COME LET US BE JOYFUL:
THE STORY OF HAVA NAGILA
 An AJL Notable Children's Book of 2000
illustrated by Rosalind Charney Kaye.
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0807407313
Publisher: UAHC Press
Pub. Date: September  2000
$12.95. 30pp. Nonfiction for Grades 2-5.

          It is a fine thing to be joyful. And is anything more joyful than coming home after a long journey? I'm going to tell you a story about a song and a journey home that took two thousand years!" So begins this charming picture book which brings to life the real history of Hava Nagila -- a song that is sung at Jewish simchas and baseball games alike! Learn how this soulful, Jewish tune began while journeying towards the building of the state of Israel. Meet Professor A.Z. Idelsohn and his young student Moshe Nathanson who, by making "a sad song happy," created the joyful tune of Hava Nagila.  Moshe Nathanson, the author of HAVA NAGILA grew up to become the cantor at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism in New York City, spending many years there with Mordechai M. Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionism. He also wrote the musical setting for the beginning of the Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals).

How I Came to Write this Book

I was visiting the bookstore of the Workmen's Circle in New York City and came upon a book for adults about the life Moshe Nathanson. It was written by a cantorial student of his, who knew Moshe for many years. He described Moshe as a modest and gifted man, who taught many generations music, in synagogues, in schools, and at summer camps. The more I read about Moshe, the more eager I was to tell his story to children: what could be more inspiring than to see a young person making such a joyful and lasting contribution to Jewish (and world) culture? As I began researching the book, I discovered that one of Moshe Nathanson's daughters, Deena Starr, lived only four blocks away from me in New York. I interviewed her at her apartment, and she offered me wonderful biographical information about her father as well as the photo of Moshe that appears in the book.

Now when Deena goes to weddings and tells people that her father wrote HAVA NAGILA, she has this book to show them!

Reviews

"Manushkin's writing is as joyful as the tune,"He told his music class, 'Boys, listen to this song.' Well, some boys listened, and some did not." And Kaye's pictures are a perfect accompaniment. This is a beautiful and happy book that should find a large audience among music lovers as well as children who like a good story."
Judy Chernak, Children's Literature

"Young readers will be inspired to learn how someone their own age can make an important and lasting contribution."
Dr. Evelyn B. Freeman, Director, School of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University

"This book is a wonderful and exuberant celebration of a song that is indelibly linked to the consciousness of the Jewish people and our relationship to the Land of Israel."
Rabbi Joseph R. Black, Congregation Albert, New Mexico, composer and musician

Here are a few sketches and finished art.
Click the thumbnails for a closer view of each.