CIS Books

Krebs has written a delightful book that brings to life a glowing glimpse of "The Beeman." Seen through the eyes of a grandchild, this book invokes a warm town as gentle bee-keeping facts are given. Her book is an excellent addition to a family library or a classroom's apiary unit. I can't wait to see her other books.

This warm, appealing picture book about bee-keeping (and grandparenting) is a delight from beginning to end. The text is spare and rhythmic, perfect for reading aloud, and the illustrations are full of bright colors and cheerfully inviting. Bees tend to fascinate young children, even if they frighten them; this book offers an insightful, reassuring look at the pleasures of bee-keeping for a little girl and her grandfather.

A young boy values the company of his grandfather, a beekeeper who teaches the boy the tools of the trade. After the boy and his grandfather both suit up in protective clothing, they quiet the bees with a smoker and open the hive to examine the queen bee, the drones, and the worker bees. Next they remove the honeycomb and use a special machine to extract the honey from the frames. Most of the honey is jarred for later enjoyment, and the remaining honey is returned to the hive as food for the bees during the winter.

This exceptional book blends together a number of informative lessons in economics with an interesting story and lively artwork that will appeal to children and adults alike. What better way to spice up a discussion of jobs and human resources than to use this book about an occupation that appears to be, at least to kids, fairly unusual and slightly dangerous. In the back, the muffin recipe and the author's notes about honey help to reinforce the book's lessons about natural resources. Children may leave this book wondering if the tasty honey is worth the risk of getting stung by all those bees.

I was moved by this fascinating story of faith in light of persecution. Despite the confusing first chapters of this book I found it to be a good read and recommend it to others.

The BLACK BIRD-MONSTROSITY is the title of this book. It consists of a series of interviews with people who remembered Jerzy Kosinski and his family, and the actual turn of events. The Kosinski's (Lewinkopfs) were an assimilated, fairly well-to-do family. (p. 18).

Jerzy originally claimed that everything in the PAINTED BIRD was true. (p. 11). Far from it! He didn't wander from town to town (p. 46), nor live in an orphanage. He spent the entire German occupation, living among Poles, in the town of Dabrowo Rzeczycka. In fact, not only wasn't he maltreated, he practically lived like a king. (p. 146). All the lurid attempted-drowning incidents are apocryphal. (p. 143, 152). He never lost his voice. Some boys--boys being boys--did try to pull down Jerzy's pants to see his circumcision (more out of curiosity than malice). But evidently they were half-serious, as he, not being particularly strong, never got exposed, and always managed to get away. (p. 143).

Much has been said about Polish anti-Semitism and how Poles supposedly didn't see Jews as part of their sphere of moral obligations. But this went both ways. After Nazi Germany defeated Poland in 1939, some Polish Jews, innocent of eventual Nazi intentions, actually mocked the Poles, telling them: "Your time has passed!" (p. 22). (This adds refutation to the claim that the Jewish-Soviet collaboration further east was motivated by Jewish anticipation of Nazi extermination.)

Jan T. Gross and his fans would have us believe that Poles were habitually willing to incur the German-imposed death penalty for the unauthorized slaughter of animals, but much less so in the hiding of Jews. This is an absurd comparison, as the former is much more discreet than the latter. As it turns out, the Poles in this area didn't engage in illegal slaughter until after Stalingrad, at which time the Germans noticeably slacked their policies (p. 63), and became chronically receptive to bribes (p. 85).

Also, Jan T. Gross and his fans assert that Poles could count on their neighbors' secrecy in underground activities, but not in the hiding of Jews. Actually, underground involvement was usually kept secret from neighbors. As it turns out, Dabrowo Rzeczycka is yet another town where everyone knew that Kosinki's family, and other Jews, were being housed, yet they all trusted each other in this secret (p. 70). In fact, the Jewish children, despite their obvious Semitic features, freely played outdoors. Once, when Germans unexpectedly paid a visit, the Poles, with nerves of steel, innocently called the children indoors on some pretext, and nothing happened. (p. 54).

Bandit bands, impersonating the AK, sometimes raided the village (p. 58). (How many cases of "the AK killing fugitive Jews" were actually the deeds of such bandit bands?)

Armed conflicts were going on between anti-Communist (NSZ, post-AK) guerillas, and pro-Communist ones (GL/AL) in this area. Karol Liebeskind, a local fugitive Jew and actual AL member (p. 55), was assassinated. Meanwhile, the family housing the Kosinski's was inclined to protect them regardless of politics. (p. 117). (Upon the arrival of the Red Army, Jerzy's father, Moishe Lewinkopf, became actively Communist, thus becoming complicit in the Soviet subjugation and oppression of the very Poles that had saved them. See the detailed Peczkis review of Jerzy Kosinski: A Biography)

When Kosinski visited Poland in 1989, he was noticeably cool to his rescuers and their descendants, who had eagerly come to see him again (pp. 133-145). During his public appearances, he never once thanked the town of Dabrowo Rzecycka for saving his life. (p. 130). For shame!

There are many other Kosinski-type tales of Polish atrocities in existence, notably those compiled by Gross in his FEAR. Most lack independent corroboration. Siedlicka's book serves as a valuable model of the kind of studies needed to evaluate these Jewish accusations.

Another incredible book in the Ruach Ami series. The Envoy from Vienna teaches strong Jewish values in a story that readers of any age will enjoy.

Publisher's info:

The studies collected in this volume deal with ancient, medieval and early modern forms of Gnosis and the diverse expressions of their myths, rites, ideas and expectations. The emphasis lays on Hermetism in Antiquity and its influence in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the early modern period. The 14 contributions were written by R. van den Broek (3), C. Gilly (2), P. Kingsley (2), J.-P. Mahé (1), and G.Quispel (6).

The book contains discussions of several aspects of the Hermetic and Gnostic tradition, such as hermetic religious practices, magic, alchemy, apocalyptic visions, and the influence of Hermetic ideas on Early Christian and medieval theologians.

The volume is of interest for students of Graeco-Roman religiosity, Early Christianity, medieval theology and the Hermetic traditions in the Renaissance and later western culture.

Roelof van den Broek, Dr.Theol. (1972), University of Utrecht, is Emeritus Professor of History of Christianity at the University of Utrecht. His publications include Studies in Gnosticism and Alexandrian Christianity (Brill, 1996).

This book has been a great help in teaching me the ins and out of Word 2007. I have done one chapter a week for the past 3 weeks and I know more now then I ever knew with any other book for the Office Suite. Great information, would definitly recommend this book.

This is a very scholarly book, which contains the answers to most questions that arise for Jewish observant couples during pregnancy and childbirth. It also contains a big section of responsa in Hebrew in addition to it's 325 pages with a large number of footnotes. For anybody seriously interested in the subject, this book is a gem even though it does not give the biological side of the story, which anybody can find in books such as "What to expect when you are expecting."

I absolutely adore the work in this book. When I first received it, I skimmed through the photos and right away I got a bunch of ideas for my own sugarcraft eggs. Mary explains everything quite well, however, this is certainly not for beginners. Some knowledge of sugarcraft techniques and tools will prove helpful, which it seems the British are more familiar with it than Americans who consider most any sugarcraft as "advanced". With that said, some designs are simple and easy, but she has also included designs which will provide more of a challenge. I think this is a must have for anyone who is getting into sugarcraft eggs!

Great article in CHIEF EXECUTIVE Magazine about how a partnership was formed between a U.S. Company and a Russian entrepreneur to introduce a line of U.S. cosmetics to the newly formed Republic of Russia just after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Worthwhile reading on how to develop these kinds of relationships and alliances.