In June, just like every year, the Hebrew Book Week was held in Israel.
Among the books presented in the book bazaars on the city streets, and in select bookstores this year, you would have found the book “Chayot Osot Chayim” (Animals Having Fun) by the Messianic Publishing house HaChotam.
HaChotam Publishing has been operating since 2001 as a non-profit organization.
“Our main goal is to encourage believers to read scriptures more and better apply and put into practice what is written in them. In order to do this we produce magazines, books, CDs, games and other products.”
Among the magazines they publish is the children’s publication “Yaldei-Ya”, translated as “Children of God”. The magazine is intended for young children and is printed four times a year. It is written in simple language and helps children learn about the work of God through quizzes, comics and short articles about natural phenomena that demonstrate God’s Wisdom.
The magazine editor is Orit Kashtan. Orit’s primary work revolves around the world of children, and apart from Yaldei-Ya, she has participated in the “LaShir BeEmet” (Sing in Truth) project, co-producing “HaMelech Nolad” (The King Is Born) and “HaMelech Hai veKayam” (The King is Alive and Well) books and CDs. The song “Ki Ko Ahav Elohim et HaOlam” (For God so Loved the World) from the project has become a song sung in almost every Messianic home in Israel.
In every the Tzeva HaTeva (Color of Nature) section of Yaldei-Ya, you can read a short article about animals, which explains how the power and wisdom of God is reflected in the things He created.
Orit says, “I collected information on about 20 animals for all the publications which I have written for over the years. My husband, Eitan (the Manager of HaChotam) challenged me to gather material for another 30 animals so that these could all be published in one book.”
Work on the book took a year and a half. The book includes 50 animals in the categories of birds, reptiles, mammals, Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fish), insects and Cephalopods.
It is written in such a way that it creates interest for children. Each animal is explained and an in-depth description of the animal’s body structure and how it operates is given; in addition to an interesting fact about the animal such as the meaning of its name, as well as an amusing point. Vibrant paintings are spread out over entire pages. The book is impressive in size and hard-covered, fitting into any school bag.
This is the first time HaChotam Publishing has successfully sold books to mainstream bookstores in Israel. “For fifteen years we tried to offer our books to bookstores in Israel. When we published the book “Tevat Noach – HaSipur HaAmiti” (Noah’s Ark – The True Story), a colorful children’s book presenting the story of The Flood in light of the truths of Scripture, it almost happened. We signed a contract, but at the last minute the deal fell through because of some hostile influences who knew that we were Messianic Publishers. To our surprise, when we arrived this time with the “Chayot” book it worked in spite of everything.”
The book has been displayed in store fronts. In some of the stores they have even sold out, and in general have sold more copies than HaChotam staff expected. There have been warm responses to the book and parents have told of their children who want to take it to school to read it in free time between classes.
Orit believes that despite technology controlling our lives, and especially the lives of our children, they still ask to read books. Children are not as entrenched in their opinions as adults are. They are curious to learn and to know, and need to be taught the truths of the Word and work of God thoroughly and carefully alongside all the other subject matter they are taught such as The Theory of Evolution.
My prayer is that there will be a generation of children who serve, a generation of children who grow up and study to become deeply familiar with the Word of God and it will be seen by the whole world.
As part of HaChotam’s service to children and Youth is a magazine called “Mashehu MeHaShetach” (From the Scene) – written entirely by Messianic Youth, which encourages them to work and serve in the field of publishing; writing about current material, contemporary interests and issues relating to the life of their generation.
Recently Orit and the HaChotam team have been working on books and other materials including a Q&A book for children giving them tools and answers to any questions they encounter in everyday life.
Orit and the rest of the staff are very excited about the success of the “Chayot” book and especially that God’s name is being glorified through the magnificent Creation story. In the book’s preface, Orit asks readers to remember that “all these amazing creatures were created by God with wisdom and in love, therefore Praise the Lord because He has done marvellous things.”
Click here to go to HaChotam’s website to purchase the book “Chayot Osot Chayim” on discount, and view other products.