Hamantaschen for Hanukkah? by Maurice J. Elias with illustrations by Hector Borlasca; Oakland, California: Tiny Torch Books, an imprint of The Collective Book Studio; (c) 2026; ISBN 9781685-55085; 32 pages; $24.95; Publication Date: November 17, 2026.
By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
Chelm is a real town in Poland often mixed up with the fictional Chelm in Jewish folklore where the people pride themselves on being wise, but they actually are naive and gullible. Stories about their foolishness are a mainstay of Jewish folklore.
In this story, Chanukah is a day away when a bearded postman delivers a letter from the chief rabbi who writes that he is coming to Chelm tomorrow to celebrate Purim. Because Rabbi Velvel, the local religious authority, declares that the chief rabbi can’t possibly be wrong, the townspeople switch to preparations for Purim — costumes are brought out from closets; groggers are tested for their ability to drown out the name of “Haman” when the Megillah is read; and hamantaschen replace latkes on the community’s menu.
The postman mentions that he has been travelling a long time–so long that his formerly whisker-less face now boasts a beard that reaches down to his boots. This is a clear tip off that the letter is woefully out of date, but Her Honor the Mayor Chaya doesn’t bother to investigate the matter further.
Only two children, Mushka and her brother Shmendrick, realize the truth of the matter. And they don’t say a word. The cover of the book shows why. They get to eat latkes and hamantaschen on a single occasion!
Chelm stories teach lessons. It turned out that the chief rabbi had written the letter ten months earlier. In this tale, a clear message is “don’t be misled by popular opinion, not if you know otherwise.”
*
Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.