HAVDALAH

USHERING OUT THE QUEEN

PEARS FOR SELICHOT

THE HIGH HOLY DAYS

ADAM AT THE LAKE

EATING UNDER THE STARS

RACHEL DANCED WITH THE TORAH

YENTA THE CHANUKAH DREYDL

ASHLEY’S DREYDL

A SEDER FOR TU B’SHEVAT?

DID YOU KNOW?

A HOLIDAY FOR PICNICS

WHO FOUND THE AFIKOMEN?

TORAH’S BIRTHDAY

THE UPSIDE DOWN CHAIRS

NATANYA IN NETANYA

ZEYDAH’S BAR MITZVAH

WHAT DOES TWO TIMES THREE EQUAL?

WOODSTOCK BAR MITZVAH (a true story)

JACOB’S FIRST HAIRCUT

A PIDYON HA-BEN FOR ADAM

THAT MOMENT

Dedication

This book is dedicated with love to Adam, Laura, Alex, Aaron, Ashley, Jack, Jacob, Ada, Netanya, Vanessa and Jessica, my grandchildren; and Natalie, my great-granddaughter; and Emily, David, Daniel and Ben, my other grandchildren.

Prologue

Bubbee is the Yiddish word for Grandmother. Bubbee Levine has eleven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, and four children she thinks of as her grandchildren. She loves to snuggle with her great-granddaughter in her big rocking chair by the fireplace and read her stories of the Jewish holidays and traditions which she has written over the years. Now she wants to share these stories with other boys and girls.

MALKA, THE LITTLE SABBATH QUEEN

Malka got off the bus that brought her home from kindergarten. She stopped at the lilac bush near the front door of her house and picked an armful of flowers before going inside.

I thought these would make our Shabbos table look pretty tonight, she said as she gave the lilacs to her mother.

They are very lovely, her mother replied. It was very sweet of you to think of it. After putting the flowers into a vase and filling the vase with water, she put them on the dining room table, which was already wearing its white linen cloth especially for Shabbos and holidays. Two silver candleholders with candles in them stood on the table.

I still have to make the cholent for tomorrow, Malka’s mother continued. I would appreciate it if you would put the silverware and napkins on the table. I’ll put the plates on later.

Why do we eat cholent every Saturday? Malka asked her mother after she had finished setting the table and was helping her mother with the potatoes and carrots for the stew.

It is a mitzvah to eat hot food on Shobbos, but since we are not allowed to turn on the stove on Saturdays, we must have something from the day before. Cholent means ‘warmth.’ It comes from the Hebrew word Shelan, which means ‘that which stayed overnight.’ I make cholent on Friday, and put it into the oven on low heat, because it is the easiest to make and keep warm.

While the food was cooking, Malka’s mother put the plates on the table, put the two loaves of challah she had baked earlier on a silver platter, covered them with a white napkin, put that on the table and put out a decanter of wine and three glasses.

All the work is done now, she said. Let us go change into clean clothes so we’ll be ready for Shabbos. Your father will be coming home from schul soon.

Eighteen minutes before sundown, Malka’s mother took out the white shawl she had knitted especially for wearing to light shabbos and holiday candles. Putting it on her head, she lit the two candles on the dining room table, circled her hands around the flame, covered her eyes, and chanted, Blessed Art Thou, O Lord Our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us to light the Sabbath candles. She uncovered her eyes and gazed at the candles.

Why do you circle the candles and cover your eyes? Malka asked her mother when the blessing was finished.

Circling the candles is simply an age-old tradition. I cover my eyes so I cannot enjoy the light until the blessing has been said.

Malka’s dad came home. Gut Shabbos, he said to his family. Kissing his daughter, he placed his hands on Malka’s head and looking at the Sabbath candles, he said, May the Lord turn his face to thee and give thee peace. G-d make thee as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

When he finished, Malka kissed her dad. I love you, Daddy.

I love you, too, sweetheart.

The family sat down at the dining room table. Shabbos is a holiday honoring women. I am going to recite Verse 32 from the Book of Proverbs because it is the section honoring women. I especially want to honor your mother, he said to Malka. He went on:

"A woman of valor who can find?

She is far more precious than rubies;

The heart of her husband trusts in her

She does him good and not harm

All the days of her life . . .

She rises