Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, a classic that we just found out about

You’ll feel like you know Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. The story will resonate with you simply by looking at the cover as a menorah is being lit by a traveler with a goblin hovering beside him. You might have never read the book, but its moral, succinct fashion, and spot-on art will leave you feeling like it’s a book that you’ve always known. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a hardcover, illustrated book that’s more about the story than it is about the religious celebration.

I mention that last bit because, in general, we don’t cover secular books here. There might be the odd seasonal book, but we try to avoid those that are centered on one celebration. In a way, it works in tandem with our Christmas music mantra. If the song is good enough to listen to any time of the year then it’s a good Christmas music song. If not, then it’s a song that I’ll tire of after hearing the first couple of notes. FYI, Hanson will always pass the Christmas song test.

Yeah, Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins has the festival of lights as its backdrop, but it’s the story that makes it a great book. Herschel is a guy who is traveling the countryside and he’s eager to get to the next village so that he can celebrate Hanukkah. The village that he enters is dark and hasn’t lit any candles. It’s here when the villagers tell him that goblins who hate Hanukkah have taken over the synagogue and vandalized their buildings whenever anyone lights a candle to celebrate it.

Herschel is confident that he can help the village out, so he takes a menorah, candles, and some matches and goes to the haunted synagogue. On the first night, a horsefly-sized goblin flies into the room and is quickly tricked by Herschel. As the evenings progress the monsters get bigger, smarter, and eviler. On the seventh night he’s given a head’s up from the king of the goblins who says that he’ll be paying him a visit on the following night. His voice shatters the windows and Herschel realizes that tricking this behemoth will be much more difficult.

When the eighth night arrives the size and scope of king goblin is intimidating. However, Herschel uses his wits and successfully tricks the monster into lighting all nine candles, which eliminates all of the power that the beast has. The goblin explodes into the sky, demolishing the synagogue, but allowing the village to celebrate Hanukkah.

Even when I was reading this story for the first time I was drawing parallels to A Christmas Carol. Both stories have an everyman feel about them that resonates regardless of what time of year you read it. Both stories also work even if you’re not a practicing participant in the faith.  Hanukkah Goblins is certainly more metaphorical in that instance, but it works.

There is also a very timeless approach to the story. Much like A Christmas Carol has been re-imagined in various times and various characters, you could see Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins being re-told in any time period and still be a great story.

Here, it’s presented somewhere around the mid-1800s. There is no electricity; no modern creature comforts and the possibility of goblins roaming the countryside are easier for readers to envision the townsfolk believing in. Another aspect of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins reminds us of The Wizard of Oz, specifically, it’s the “begone, you have no power here” climax of the story. While Hanukkah is the backbone of this story, it’s got a moral that anyone can identify with. It’s a classic book that started out as a short story and is now re-released in a slipcover, gift collectible edition. Once you read Hershel it’s quite possible that it’ll become one of your seasonal favorites too.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is by Eric A. Kimmel with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman and is available on Holiday House books.

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