The Cholent Brigade

“Monty Nudelman can’t wait to shovel his neighbors’ sidewalks, driveways, cars and more when a big snowstorm strikes – until he hurts his back. His back hurts so much he can’t even make Shabbat lunch. Thankfully, his neighbors all made cholent and ‘The Cholent Brigade’ comes to the rescue. The book includes a cholent recipe.” – Cleveland Jewish News

“The Cholent Brigade by Michael Herman, illustrated by Sharon Harmer. Young readers will giggle at the main character’s name: Mr. Monty Nudelman. Monty is the guy who shovels everyone’s walk after a snowfall, but after one storm he hurts his back. When he misses shul, everyone says a mi sheberakh, and multiethnic Jewish families from all around the neighborhood send their kids to bring him cholent and good wishes. Everyone chows down, and on Sunday, the kids come back and shovel Monty’s sidewalk. There’s a recipe for cholent (made with BBQ sauce! What madness is this?) at the end. Riotous curly hair, soft clouds of snow, and textured-looking sweaters add to the low-stress fun. (Ages 4-7)” – Tablet Mag

“Monty Nudelman loves to help his neighbors and, after a big snowstorm, he shoveled their sidewalks and driveways. Sadly, he hurts his back, and he can’t make his own Shabbat lunch. Luckily, his neighbors made cholent, a special Shabbat stew. See the classic recipe so you, too, can make the special stew.” - Jewish Herald Voice

“When heavy snow falls, thoughtful Monty Nudelman get shovelling and clears his neighbours’ paths. But just as he finishes, his back gives way. He has to miss Saturday-morning synagogue — but all the people he has helped want to show him some kindness in return and all have the same idea — to bring him a container of cholent. Not only is Michael Herman’s The Cholent Brigade (Kar Ben, $5.99) a heartwarming story about one good deed deserving another, it also portrays, through Sharon Harmer’s illustrations, a diverse Jewish population. Age three to seven.” – The Jewish Chronicle

“Mr. Monty Nudelman is a mensch (good person). On Friday morning following a big storm, he happily shovels snow from the sidewalks, alleys and front porches of his neighbors so they can prepare for Shabbat. When he does not show up for Shabbat services on Saturday morning, the congregation is worried. They learn he is home because he hurt his back shoveling snow – for all of them! Just before lunch, neighborhood children are sent to Monty’s home with bowls, pots and thermoses filled with cholent (Shabbat stew) – a Cholent Brigade – to help him feel better. The children stay to help him eat all the varieties of cholent ‘each dish filled with warmth and comfort, happiness and friendship,’ and on Sunday morning they return to shovel Monty’s yard.

This sweet, simple story of friendship, bikkur cholim (visiting the sick)and tikkun olam (repairing the world), is a wonderful lesson for the current times. The illustrations, a mixture of digital art combined with hand drawings and paint, are colorful and perfectly reflect a snow covered town. There is a recipe for cholent in the back of the book.”—Association of Jewish Libraries

“Harmer’s pictures show that the Jewish community is refreshingly multiracial. There are no surprises here, but the acts of kindness don’t feel like a plot convention. They feel like a philosophy for life. It’s touching to see a town where kindness is no surprise.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The pictures in The Cholent Brigade are expressive and engaging, and show a diverse community of Jews of various colors and levels of observance all working together to perform a deed of loving-kindness for Mr. Nudelman.”—Jewish Book Council