ORDER TODAY	Up Up and Oy Vey! How Jewish History Culture and Values Shaped The Comicbook Superhero By Simcha Weinstein Signed copies with Personal Inscription exclusively available at Rabbisimcha.com $10.00 + shipping Please allow 10 days for delivery Up, Up, and Oy Vey chronicles how Jewish history, culture, & values helped shape the early years of the comic book industry. The early comic book creators were almost all Jewish, and as children of immigrants, they spent their lives trying to escape the second-class mentality which was forced on them by the outside world. Their fight for truth, justice, and the American Way is portrayed by the superheroes they created. The dual identity given to their creations mirrors their own desire to live two lives privately as a Jew, and publicly as an American. Their creations are the descendants of a Jewish tradition littered with stories of super strength from Samson to the Golem of Prague. An increasing number of fans and amateur historians, obsessed with back-story "mythology," claim they've uncovered the secret "Jewish-ness" of the comic book characters. Superheroes, they claim, are usually outsiders; gifted yet misunderstood, and strangers in a strange land.
YOUR SIGNED COPY WITH PERSONAL INSCRIPTION MAKES AN IDEAL GIFT!
USA: Book + P&P = $13.00
CANADA: Book + P&P = $15.00
WORLD: Book + P&P = $18.00
All profits of books sold on rabbisimcha.com go to benefit the Jewish Student Foundation of Downtown Brooklyn

This book observes comic book superheroes through three different lenses historical, cultural, and biblical/spiritual. Utilizing a bibliographic and subjective methodology, the author (an ordained rabbi) charts how the superhero model has unconsciously tapped into the deepest core of Jewish spiritual understanding.

Both teenagers and adults, especially those that are history enthusiasts, pop culture fans, seekers of Jewish spirituality, new-age mysticism cohorts, and of course, comic book readers, will enjoy reading this exciting and inspiring account of the birth and mythical origins of the comic book.

Readers Reviews


With Great Thought Comes A Great Book
Reviewer: Saul Morris Sudin
July 18, 2006

Who would've thought Bruce, Peter and Clark were jewish names? Simcha Weinstein handles the subject matter of connecting comic book superheroes with their biblical and judaic origins with profound thought, wit, and a healthy dose of humor.

Seperated into sections breaking down the major (and sometimes minor) heroes, Weinstein details the accounts of their origins and shows how, much like authors Roland Barthes and Joseph Campbell before him, how our own modern mythologies and achetypal heroes are rooted in cultural history and religion.

Of special note is a centerpiece section that reprints actual comic book pages from some of our favorite heroes in full color that further drive the author's points home, sometimes with a startling clarity, such as a piece of art featuring X-Men villain Magneto wrapped in a Tallit.

A real appreciation for a deeper meaning behind our
childhood comic heroes
Reviewer: S Schnider
July 14, 2006

This book gives us a deeper meaning and understanding of our comic heroes. Growing up we thought of them just as they were displayed in comic scripts. However this book allows us to view them through a different perspective, giving a higher meaning behind the creators of our heroes. Rabbi Simcha in his very own profound and humoristic way shares with us this truly remarkable story behind our super heroes. I highly recommended this book and may you share the same inspiration as I did.

Jewish values hidden in the mystique of comic books
Reviewer: Eric Lebovich (Brooklyn, NY United States)
July 12, 2006

Growing up as an avid fan of comic books,video games, and science fiction in general, its hard not to have some interest in a book about the philosophical background behind a number of these fabled superheroes.

Up, Up, & Oy Vey does an excellent job of depicting how these characters were sculpted from the history, culture, and values of the Jewish people. The author does a great job of embedding humor alongside the well researched facts within the text, while still allowing the reader to relate to their own childhood memories of these characters. This quick read makes a fabulous addition to any fan of imagination, creativity and science fiction, be it within the framework of comic heroes or others.

Up, Up, and Oy Vey - An Excellent Book
Reviewer: Edward Bloor (New York, NY USA)
July 11, 2006

Up,Up, and Oy Vey is a very interesting andd unique book. It is intriguing to children and adults alike and you'll agree once you read it. I definitely recommend this book and it will no doubt become one of your top favorites on your bookshelf.

This is a must own!
Reviewer: Blanca Madani (Brooklyn, NY)
June 24, 2006

Up, up, and Oy Vey is an excellent addition to the library of social anthropologists, as well as serious comic book afficionados. This book looks at the historical setting behind the various superheroes selected, as well as the personal history of the creators. Rabbi Simcha does an excellent job of substantiating his claims that these superheroes were (and are) shaped by Jewish history, culture, and value. While well-researched and of real academic value, this is no dry reading. Rabbi Simcha's sense of humor and his obvious affection for the comic book superheroes of his childhood, makes this a fun-filled, yet informative, reading.

"Up Up And Oy Vey" is available now at all good book stores!