Why We Chose This Book: Under the Domim Tree

April 18, 2018, is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), the official day in Israel and the United States for remembering the Holocaust. The PJ Our Way Book Selection Committee chose Under the Domim Tree to highlight this day because rather than describing the direct atrocities of the Holocaust, it focuses on its aftermath. The fledgling state of Israel ended up absorbing thousands of orphans at a time when Israelis themselves were struggling to survive. To meet this demand, children’s villages were created throughout the country to function as mini-Kibbutzim where children could learn together, live together, and build community together. Under the Domim Tree tells the story of one of these children’s villages and how the young teens living there found support, joy, and even love within the community they created.
 
This is a poignant and beautifully written translation of a classic Israeli book modeled after the author’s personal experience.