Robert Kwong at the Yeshiva

June 2019 Literature

Robert Kwong at the Yeshiva – an Immigrant's Story

By Donald Oppenheim
Illustrated by Simone Alexander
Mascot Books (2018); 38 pages
Recommended age range: Primary school
ISBN 978-1-68401-421-7

Leaving everything you know and crossing borders to a new life. A new language, new food, new smells, new hopes. A willingness to start from the bottom, work hard, and hope to make new dreams become a reality. If this fails, the long hard process begins again.

This is familiar to Jews across vast stretches of both time and distance. But not only to Jews. Here is a sensitively illustrated and thoughtfully written new children's book that tells the true story of a family that moved from China to The United States, travelling, from California to New York and then back again.

The book focuses on young Robert – no longer using his Chinese name – as he adjusts to each phase of his family's journey. He does his best to share his parents' load at every stage, and justifiably earns their appreciation.

Love of both ice cream and computers then play a surprising role in forging a vital bridge between this young Chinese immigrant and Jewish boys at a yeshiva. The school's staff and its rabbi offer Robert generous support, as he explores the opportunities and challenges that open up before him.

Sincere mutual respect here combines with open-hearted and open-minded compassion. Together, they make all the difference to Robert being able, at last, to find a path to building a happy and successful life. Well-chosen photographs accompany the delightful illustrations to reinforce this joyful story.

A truly touching and heart-warming tale that offers all children a ray of hope in our turbulent world.

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About the author

Ralph Alon

Ralph Alon was born in 1948 and raised in Leicester, UK. His mothers name was Margaret Berg, his father William Oakfield (originally Verne Oppenheim but changed during the war because of his unit).

He married in Leicester in 1974 to a local Jewish girl – Linda Cheyette – and they came to live in Israel in 1975. He did his Hebrew ulpan in Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek and afterwards lived three years on Kibbutz Mishmar David. In 1979 Ralph and Linda moved to Moshav Mei Ami where they have lived ever since.

In England Ralph worked and qualified in Insurance. In Israel he worked for many years in agriculture and later in the office bookkeeping and after that worked with kibbutzim in management accounting. He is now semi-retired.

Ralph is a volunteer counselor in ESRA’s counseling and bereavement program. He enjoys going to the gym, cycling and windsurfing.