Review: The meaning of Passover
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2014
Popular Israeli author Anat Umansky is joined by illustrator Vladimir Solop in this magical retelling of a well-known Biblical story. It is a very solid step for Anat Umansky who to this date has concentrated on children's books about learning behaviors and skills and life lessons. The progress into religious stories is excellent.The story opens in Egypt where the Children of Israel are being held as slaves building the famous pyramids and tombs for the Pharaoh. But the Children of Israel were strong and continued to multiply so the Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew sons were to be cast into the Nile. The parents of newborn Moses was placed in a reed basket and set to float in the Nile attended by his sister Miriam. The Pharaoh's daughter discovered the floating basket, saved him, found a nursing mother (Miriam had alerted her mother to be the one) and the Pharaoh's daughter named the baby Moses. Moses grew up as an Egyptian prince, discovered his Hebrew slave origins as a young man, and in a rage kills an Egyptian who was beating the slaves. In fear Moses fled to the desert, met Jethro, a shepherd, married his daughter and became a shepherd. Moses sees the burning bush with God's commandment to free the Children of Israel from Egypt's tyranny and gave him the power of miracles to perform his assignment. When the Pharaoh refused to release the Children of Israel God brought on ten plagues, but only the last plague was successful - the death of the firstborns. The firstborn of the Children of Israel were not harmed (Passover) and Pharaoh relented - telling the Children of Israel to leave. Encountering a problem at the impasse of the Red Sea and with Pharaoh's troops approaching, Moses with God's power parted the waters saving the Children of Israel and drowning the Egyptian troops.This is the history behind the Passover that has profound significance and is still celebrated today. Anat Umansky makes the story live and Vladamir Solop enriches the story with excellent illustrations. Grady Harp, March 14