Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the World
By: Samara Shanker
September 5, 2023, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
272 pages
Review by: E Broderick
Bar or Bat Mitzvah’s have become a touchstone of Jewish culture, a coming of age ceremony that many outside of the Jewish community have come to recognize and relate with. Readers across cultures enjoy hearing about twelve and thirteen years olds prepping their speeches and learning to lead the congregation in prayer. I, however, view all of this from the angle of someone who did not have such a celebration. Not because my family wasn’t observant, simply because they didn’t like to make a big deal of things. They still don’t. Instead, I was given the knowledge that I would become responsible for my own actions, whether there was a celebratory party or not, and encouraged to participate in some extra community service.
Naomi Teitelbaum, lead character of Samara Shanker’s MG fantasy, Naomi Tietelbaum Ends the World, might have preferred it if her two moms felt the same way as my parents did. Naomi certainly does not seem enthused about her lessons with the Youth Rabbi or the construction of her speech. She is, however, excited by the gifts. Which is why it is only fitting that one of those gifts is yet another touchstone of Jewish culture that appears to be more and more relevant these days: a Golem.
For those who are unfamiliar with Golems, these animated clay creatures are known for defending Jews against antisemitism but also had a reputation of getting out of control. If left to their own devices, they can take their missions to extremes and eventually must be laid to rest by their creators.
Naomi knows none of this Golem Lore. Instead, she and her two best friends try to figure out the Golem on their own, with mixed results. When hiding the golem becomes increasingly difficult, Naomi gives it a mission designed to keep it busy. As can be expected, this does not turn out well. Instead, Naomi and her friends must set out on adventure to stop The Golem, armed with wisdom from some kindly Rabbi’s, both living and dead, and seeking shelter in various Jewish institutions of California. (My favorite line is about how one can always find a chabad house if they are in need).
Naomi steps up and assumes responsibility not only for her actions, but also for the tasks she may not have asked for but that ultimately fall on her shoulders anyway. Through the Golem, she realizes that personal choice is truly at the crux of Jewish ethics. It’s the stuff of an excellent B’ne Mitzvah speech, and I look forward to following the other two friends on their journeys towards these milestones in the upcoming sequels.