Sofia, Bulgaria In the tumultuous year of 2020, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to fester. Fourteen-year-old Dani Madgev accidentally finds several Cyrillic letters interwoven into the graphics of the Star of David symbol. His father, Ian, a mathematical linguist, and his mother, Rovine, a cognitive scientist, help him decipher them. But none of them realize what theyre about to get themselves into. Jerusalem, Israel To unravel the mystery of Davids Star, Dani and his parents travel to Tel Aviv, Israel. Along with Nathan Epstein, a biblical history professor at Hebrew University; Kabbalah alchemist Uri Zohar; Ruben Openheim, the head of Peace Now; and Rabbi Loew, the Madgevs make a series of further discoveries within the symbol, leading them to believe they are on the brink of knowledge that may very well change the course of history. Meanwhile, a mysterious character called the LaW begins sending messages encoded using King Davids military cipher to Dani. Once deciphered, the messages and letters found on the Star of David point to a startling realization about the solution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. But are the two countries ready for the suggested solution? A domino chain of events is set in motion, and someone may have to pay the highest price.

Some 2000 years ago a group of men were watching a flock of sheep in the hills near Bethlehem, when angels appeared and spoke to them. Luke tells us that they go into the village and visit the infant Jesus, but after they return to work we never hear of them again. Take now an imaginary journey to those times and join one of the younger shepherds as he and Jesus get to know each other as men. Sense with Bartemaeus the despair of blindness and feel his hope as he seeks the promised Messiah who Isaiah says will give sight to the blind. Learn of the devout Essenes living in seclusion near the Dead Sea as they meticulously copy scriptures while awaiting the promised one. Join the women who follow a teacher who does not treat them as inferiors. Listen to John the baptizer as he preaches repentance and watch as he then humbly but dramatically baptizes his cousin Jesus. Stand with David and watch the Messiah ride into Jerusalem at his moment of triumph-but dejected. Feel Jesus' anger at the abuses in "his Father's house." Sense the oppression of a conquered people ruled and taxed by a foreign power. After reading David's Star you will find yourself emotionally involved each time you read from the gospels. You will live in the environment in which Jesus lived and sense the force of his ministry, even in our own time.

In Nazi-occupied Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen is called upon for a selfless act of bravery to help save her best friend from a terrible fate. Winner of the Newbery Medal, newly reissued in the Essential Modern Classics range. "They plan to arrest all the Danish Jews. They plan to take them away. And we have been told that they may come tonight." It is 1943 and life in Copenhagen is becoming complicated for Annemarie. There are food shortages and curfews, and soldiers on every corner. But it is even worse for her Jewish best friend, Ellen, as the Nazis continue their brutal campaign. With Ellen's life in danger, Annemarie must summon all her courage to help stage a daring escape. Inspired by true events of the Second World War, this gripping novel brings the past vividly to life for today's readers.

A young couple lose their son to an illness on Christmas morning. One year they go to a cabin to get away from the holiday. They find an orphan who has been mistreated and adopt him.

Bibliographical footnotes.

"The Jamaican and Ethiopian people are blood brothers and have had relationship going back a very long time, as well as others who had African blood supporting the Ethiopian Liberation Movement." Says Yahweh Elohim Haile Selassie I, the six pointed Star of David; April 21, 1966 in Jamaica at the National Stadium