The Seven-Branched Candlestick: The Schooldays of Young American Jew

"The Seven-Branched Candlestick: The Schooldays of Young American Jew" by Gilbert W. Gabriel is a story about a young Jewish boy growing up in America, navigating how he fits in and dealing with feeling alone in a mostly Christian world. He feels embarrassed about where he comes from and just wants to be accepted, which makes his life hard. The book starts with the narrator thinking about how important his school days were, calling them "seven lighted candles" that showed him the path to understanding his Jewish identity. He remembers being bullied and not fitting in, struggling with being Jewish in a place that wasn't very welcoming. These memories of feeling like an outsider and trying to figure out who he is set the stage for his search for faith and belonging, sharing stories of family loss and prejudice to show what it was like to grow up in that time.