Your Comments

Criticism, suggestions, and comments regarding Gimel's Adventures are welcome. Please send your comments to browserpress(at)yahoo.com.  [This page, in part, shows the evolution of the story, since many comments received have been integrated into the story.  Most comments are from teachers since this story has been sent to many teachers.]

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"I like it. I was so relieved and gratified to find out [this story] tells the story of Chanukah rather than just being a Santa substitute. Having a Jewish child, the message of learning the story and telling your Christian friends is a good one, even though I'm an atheist.  My only subjective problem is WAY too much cat."

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"The cat really makes it cuddly!"

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"MROWR!"   I'm just wondering if that is "meow" in Yiddish, or something. I couldn't find it in the book anywhere. If it's a Talmudic reference, well, you know, some of us just aren't up on that and maybe it's too obscure a reference.  

MROWRly yours..."

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"What a wonderful story! I could just see beautiful images popping into my head from reading it. I enjoyed the unusual perspective-- very child appealing. I will recommend that teachers and friends share this story with children at Hanukah. It's a beautiful story and supportive of other religions. The poems were simple, sweet, and moving. Well done! I liked it, and I'm an adult... I can almost see it being staged or made into a Hanukah movie-- or presented in a book with wonderful illustrations."

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"It looks good. I've been looking for a good Chanukah story to read to my students for a long time."

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gif"I think you should change the title. More Gimel's story, really.  Presenting the story with the title you have sounds too much like the 'Jewish Santa Claus,' which it's not."  [This is a valid comment.  The story, originally titled 'The Tale of Chanukah Sam' has been renamed and retailored to be focused more on the “Gimelian” perspective.]

http://www.cheerfullychildless.com/chanukahsam/dreidel.gifWhat a cute story! My only comment would be that for those of us who are not Jewish or have the language background, a glossary of Jewish terminology would have been very helpful. Words such as: Torah , yarmulke , gefilte , potato latkes , bubee , shalom , lox , meshugges could use a definition or picture so that the teacher/parent could better present the story for understanding. Also, most teachers and some parents do not like to read/teach the word dummy. It is a forbidden word at our school. Just food for thought.  Thanks for the opportunity to read your story!  [Great comments.  There actually was a glossary in an earlier version of the story and I'm going to restore it.  Interesting comment on dummy!  If people have suggestions for other words to use, let me know.]