A Turkish Rosh Hashanah

by Etan Basseri, Zeynep zatalay (Illustrator)

Overview

A Sephardic spin on New Year traditions—engaging, sensory, and rich in cultural education.

Discover the Sweet Traditions of a Turkish Rosh Hashanah!

When Rafael and his cousins join their Nona at the bustling Istanbul market, they’re not just shopping for apples and leeks—they’re gathering blessings for the Jewish New Year. In A Turkish Rosh Hashanah, readers are swept into the vibrant world of a Sephardic Jewish family as they prepare a special Rosh Hashanah seder filled with symbolic foods, heartfelt wishes (yehi ratzones), and a dash of mischief.

From pomegranates said to be sweetened by song to a heroic moment with some very unexpected feline allies, this spirited tale celebrates courage, kindness, family teamwork—and the joyful diversity of global Jewish life. Rooted in centuries-old Turkish-Jewish customs and sprinkled with Ladino phrases, this story brings to life a lesser-known but deeply meaningful tradition.

With lyrical text by Etan Basseri and evocative illustrations by Zeynep Özatalay, A Turkish Rosh Hashanah is a rich and resonant holiday read for families, classrooms, and anyone eager to explore Jewish culture around the world.

A free downloadable activity guide that highlights the themes in this book is available on the Kalaniot Books website.

A Turkish Rosh Hashanah was an Association of Jewish Libraries Holiday Highlights Book and recived positive reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

A free downloadable activity guide that highlights the themes in this book is available on the Kalaniot Books website.

About Kalaniot Books
Kalaniot Books is dedicated to sharing the richness and diversity of Jewish life and culture with today’s children and families. With a special focus on amplifying voices from Jewish communities around the world, Kalaniot celebrates the many ways Jewish identity is expressed—through story, song, language, and art. Every book is a window into Jewish heritage, designed to spark curiosity, connection, and pride in young readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781962011976
Publisher:	Kalaniot Books
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.95(w) x 11.35(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Etan Basseri was born and raised in Berkeley, California with a mix of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish customs. He now lives in Seattle with his wife and children. A Turkish Rosh Hashanah is his second book. His critically acclaimed first book, A Persian Passover, was an Association of Jewish Libraries Holiday Highlights suggested title.

Zeynep Özatalay is a Turkish illustrator. She uses her art as a way of expressing her ideas and feelings. The natural world is her inspiration. Zeynep lives on an island in Istanbul with many cats, horses, and seagulls. Can you find some of these animals on the pages of this book?

Editorial Reviews

A Turkish Rosh Hashanah gives us a glimpse into the traditions and flavors of Rosh Hashanah as it was celebrated by one branch of Sephardic communities. The community mentioned in this story was expelled from Spain in 1492 and found refuge in Constantinople, under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, hence the abundance of Ladino words throughout the story. The narrative of a Rosh Hashanah experience unfolds in the markets and sights of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul. This rich historical backdrop anchors the story and allows the reader to connect with the cultural and historical roots of this community. We meet our characters at the beginning of the story as they plan their shopping spree to get all the ingredients they need to make the dishes in time for Rosh Hashanah seder, as described in the story, the "yehi retzonot." Those Hebrew words are recited at the beginning of each blessing during the seder. We follow Rafael, Alegra, and Leon in the market place, in between the stands of produce and other goods. Themes of family, friendship, courage, and tradition are sprinkled throughout the pages. The children help each other through different challenges and get all the ingredients their grandmother requested. Then they sit together for a festive family meal and say all the different wishes and blessings for the new year. I found this story to be a lovely crossover between an informative guide to a Sephardic Rosh Hashanah and a child-friendly adventure in the marketplace. Etan Basseri does a beautiful job introducing young readers to the traditions and customs of the holiday as they are celebrated in that particular community. The illustrations are lively and vibrant, with authentic details of that time period and location. From the market to the clothes and accessories, every detail takes us back in time and transports us into Constantinople. The characters have subtle variations in skin tone. In the back matter, Etan adds information about the Jewish community in Turkey. He also beautifully references a quote from the Song of Songs book and how it relates to the story. We also have a Ladino glossary. As we open our hearts to learning about all these different communities and experiences of Jewish life, this story is a welcome addition to our Jewish bookshelf.

