Precious Jewels

Zelda Rosenthal is one of those rare human beings who possesses a wonderful combination of attributes. She comes from a renowned family of great rabbis, she is a master teacher, she has an infectious love for children, she knows how to reach even that resentful child who hunches into a corner, she is a resourceful person who never lets adversity stand in her way, and she pours her wealth of good cheer into every situation.

Her father, Rabbi Shmuel Sheinberg was a rosh yeshiva in America and Israel. Her mother was the epitome of the eternal virtues of the Jewish wife and mother. Her uncle is Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg, one of Israel's senior roshei hayeshiva and poskim. All of that was her good fortune, and she tells us what it was like growing up in a rich home that had everything but money, a home where everyone was important, not just family members. Zelda Rosenthal had all of that -- and she blended it with her own sparkling personality, love of children and love of Yiddishkeit that bubble in every page of this remarkable book.

In this charming narrative, Mrs. Rosenthal tells how she reluctantly became a teacher of very young children -- and became a star! She shares her enthusiastic way of telling stories and teaching songs, all of them overflowing with the spirit of Torah and love of Hashem. Children and parents in towns that were far, far from Torah Judaism adored her. She was a magnet drawing people young and old into her orbit of Torah life and turning suspicious parents into enthusiastic admirers.

What is it about this woman that makes people tell her she influenced their lives decades ago? Can we duplicate it with our own children? Our students? Our neighbors? Can we make people young and old aspire to learn what makes Torah great?

The answer is a resounding yes! Read it and you'll agree.