Artie Bennett’s picture book, THE TENTH MAN: A MIRACLE OF JEWISH FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP IN NEW ORLEANS (Holiday House, 2026), illustrated by Shira Neiss, tells the true story of a grieving young man named Alex who stumbles into a New Orleans synagogue. He becomes the needed tenth man to complete their minyan, comprised of a group of Holocaust survivors, and eventually an integral member of the congregation. Full of heart, humor, and history, THE TENTH MAN wonderfully emphasizes the importance of intergenerational connection and the significance of community. Shira Neiss’s delightful illustrations capture the soul of the story, bringing out the emotion and character of the text. I look forward to learning more about the book. Welcome, Artie!

Can you share a bit about how you discovered Alex and his inspiring story of connection and community? 

Serendipity and sorrow sent me this story. I was at the shiva house of my dear mother-in-law in Birmingham, Michigan, where far-flung friends and family had gathered to comfort the bereaved. One of the many mourners was Alex Brown, my wife’s cousin from New Orleans, whom I had met briefly before but didn’t know well. As we became better acquainted, he began to unspool a tale that left me dumbstruck. I knew right away that I wanted to share this powerful story with young readers, though it would be unlike anything I’d ever written. Coincidentally (though there really are no coincidences), I had been searching for a subject for my first Jewish-themed picture book when the tale fell into my lap. After the shiva, I set up a series of Zoom meetings with Alex as I began to piece together all the details. A research trip to New Orleans helped me flesh out the story further.

An additional wrinkle is that the synagogue, Anshe Sfard, will be celebrating its 100^th anniversary on September 5, 2026. Mazel tov!

In the book, Alex takes on many roles and contributes a lot to his synagogue. He’s kind of a quiet hero; not a famous celebrity or public figure. What do you hope young readers take away from his story?

One of the takeaways would be to gain an appreciation for the healing power of community. Alex was in a downward spiral when he stumbled upon the “abandoned” synagogue. His affiliation with the elderly Holocaust survivors helped him rebuild his life and renew his faith. He learned that when we give to others, we get so much more in return.

There are other vital themes as well, such as how meaningful intergenerational friendship can be, how to find hope amid despair, the importance of acts of service and loving kindness, historical memory, respect for one’s elders, honoring one’s family, repentance and return, redemption, transmission of values, knowing you’re not alone, and more. I would like young readers to see how one person can make all the difference in the world. 

I also hope to boost vocabulary and enhance understanding of Jewish religious practices with the two-page glossary and pronunciation guide. And most of all, I hope this uplifting story, brimming with heart and humor, enthralls young readers and they return to it again and again.

What were your thoughts when you saw the illustrations by Shira Neiss?

I thought that Shira proved the perfect choice to illustrate The Tenth Man. Being the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor herself gave her a keen sensitivity for the material. You can feel the affection she pours into her portraits of the survivors. Her luminous artwork enriches every page. I’ve also been told by the current rabbi of Anshe Sfard how uncannily she has captured the spirit of the shul. His congregation was equally impressed. This was her picture-book debut and I’m sure that Shira will go on to grace scads of future books with her beautiful illustrations.

You included quite a bit of backmatter, which is so helpful for parents and teachers. Did you discover anything in your research that surprised or inspired you? 

Yes indeed. There were many fascinating tidbits. I learned how the introduction of the nutria, a fur-bearing South American rodent, to Louisiana in the 1930s enticed Alex’s grandfather to pull up stakes in Brooklyn and remake himself in New Orleans as a furrier in fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

It was interesting to find out how the Holocaust survivors made their way to New Orleans. And it was heartening to discover how woven their lives were into the rich tapestry of their adopted city and to learn of the immense economic and cultural contributions they made. For example, Joseph Sher, who lived to be 100 years old, was tailor to Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Al Hirt. Jack Berman, a skilled metal worker, created the gas lamps in the French Quarter. Isak Borenstein, a skilled woodworker, built a large wooden menorah that is kindled every Hanukkah, usually at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza.

I love how the men played pranks on each other and how Alex was soon comfortable enough to take part in the merriment. And I was inspired by Alex’s dedication, especially when he joined the local burial society and would see each of the men on their final journey.

Do you have any interesting anecdotes about Alex that didn’t make it into the book? 

During Shabbat dinners in New Orleans, when the adults lingered at the table, Alex and his young cousins would gather all the pillows in the house and lay them down as stepping stones across the living room carpet. They would then jump from pillow to pillow, careful not to miss a step, for if they did, the alligators would get them!

This one is very moving. A short while ago, a son of one of the survivors reached out to me. He had read about The Tenth Man in the Crescent City Jewish News and picked up a copy of the book. Upon reading, he saw that his father was one of the original survivors mentioned in the book. He wrote: “I had left New Orleans in 1975 and settled in Maryland. Because I was a thousand miles away, I had limited face-to-face time with my parents throughout most of my adult life. I would be very much interested in talking to anyone who knew them. Would you be willing to give Alex Brown my contact information and tell him that he is welcome to contact me? I would love to learn more about his experiences with my father and his friends.”

I emailed Alex immediately and passed along his contact information. And they’ve been in touch.

Working on this story moved me deeply. I felt a powerful connection with the men. And in the back of my mind, I thought the book could open some doors for the survivors’ descendants. I was also grateful that my editor agreed the “In Memoriam” section was a worthy idea. This way, we pay tribute to each of the men, even if they weren’t mentioned in the body of the story.

Thank you, Artie!

Artie Bennett is delighted to share THE TENTH MAN, his moving, new nonfiction picture book, with young readers. It’s a story brimming with heart and humor. He’s also the author of the classic kids’ book THE BUTT BOOK, now in its tenth printing, THE TRUE STORY OF ZIPPY CHIPPY: THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULDN’T, which won the Magnolia Book Award, given by the children of Mississippi, and other popular picture books. He makes his home in Brooklyn, New York.

Tagged Artie Bennett, Holiday House, nonfiction, picture book