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INTERVIEW:<\/h3>\n
Michelle Orrelle:<\/span> <\/strong>Tami, it\u2019s such a pleasure to chat with you today! You and I live in Israel and share a passion for bringing authentic stories about Israel and Jewish life to young readers. Before we dive into your new books, I just want to say how much I admire your commitment to connecting children everywhere with our shared heritage.<\/p>\n Tami Lehman-Wilzig:<\/span> <\/strong>Thanks so much, Michelle. Jewish content, which includes stories set in Israel, is definitely my niche. I cannot emphasize enough how important books connected to Israel are for young Jewish readers around the globe, especially now, during the troubled times we are living through. I am so grateful to PJ Library for sending out books tied to Israel and for all that they have done throughout our war. And we also have your wonderful initiative \u2013 the Am Yisrael Chai Children\u2019s Books project<\/a><\/strong>,<\/span> which<\/span><\/span> you began after the horrendous events of October 7th, 2023, occurred, and Israel-bashing became rampant. <\/em>Thanks to you, we have close to an additional 10 picture book titles connected to Israel being distributed to thousands of children throughout the United States through The JCC of North America. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MO:<\/span> Two of your new books \u2013 On the Wings of Eagles<\/span><\/em>, and The Henna Helper<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 are part of what I call your Israel Lineup. Some of these books won awards, like Keeping the Promise<\/em> <\/span>and SOOSIE, The Horse That Saved Shabbat<\/span>. <\/em>Tell us a little bit about these books.<\/strong><\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong><\/span> What you call my Israel Lineup are stories that are not just about Israel. They take place in Israel, reflect Jewish identity and values, and show Jewish children around the world that Israel is a country they can identify with. Take, for example, my book Stork\u2019s Landing<\/strong><\/span>. The Jewish value of kindness to animals is reflected by the members of a kibbutz who nurture a wounded stork. SOOSIE, The Horse That Saved Shabbat<\/strong> <\/span>has that element as well, but even more so shows how important Shabbat is on the weekly Jewish calendar. My new book, On the Wings of Eagles<\/span>, <\/strong>reflects the eternal yearning of the Jewish people throughout the ages to return to Zion. Even two of my earliest books \u2013 Passover Around the World<\/strong><\/span> and Hanukkah Around the World<\/strong><\/span> are part of the Lineup because Israel was my open research lab. All of the customs in those books are still being practiced in Israel among the \u201ctribes\u201d that brought them over. By writing stories revolving around these traditions, the customs became accessible to all Jewish children. At the same time, they showed the mosaic that is Israel.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n TLH:<\/span> <\/strong>Leah is such a special person. She has gone through a lot in her life, starting with her fleeing Rada, Yemen, when she was a little girl. Her entire world was her home and her city, and poof, it was shattered! Suddenly, she found herself being uprooted. That\u2019s not easy for any child, and certainly the trek from Rada to Aden was terrifyingly difficult. It was riveting just sitting and listening to her. She remembered everything about her journey, including the robbery that figures into On the Wings of Eagles.<\/span><\/strong> She is a very soft-spoken woman, but her voice was full of intensity and passion while recounting the details of her trek. It helped me recreate her tale with a balance of factual accuracy and emotional storytelling.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong><\/span> I\u2019m thinking Micro and Macro, so let\u2019s start with the micro level of crafts and customs. The Jews of Yemen were the finest silversmiths in the land, and they brought their outstanding skill with them to Israel. During the early decades of Israeli statehood, Israeli jewelry was synonymous with Yemenite jewelry. Similarly, their gorgeous embroidery became another Israeli symbol. But let\u2019s go to the macro level. The Henna Helper is a universal story about immigration. About new immigrants coming to a country with a totally different day-to-day way of life. Little Gali represents the immigrant who wants to integrate. Why does her cousin Yael have to hold a pre-wedding Henna ceremony? Who needs this old-fashioned custom? After all, Yael is a modern Israeli. Gali is at odds with her grandmother who holds on to tradition, who wisely shows Gali that one can be cool and with it while maintaining honored customs. I think that all children who have descended from immigrants who have contributed to their country can relate to this. Specifically for Israel, Yemenite Jews have made enormous contributions to Israeli culture \u2013 from music, jewelry, and fashion to cuisine.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong><\/span> I am in love with my Jewish heritage, and I want readers to understand that Judaism is more than just a religion. It\u2019s a culture and a way of life that has a rich history, and Rembrandt plays into that. Rembrandt loved the bible and created over 300 works \u2013 paintings, drawings, and etchings \u2013 of biblical scenes. As my book shows, his close friendship with Sephardi Dutch rabbi Menashe ben Israel had a tremendous impact on his work. I discovered Rembrandt\u2019s deep ties to the Amsterdam Jewish community around twenty years ago during my first trip to Amsterdam. I felt it was an important story for children because it shows a cross-cultural, inter-religious friendship that had a very positive effect. I think that Rembrandt\u2019s Blessing<\/strong><\/span> fits in beautifully with two other books of mine that have historical connections: The Boston Chocolate Party<\/strong> <\/span>and Luis de Torres Sails to Freedom<\/strong><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MO:<\/span> Let\u2019s talk a bit about craft. You write primarily for older picture book readers, ages 5\u20139. What do you think first-time authors should know about the process?