Sydney Taylor Shmooze - Rinat Hadad Siegel

Most Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Apples and honey to represent a sweet new year. But many Jews celebrate with a Yehi Ratsones, the Sephardic Rosh Hashana seder. Much like a Passover seder, there are many foods, each serving as a unique symbol. In this charming picture book which takes place in historic Istanbul, Raphael and his cousins are shopping at the market for the holiday foods. Along the way Alegra must face her fear of the stray cats, and little Leon struggles to speak up. Then when they face a bully, everyone must stand up and be seen, even the cats! The fantastic illustrations by Zeynep Özatalay will captivate the reader. They are full of details that bring the market to life. The expressions on the characters' faces are adorable. The afterward includes an author's note with historic background and a Ladino glossary. This inclusive Rosh Hashanah book, gives Sephardic Jewish children a voice. But it is also a sweet story with young Leon finding his own voice.

The Storybook Lady - Julie Ditton

Three cousins in traditional Turkish garb meet their grandmother at a market in Istanbul to shop for food for Rosh Hashanah. Nona sends the young cousins with money to get some of the items. While they are gone, they feed some cats and encounter a bully who smashes one of their pomegranates. The bully is allergic to cats, starts sneezing, and runs into a barrel of fish scraps, bringing even more cats. Later that day, the family gathers at Nona’s house for the holiday, and Nona reinforces the meaning of each of the foods on their plates. Basseri’s charming story is peppered with Ladino words, and O¨zatalay’s illustrations complement the text with details and many colorful hues in the clothing and furnishings of a Sephardic family in Turkey. Back matter includes a glossary of Ladino words, a history of Jewish life in Turkey, and other facts about Rosh Hashanah. VERDICT A solid addition to any collection to show the diversity in Jewish cultures.

School Library Journal - Jennifer Sontag

Journey to Istanbul with Rafael, his two younger cousins, and grandmother as they shop in the open-air market to prepare for Rosh Hashanah. Teamwork helps the cousins stand up to bullies and fend off a gathering of cats as they buy the best pomegranate, leeks, and whole fish needed for their traditional celebration. As the family gathers for their holiday meal, they enjoy their special foods as “yehi ratzones,” symbolic foods. For example, leeks represent friends to protect us and dates, peace. Interspersed Ladino words with close-up illustrations of the market and shoppers in traditional dress bring us into the culture of this community. Cheery digital art, characters of diverse skin tones representative of the Sephardi community, back matter about the history and current experience of Jewish life in Turkey and a Ladino/English glossary enhance this book. Of particular note, a line from Song of Songs (6:7) is highlighted in the story and translated in the back matter with expanded information. This selection is perfect to enhance activities focusing on Jewish life around the world today. A worthwhile choice for family reading time and Jewish children’s book collections.

Association of Jewish Libraries / News and Reviews - Suzanne Grossman

2024-08-30
Follow Rafael, Alegra, and León as they help Nona prepare for a wonderful “Anaya buena” in old Istanbul.

At the market, Nona assigns the cousins items to purchase for the upcoming Jewish Rosh Hashanah holiday feast. Pomegranates, leeks, and a whole fish will fill their baskets, while Nona gets apples, beets, pumpkins, and dates. Their characters are revealed as they visit each vendor. Rafael is kind and protective, little León is quiet and shy, and Alegra is brave about everything except creepy cats, whose presence causes her to freeze in place. On the way back to Nona, the cousins encounter a bully, who grabs one of their juicy pomegranates and smashes it against a wall. Alegra stands up to him, and so does León. But the bully is ultimately vanquished by his allergy to the cats that swarm around the nearby fish scraps. The extended family’s holiday proceeds as planned, with each food symbolizing a wish for the new year. The highly descriptive text, generously sprinkled with Ladino phrases, provides the actions and motivations. Brightly hued, beautifully executed, detailed illustrations bring it all to life. The market’s abundant wares, the Ottoman-era clothing, a vendor who sings to his produce, and each character’s expressive individuality appeal to all the senses. The cousins have light brown skin.

A long-ago place, time, and traditions lovingly recalled. (history of Jewish life in Turkey, celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Senyor Benezra’s song, Ladino glossary)(Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews