I'm so glad we could do a little 'resurrection' here, of this thread!
I am glad too
Viola2007, it's nice to hear of someone else who's a fan of the Thoene's books -- I LOVED them, read all a few yrs ago (even the westerns, which I don't think are as good but are still entertaining)
Aren’t they awesome? I bought Daughter of Zion a couple of years ago and I couldn’t put it down. I had to order the complete series and then I went on with the Zion Covenant. I was touched and bewildered by their philo-Semitism especially since they are such staunch Christians. I was also awe-struck by all the historical material they covered. Their research is impeccable and vast. Of course, I made the mistake of trying to imitate them, which is ill advised specially for a first novel. End result, I got two novels that are too long and deal with too much material in not such an artful or subtle way as the Thoene´s do
Your idea sounds interesting. Play with it and start writing a scene or two!
As I was saying. I finished two novels that are similar to the Thoene´s series but include fantastic elements. None is publishable, at least as first novel. So I grabbed a couple of elements from them and started a new and much more modest project.
And thanks to Chumplet & Stephanie, et al, for the recommended readings; I am a Gentile trying to create a character with a "Jewish soul" and need to delve into it alot more. The more I write it, the more I realize how hard it is to capture the essence of a religion not your own!
It is hard even if you are Jewish.
I want to add to your reading list a couple of random titles that have assisted me in the past, and not only in my writing endeavors
Michael Levin: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism
Elie Wiesel: Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters
Harold Kushner. To Life: A celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking (I recommend everything written by the remarkable Rabbi Kushner.)
When I say “Jewish folklore” I mean folk beliefs (what many might call superstition) and mythology. I have found these very useful books on the subject.
Geoffrey W. Dennis. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism. (Rabbi Dennis also has a website.)
Ronald H. Isaacs. Divination, Magic and Healing: The book of Jewish folklore.
Raphael Patai. Gates to the Old City: a book of Jewish legends
And Howard Schwartz has several folktales collections that deal with Jewish folklore. One of the best is Lilith´s Cave: Jewish tales of the supernatural.
It is traditionally believed that Judaism excludes women from ritual, Talmud learning and mysticism. I was pleased to find two books that disavow such claim.
Ytzhak Buxbaum: Jewish Tales of Holy Women
Tirzah Firestone. The Receiving: reclaiming Jewish women’s wisdom.
As Smiling Ted has pointed out, Jewish Folklore comes in several brands, not only Ashkenazim. I was fortunate to find an e- book that helped me delve in the folklore of Balkans Jews and was fundamental for writing my first novel. Its name was
Rosemary Levy Zumwalt. Ritual Medical Lore of Sephardic Women: Sweetening the spirits, healing the sick.
Sadly, that book is no longer available online, but I recommend it wholeheartedly. Despite its title, it covers much more than folk medicine. For me, it was an eye-opener to a new way of being Jewish and dealing with the supernatural.
Last but not least, Nobel Prize winners I. Bashevis Singer and S.Y. Agnon did not shy away from using Jewish mysticism as a literary subject. But what surprises me is that in Harry Potter´s era, there are no Jewish fantasy novels.