<\/strong><\/p>\n TLH:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>First and foremost, study the market. If you have a book idea, find out what\u2019s out there. Maybe it\u2019s already been done. If that\u2019s the case and you still want to write the story, how will you make it different? Next, Vitamin P: Patience and Persistence. Writing a good story is not, as they say in Israel, \u201cChick-Chack\u201d \u2013 something done quickly. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MO:<\/span> That leads me to my next question. What has your experience been like working with editors, publishers, and critique groups?<\/strong><\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong><\/span> Let\u2019s start with critique groups: an absolute MUST. Develop the skin of an elephant because you want criticism. You want to know what should be changed, how can your story be improved. And don\u2019t think the critique stops with your group. It is rare that a book is accepted and the editor does not want changes. I have learned so much from my editors. Let me take this opportunity to give a special shout-out to Aviva Lucas Gutnick, who was my editor for all my books at Apples and Honey Press. Her sharp eye and ear added so much to my stories.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n MO:<\/span> What are you working on now? What\u2019s next for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong><\/span> I have a hyperactive brain so I\u2019m juggling a lot of ideas, and even drafts. I\u2019ve just finished the first draft of a bible story revolving around a character who has never been touched but is so very important to the Jewish story. I also have two other stories that I\u2019m working on. One deals with a female Israeli scientist, and the other takes place in Italy. And I\u2019m flirting with a story idea that takes place in Japan. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n MO:<\/span> Tami, thank you so much for sharing your time, insight, and passion with us. <\/strong><\/p>\n TLH:<\/strong> <\/span>Thank you for interviewing me. It was a special treat!<\/em><\/p>\n GRWR:<\/strong> <\/span>Thanks to you both for this enlightening discussion! I hope readers will visit their local independent bookstore to purchase the books mentioned, or order online via Bookshop.org.<\/p>\n e<\/span><\/p>\n Tami Lehman-Wilzig<\/em><\/strong> is an award-winning author of sixteen picture books. Originally from Manhattan, she and her husband moved to Israel 48 years ago.\u00a0 She served as one of Israel\u2019s leading English language advertising copywriters for 35 years. Her career as a children\u2019s picture book author began over 20 years ago during the second Intifada, which she hopes no Jew will ever have to go through again. At that time, business was down so she decided to see if she could turn her hobby of writing children\u2019s stories into a second career. Michelle Orrelle<\/em><\/strong> is an Australian-Israeli children\u2019s book author. Her debut board book Todah, I Am Grateful<\/span>,<\/strong> and debut picture book Habima Magic<\/strong> <\/span>will be published by Kar-Ben Publishing in 2026 and 2027.\u00a0 Along with her husband, she founded Crew 972, an animation production company, and she is also a guide at ANU \u2013 Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, where she helps visitors connect with Jewish history, culture, and tradition.![\"On](\"https:\/\/www.goodreadswithronna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/On_The_Wings_of_Eagles_cover-260x300.jpg\" "\\"cover")
MO:<\/span> Let\u2019s talk about On the Wings of Eagles<\/em><\/span>\u2014a powerful tale inspired by real events during Operation Magic Carpet, when nearly 50,000 Yemenite Jews were<\/strong> airlifted to Israel in 1949\u20131950. The story follows Haila, a young girl preparing to leave her village and fly to the Jewish homeland, capturing both the excitement and fear of that historic journey. The book is based on true people and events, and you dedicate it to Leah Ma\u2019Udah, the real \u201cHaila.\u201d Can you share what it was like meeting her and how her memories shaped your storytelling?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.goodreadswithronna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The_Henna_Helper_cover-259x300.jpg\" "\\"cover")
MO:<\/span> In your newest book \u2013 The \u00a0Henna Helper<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 you revisit the Yemenite-Israeli community in modern-day Israel and in a very different context. What do you hope readers\u2014both Jewish and non-Jewish\u2014will learn about Yemenite Jewry from this story?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Rembrandt's](\"https:\/\/www.goodreadswithronna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rembrandts-Blessing_cover-253x300.jpg\" "\\"cover")
MO:<\/span> You have three new books. Let\u2019s talk about your third new title, Rembrandt\u2019s Blessing<\/em><\/span>,\u00a0 which just received a fabulous review from CLCD, Children\u2019s Literature Comprehensive Database. I want to quote from it: \u00a0\u201cThis charming picture book gracefully introduces young readers to the world of the incredible master painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, and his unexpected relationship with Amsterdam\u2019s Jewish community at the time \u2026 The narrative, grounded in historical fact yet told<\/strong> with a gentle fictional touch, explores themes of curiosity, respect, and cultural intersection.\u201d
How does this story connect to your broader body of work?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Author](\"https:\/\/www.goodreadswithronna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Author_Tami_Lehman-Wilzig_Photo_Credit_Sharon_Lapidot-200x300.jpg\" "\\"Headshot")
TAMI\u2019S BIO:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
For more on Tami and her books: <\/em>https:\/\/www.tlwkidsbooks.com\/<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nFIND TAMI HERE:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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MICHELLE\u2019S BIO:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
For more about Michelle: <\/em>www.michelleorrelle.com<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nFIND MICHELLE HERE:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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