Rivka's First Thanksgiving

When Rivka, a little Jewish girl living in New York City's Lower East Side in the early twentieth century, learns about Thanksgiving at school, she longs for her own family to join the celebration. Much like the Pilgrims in the story she has been taught, her people came to America for religious freedom and for safety. Having found those things, she reasons, they too should be thankful. Her Bubbe takes the issue to the Rabbi Yoshe Preminger, who declares that Jews do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Rivka knows the rabbi is wrong, but what can one little girl do in the face of such authority...?

In Rivka's First Thanksgiving, author Elsa Okon Rael answers that question by demonstrating how sometimes a child, by questioning and even criticizing show more her elders, by questioning and criticizing religious authority, can be the one to effect change, leading her community in the right direction. The story reminded me a bit of Barbara Cohen's Molly's Pilgrim, which also features a young Jewish girl finding meaning through the Thanksgiving story, although here the conflict is internal to the Jewish community, whereas there the conflict is external. The text here is quite long for a picture-book, and discusses the history of Rivka's family and community in Poland, where they experienced persecution and violence. For these reasons, this isn't a book I would recommend to very young children, although older picture-book audiences (six and up, I would say) will probably be the right target group. There is a glossary at the rear, explaining the meanings of some of the names and words used in the story, from Rivka (a variant of Rebecca, meaning "Bound") to Bubbe (grandmother). The artwork by Maryann Kovalski is cute, although sometimes I found her human faces a little too cartoonish, in odd ways. Leaving that last aside, all in all this is an engaging Thanksgiving story, one which illuminates the fact that the Thanksgiving story, whatever one thinks of it, has given comfort and meaning to a diverse range of Americans. show less

Having learned about it in school, Rivka wants to celebrate Thanksgiving more than anything. The only problem is trying to persuade her family and Rabbi. Rivka’s parents are Jewish immigrants from Poland and never celebrated the holiday, let alone heard of it. They don’t believe Pilgrims and Indians have anything to do with Jews and are wary to participate. Rivka makes the argument to the Rabbi that Thanksgiving is a holiday for all Americans to give thanks for what they have, regardless of religion or culture.
I love how it gently touches on the treatment of Jews during the early twentieth century. This could help children better understand why Rivka was so thankful to live in America and wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving. It could show more also be a great discussion with students to figure out what they are thankful for.
This book seamlessly blends Jewish traditions into American culture and portrays the rich cultural diversity that makes America what it is: a melting pot. This is a sweet story of family, blending new traditions with old, and always being thankful for what we have. show less

Rivka's First Thanksgiving makes for a perfect multicultural book. Rivka wants to celebrate Thanksgiving after she learned about the holiday at school. However her family, being Jewish, Polish immigrants are opposed to the idea because they are unsure if the holiday remains faithful to their religion. Bubbeh, Rivka’s grandmother, decides to let the decision up to the Rabbi. Rivka wants more than anything to convince the Rabbi that Thanksgiving is for all Americans no matter their historical or cultural background. This book would be ideal for third through fifth grade, maybe even sixth. It brings attention of issues regarding respecting old traditions while embracing new ones, as well as about giving thanks and celebrating freedom in show more America. show less

I think the story “Rivka’s First Thanksgiving” is a great informational story. Personally, I learned a few things from this story and I think children could learn a lot, too. The language is clear, although contains many difficult words. But, with this being said, the back of the book contains a glossary, defining words such as pogrom, bubbeh, kotchka, seder, etc. In addition, I love that this book was written in first person point of view in the perspective of Rivka, a young Jewish girl. Rivka was a resilient girl who fought for what she believed in. She never gave up or took no for an answer. In the end her hard work paid off and her and her family were able to give thanks on the holiday of Thanksgiving with many other American show more families. I think the big idea of this story is to share the author’s family memory while informing and encouraging readers to fight for what they believe in. show less

Models strength in conviction and never giving up. Shows that sometimes adults aren't right, and that traditions can be created as well as followed.

Having heard about Thanksgiving in school, nine-year-old Rivka tries to convince her immigrant family and her Rabbi that it is a holiday for all Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike.

Having heard about Thanksgiving in school, nine-year-old Rivka tries to convince her immigrant family and her Rabbi that it is a holiday for all Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike.