Joachim Joseph, nicknamed Yoya, is the man who gave the “little Torah” to Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, to take with him on the space shuttle, Columbia. Rabbi Simon Dasberg, the chief rabbi of Amsterdam, Holland, gave the little Torah, which he had smuggled into the concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, to Yoya to keep after the rabbi has used it to tutor him for his Bar Mitzvah. This juxtaposition of events, lives, and deaths is the scaffolding upon which Rouss’s true story rests. That only one of the subjects is still alive attests to its inherent sadness. Yoya Joseph speaks in the introduction, recalling how he met Ilan Ramon, describing his personality and dedication to the space program, and how much he enjoyed being on the Columbia, conducting experiments, sending emails to friends, and serving as a representative of the Jewish people. The narrative continues in the third person, portraying Rabbi Dasberg and his family, their devotion to one another and to Judaism, their arrest and deportation, the risks the rabbi takes when he tutors a child in his barracks for his Bar Mitzvah, and the Bar Mitzvah itself, with men in ragged clothing surrounding the boy, Yoya, and his mother peeking in the window so she could see her son. Rabbi Dasberg’s decision to give the Torah to Yoya was a wise one because Yoya survived while the Rabbi and most of his family did not. In Israel, as a professor of planetary physics at Tel Aviv University, Yoya met Ilan Ramon and gave him the little Torah to take into space.

These almost incredible events are told with simplicity and conviction. Reaching the stars is a metaphor for courage and hope; the little Torah, in the author’s words, “brought light to Rabbi Dasberg and his family, to Yoya, to the Jewish people and the world.” Children reading the story will be moved but not shattered because Rouss focuses on positive human relationships and ideals, rather than tragedy. The format of the book, with large, color photographs of the Columbia crew and of Yoya Joseph, and color illustrations of the Dasbergs and the episodes in the camp, is very successful in reinforcing this focus, engaging readers’ empathy without tearing at their heartstrings. This poignant story is recommended for ages 7 – 10. Sylvia Rouss has prepared a study guide for it which is available on her website, www.sylviarouss.com/activities.htm.

Linda R. Silver
Jewish Book World
Fall 2004

Joachim Joseph, nicknamed Yoya, gave the "little Torah" to Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, to take with him on the ill-fated space shuttle, Columbia. It was given to Joseph in Bergen-Belsen by Rabbi Simon Dasberg, who had smuggled into the camp and used it to tutor Joseph for his Bar Mitzvah. This juxtaposition of events, lives, and deaths is the scaffolding upon which Rouss' story rests. It is poignantly written, telling of incredible courage with simplicity and conviction. Children reading the story will be moved but not shattered by the loss because the narrative focuses on positive human ideals, rather than tragedy. An excellent format, with large color illustrations, reinforces this positive focus. A teaching guide is available on Sylvia Rouss' website, www.sylviarouss.com.

The New Jewish Valuesfinder

Written for kids 6-9, Sylvia Rouss has written a fascinating book about the Israeli Astronaut, Ilan Ramon , who lost his life on the American space shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The book is called Reach For The Stars: A Little Torah's Journey. Ilan showed the world the little Torah he took into space with him. Although a secular Jew, Ilan Ramon observed the Sabbath and kept kosher in space. The Torah was a gift from Professor Joachim H. Joseph of Tel Aviv University who had been given the Torah in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where he and his family had been sent. The Torah was given to him by Rabbi Dasberg who performed Joachim's Bar Mitzvah in great secrecy with his mother standing outside the door to the men's barracks. It is a touching book to think that from the Hell of Bergen-Belsen the Torah reached for the stars and found heaven.

The Beverly Hills Courier