On a Chariot of Fire: The Story of India’s Bene Israel

by Erica Lyons
Illustrated by Siona Benjamin

Levine Querido

September 3, 2024

Available at B&N,  Amazon, and your local bookseller

Featuring the other side of the Hanukkah story, A Chariot of Fire follows the Bene Israel community, as they flee Israel to find a new home in India.

Two thousand years ago, a ship sailed east, alone on an endless sea. The people onboard were fleeing the same war that the Maccabees fought in the ancient land of Israel. They took with them their faith and their traditions, knowing they would sail for more than a year. When a great storm crushed their boat on the shores of India, only a few survived. Some say the prophet Elijah plucked them from the sea. But they were welcomed by the people of the new land. They survived and adapted, with new spices for their food and new clothing and culture to borrow, but never strayed from their faith. They say Elijah came back down from Heaven in a chariot of fire, to praise this community, the Bene Israel of India for their strength, and their belief. Here, for all to share, is their story.

Interview with the Jewish Book Council: From Generation to Generation: On a Chariot of Fire

“This children’s book explores mythol­o­gy and its impacts on how we hon­or our her­itage. The sto­ry of the ori­gins of the Bene Israel com­mu­ni­ty is one of sur­vival, hope, and adapt­ing to chang­ing circumstances. Lyons and Ben­jamin are a pow­er­ful team, com­bin­ing the lived expe­ri­ence of Asian Jews with the desire to edu­cate oth­ers who may not be famil­iar with these histories.”

In The Wall Street Journal 

““On a Chariot of Fire” adds welcome depth and historicity to a holiday that many children’s books depict as dealing chiefly with dreidels and latkes.”

From the School Library Journal 

“The narrative, crafted in the oral storytelling tradition, is straightforward and engaging, highlighting the resilience of the Bene Israel while blending historical and cultural elements.”

From the Association of Jewish Libraries

“The bright, blue palette of swirling illustrations by Indian- American Jewish artist, Siona Benjamin, are engaging and beauti- ful, guaranteeing that this book will be borrowed often by patrons in libraries serving Jewish populations.”

From The Horn Book

On the list of 25 Days of Holiday Celebrations

In PublishersWeekly 

“More than 2,000 years ago, writes Lyons (Zhen Yu and the Snake), a tiny ship carried people fleeing “from ancient Israel in the days when the Greek tyrant Antiochus ruled.”

From The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

“It is worth noting that author/illustrator duo Erica Lyons and Siona Benjamin are obviously scholars as well as creators: Erica Lyons lives in Hong Kong and is chair of the Hong Kong Jewish Historical Society, and Siona Benjamin is a twice recipient of the Fullbright Fellowship, which allowed her to travel to Israel and India. Clearly their interests have informed this unique contribution to children’s literature.”

From Jewish Books for Kid… And More!

“For many years, I’ve been working towards helping people to broaden their understanding of where Jews are from and what we look like. We’re not a monolith. We’re a family with many diverse branches. We have stories that we share and also stories with cultural specificities that are unique to different parts of the diaspora. I hope that young readers take away the idea that we are our stories. Origin stories, such as the one told in On a Chariot of Fire, is what makes our culture unique and special.”

And check out my  On a Chariot of Fire worksheets too!