Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva
A moving example of how effort and encouragement change lives.
Editor’s Note:
Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva, by Jacqueline Jules and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg, is the beautifully told (and beautifully illustrated) story of how Rabbi Akiva went from being a poor and illiterate shepherd to one of the greatest Jewish scholars. While Rabbi Akiva is the title character, it’s the encouragement from his wife Rachel that changes the course of his life. She is the one that sees his potential and then pushes him to reach it. This book isn’t new, but the messages are universal and timeless.
Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva,by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg, Karben, 2017.
Author’s Note:
Rabbi Akiva did not learn to read until he was 40 years old. He was afraid that he was not capable. Ultimately, he realized that all he had to do was tackle one letter at a time. His example shows us two things: 1. It is never too late to change our lives 2. Big tasks can be accomplished in small pieces. Inspiring messages for anyone, at any age.
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BIO: Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of over fifty books for young readers including the Jewish titles, The Porridge-Pot Goblin, The Hardest Word, Picnic at Camp Shalom, Sarah Laughs, Benjamin and the Silver Goblet, Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, and Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger, was a PJ Our Way selection and her picture book, Moses and the Runaway Lamb, was a Junior Library Guild selection. Her secular titles include the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Duck for Turkey Day, and Feathers for Peacock. Also a poet, Jacqueline has two poetry collections for young readers, Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence and Smoke at the Pentagon: Poems to Remember. Her collection for adults of Torah inspired poems, Manna in the Morning, was published by Kelsay Books in 2021. She lives on Long Island and enjoys talking long walks along the water. Visit her online www.jacquelinejules.com
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5 Tiny Delights:
The sun glinting off the water. I live on Long Island near a bay and walk up to a town dock several times a week.
Cherry blossoms in the spring. Particularly the Kwanzan that bloom in clusters a few weeks after the more delicate Yoshino trees.
Reading such a good book on my stationary exercise bike that forty-five minutes flies by.
Snuggling and reading books before bed with my three-year-old grandson.
Listening to a radio station that plays showstoppers from Broadway musicals.
5 Tiny Jewish Delights:
Lighting candles on Friday night and taking a moment to reflect on the blessings of the week.
Attending Jewish adult education classes at my synagogue.
Mussar discussions with a group I have been studying with since 2016.
Attending Shabbat morning services and kibbitzing over a bagel at the Kiddush lunch.
Reading Jewish kidlit.
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Beautiful artwork.
Fabulous artwork.