Three thousand copies of the latest kid’s book, “Amazing Miracle Stories for Kids,” with 50 stories of the Rebbe and other tzaddikim, have hit the shelves of over 30+ Judaica stores throughout the New York City area.
Yosef Shidler just got back to his home in Toms River, New Jersey, from a trip to Eretz Yisrael where he previewed the Kehos store in Kfar Chabad, and was amazed at the amount of content geared toward children.
“There were piles and piles of books about the Rebbe, specifically geared for kids,” Shidler said. “Unfortunately, there is not nearly as much content available for kids in English. I, like other Chabad parents, want to give books to my kids with stories of the Rebbe, Chabad Rebbeim, and tzaddikim. But, unfortunately, I can’t find much in the stores.”
While many books are available, especially about gedolim/tzaddikim and good middos, many of the books are written in an old and outdated fashion with graphics that are not exciting for today’s kids. As a result, a good quality, well-written, child-friendly book with stories about the Rebbe and other tzaddikim is challenging to find.
Shidler, who also runs DollarDaily.org and his day job as a photographer and co-owner with his wife of CJ Studios, was delighted to see that when the Beis Moshiach Magazine reorganized its format three years ago, they included a section in the back for children’s stories. “I would read these stories to my kids, in addition to the weekly Rebbe story in Hachayal Magazine distributed by Tzivos Hashem,” says Shidler.
Last January, after two years of reading the stories from the magazine, Shidler reached out to the editors of Beis Moshiach and asked them to collect the stories into a book, eventually published as “50 Stories of Tzaddikim and Their Miracles.” Shidler fundraised and helped the book come to print.
The book did great and sold in stores across the world. After the book’s success, Shidler offered to take over the project entirely and create more books of Rebbe stories and tzaddikim for kids.
The previous book served as his prototype that proved the need was great. Shidler’s vision was to create the same book but with better writing and graphics than had previously been done. He undertook the kid’s column with a weekly story about the Rebbe or other tzaddikim. Fifty of those have been compiled into a state-of-the-art 252-page book, complete with beautifully drawn illustrations.
Each story was thoroughly researched, with the majority of them coming first-hand from the people involved for the most accurate details. Many of them have never been shared or published before.
More than half of the book is stories about the Rebbe, through dollars, Ohel trips, letters from the Igros Kodesh, and personal yichidusin. There are also stories about other Chabad rebbeim as well as other tzaddikim. There is something for everyone in this book, no matter what one’s primary method of hiskashrus.
Shidler notes that he wanted the book not to be associated in any one direction; to be something that every Lubavitcher or any Jew at all, not only Chabad, can read and connect to comfortably. To oversee this vision and ensure that this important goal was met, many mashpiim and people from all demographics across the Chabad, Litvish, and Chassidish world gave input. “We want this to be something everyone will feel comfortable reading and sharing with their friends and community, both Chabad and non-Chabad,” Shidler said.
One test reader, a 10-year shliach, came back the next day to ask when the second book would be ready. “I finished the whole thing in one day,” he said. “I couldn’t put it down.
Working with highly talented artists, created breathtaking illustrations that display the latest available in illustration technology. The stories are all written in child-friendly language, with careful thought given to each word to guarantee readability for the average 6-8-year-old so that even budding readers can enjoy them.
Shidler worked in close collaboration and cooperation with many experienced writers and mechanchim. Among the well-known names, including Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles, the editors of the Beis Moshiach Magazine, Rabbi Shraga Crombie, Rabbi Yosef Keller, and a few mashpaim who have chosen to stay behind the scenes, as well as a host of talented writers, including Baila Brickman and Shani Eichler. In addition, Rabbi Levitansky of Sumy, Ukraine, whose father received many hora’os from the Rebbe regarding illustrations and publications, reviewed and gave input on many of the illustrations in the book.
Shidler gave some insight into the inspiration behind this momentous endeavor: “I have been a long-time fan of Rabbi Nachman Seltzer, a well-known author. We have a longstanding friendship and have often bounced stories off each other. Stories have always been my thing. I came to Chabad in my teen years, but even before that, the series ‘Visions of Greatness’ by Rabbi Yosef Weiss was highly influential to my spiritual growth.”
The book also includes a glossary of all Hebrew and Yiddish terms used in the stories, written explicitly with the needs of shluchim in mind. They can be used as Hebrew School prizes or gifts so that every child can learn who the Rebbe is and what a tzaddik is. Special bulk pricing is available for shluchim.
Although the book’s production costs reached over $30,000, Shidler shrugs it off. “I never intended for this project to be a moneymaker,” Shidler commented. “I have continually fundraised and poured in personal money to this project, and many kind and generous donors have helped to make this happen. It was just to teach my kids what a Rebbe and a tzaddik are all about and fill a need that I saw in the community.” All proceeds from sales will be going towards the second book in the series, which is already well underway.
Copies of the book were placed in Shilder’s shul, a Chassdishe shteibel in Toms River. One shul member commented, “Why does it say ‘for kids?’ It’s great for adults too! I would like a copy for myself!”
“This book is amazing!” gushed Chaya L, a mother of four. “It’s great for the whole family! At bedtime, I read a story to my kids, and my husband reads a story aloud at the Shabbos table. Everyone loves it!”
Visit your nearest Judaica store or email mail@tzaddikstory.org to get your copy today. To submit stories or request bulk pricing, contact us at the above email.
