This book is a joy to read and re-read. It is astonishing to hear familiar and unfamiliar bible stories 'read', for that is what he is effectively doing, in an easy modern day style. It makes one want to get out the old bible and compare the two styles. Kossof brings the characters alive in this way and so the impact of their lives is much stronger than in the old bibles, and it makes you realise their stresses and adventures are still the same today.

David Kossoff creates a fresh view of the events in the New Testament by retelling the story as it could have been viewed by an eyewitness. His skills as a story teller make the book a very valuable tool for use with childrens lituries.

My mother bought this book for me when I was 11 years old. I read it and was completely charmed by it. It's the story of a gentle, wise old Rabbi who uses humor and clever anecdotes to solve his flock's problems. And you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate this book: I'm a Black, non-Jewish woman, and I thought it was wonderful. It's been 16 years and I still think about it once in a while. I tell people about it and no one's even ever heard of it. Finally, I can order it from Amazon, and now I'm sighing with happiness.