What characterizes a Jewish folktale?
1. Time – The story is often connected with a Jewish holiday like the Sabbath or New Years, or an event that occurs during the life of a Jewish person, such as a Bar Mitzvah or wedding celebration. In chapter one, Raizel tells a story about the River Sambatyon which hinges on the commandment to honor the Sabbath. 2. Place – Many stories are set in a place associated with Judaism, like a synagogue or Israel. In Chapter Nineteen, Papa tells a brief story of the Baal Shem Tov (a rabbi who lived in the 16th century and founded the Hassidic Movement) who was prevented from entering the Holy Land, the land of Israel. 3. Characters – Many of the characters are rabbis, or historical figures from the Bible or later periods. The most popular Jewish folk hero is Elijah the Prophet who acts as a magic helper assisting people in trouble. (For a modern story featuring Elijah, see Miriam Bat Ami’s Dear Elijah: A Passover Story.) In the story in chapter five of Double Crossing, a rabbi discovers how t
