THE DIARY OF ASSER LEVY: first jewish citizen of New York
  • Home
  • reviews
  • events
  • TRAILLER
  • AUTHOR
  • teachers
  • Buy Book
  • Contact
A fictionalized story based on real historical events that led to the arrival of the first group of Jewish refugees in America.

A Middle Grade book for 4th through 8th grades (and its super interesting for adults too!)

A wonderful educational resource, rich with visuals like maps, documents, illustrations that complement the story. 

Back-matter includes Timeline, Glossary, List of Websites, complete Bibliography and comments on the history of Asser Levy.

educational topics include US COLONIAL HISTORY, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, INQUISITION, TRADE WITH NATIVE AMERICANS, DUTCH COLONIAL HISTORY, NEW AMSTERDAM, SOUTH AMERICAN HISTORY  REFUGEES, IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, DIVERSITY, NEW YORK HISTORY, HISTORY OF TOLERANCE IN AMERICA, ANTI-SEMITISM, STUYVESANT, DUTCH NEW YORK LOCATIONS.

Lesson plans for the Dutch New York colonial period from NAHC: 4th grade and 7th grade

Educational Resources for Teachers  from New Netherland Institute


Mapping Early New York Project - take a look at this spectacular visual database of early NY overlaid by current map!

Videos: The Diary of Asser Levy New Amsterdam History Center. 

Educational Resources for Teachers from the NJ Council for Social Studies (click to download pdf below)
the_diary_of_asser_levy.pdf
File Size: 1188 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Complementary live author presentation by zoom with Q&A with purchase of books for class.
Individualized lesson plans for teachers available upon request.


Inquire here about in-person class visits.

Look Inside!

Relevant to current topics of immigration, refugees, religious intolerance, diversity.
​
​
Synopsis:
For twenty-four years the Dutch colony of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil was a safe haven for Jews who had escaped the Inquisition in Europe. Recife, its capital, was known as “Colonial Jerusalem,” and it was from this religiously tolerant town that Asser Levy tells his story. When the Portuguese recaptured the territory in 1654, they brought the Inquisition and its torments with them, forcing Asser and his family and friends to flee to Holland. About fifteen ships arrive safely in Holland; Asser’s ship does not. Through imagined diary entries based on real events, Asser tells the harrowing story of the Jewish refugees who arrived on the island of Manhattan and of some of the first court battles fought to allow religious freedom in America.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, author Daniela Weil is a descendant of Jews who immigrated to South America after fleeing the Holocaust in Europe. Her own connection to Jewish refugees sparked a desire to learn and share more of the history of the first Jews who arrived in America. Weil’s story, and Asser’s, have their roots in Brazil, yet the branches extend across the world, reflecting a common experience of those who are forced to seek refuge to survive.
 

A brief note to parents, teachers, and educators:
Pelican Publishing believes in supporting all readers.  This book is set in OpenDyslexic , an open-sourced typeface created to increase readability for readers with dyslexia. If you would like to learn more about this new tool in the fight for literacy, please check out www.opendyslexic.org.

Themes and subject matters that are a central part of this book align nicely with some of the concepts taught in the New York State Social Studies Framework. Fourth grade curriculum includes colonial New York. Kids study how New Amsterdam was home to a wide range of immigrants with different lifestyles. They learn about the relationships between Native Americans and Dutch settlers, and the transition from the Dutch to the English colony, making note of lasting Dutch contributions. In seventh grade, they revisit New Amsterdam as a regional center of trade, the Dutch West India Company, and transatlantic trade. Students examine Dutch contributions to American society, including acceptance of a diverse population, religious tolerance and the right to petition. ​
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • reviews
  • events
  • TRAILLER
  • AUTHOR
  • teachers
  • Buy Book
  • Contact