Rather Laugh Than Cry: Stories from a Hassidic Household.

Susan Merskey is freelance writer in London, Ontario.

This collection of short stories gives readers a glimpse into the daily life of a contemporary Hassidic woman living in a large urban setting—Montreal. While the Hassidic group of ultra-orthodox Jews live in closely knit conclaves and tend to mix mostly with each other, these stories show clearly that their lives are not so different from the lives of other women. They show us many aspects of their own traditional lifestyle—the unusual clothing, strict Sabbath observance, the rejection of radio, TV, mainstream newspaper, and other media—but at the same time they reflect a family life that is familiar to many of us.

Some of the stories, such as “The Red Pants,” “Bedtime Tale,” and “Summing Up a Story” relate to events in her children’s lives. Others deal with topics as varied as Canadian winters, colour-coded calendars, telephones, and world peace. Some are gently humorous, some bittersweet, some reflective. “Memories, Memorials and Shavuot” is a sober reflection on Hungarian Jews’ Holocaust experiences.

Two stories in particular will stay with me. “Challah for the Sabbath” is a very humorous take on a ritual that happens every week of the year except for the week of Passover. “Telephonitis” is an equally humorous reflection on the urgent need for telephone communication.

Author Malka Zipora (not her real name) was born in Israel to Hungarian Holocaust survivor parents. She grew up in Australia, then moved to New York before settling in Montreal. She has 12 children, ranging in age from nine to 30.

The stories were originally published in Hassidic papers and journals, where all references would immediately be understood by readers. In preparing them for publication here, the author has had to add explanatory notes for a wider readership. That she has accomplished this without distorting the threads of her stories is a tribute to the work of herself and her editor. The author’s own simple line illustrations richly enhance the text. Both young adults and adults will enjoy these stories; they could also be read aloud and discussed. Recommended.