Built by Angels: The Story of the Old-New Synagogue

As legend tells it, the Old-New Synagogue in Prague was built by angels, and later was home to a golem who remains locked away in the building to this day. In lyrical prose, Mark Podwal shares the story of the world's oldest active synagogue, which was completed in 1270. Throughout the years, this sacred place of prayer and celebration has endured plagues, wars, and the Nazi regime. Its story is part legend, part history, and one that stands as a testament to the perseverance of the Jewish people. Includes an author's note and bibliography.

Children's Literature

This book, authored and illustrated by Mark Podwall and recipient of awards from the Society of Illustrators and the Jewish Book Council, fills minimal text with Jewish history, lore, custom, and beliefs in an easy-to-understand manner. This book is based on a real synagogue, Prague's Altneuschul, or Old-New Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe. The author has done research on the building as evidenced in the text, illustrations, and author's note at the end of the work. This picture book tells the history and legends of the Old-New Synagogue, its building by angels, the need to keep all stones exactly as they were until the day the stones themselves returned to the Temple in Jerusalem, the ghosts, the Golem, and more. The content and approach of this book is appropriate not only for Jewish children but for any child interested in a mythical or fairy-tale picture book. Minimal text on each page makes the work not only suitable for reading aloud but also for beginning readers to approach the world of reading. Reviewer: Sara Rofofsky Marcus