The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

The Midnight Mitzvah by Ruth Horowitz, illustrated by Jenny Meilihove Barefoot Books, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Ann D. Koffsky Buy at Bookshop.org Ruth Horowitz has done a beautiful job of sharing the idea of giving tzedakah, charity, with embarrassing the recipient. The Midnight Mitzvah follows Hanina Chipmunk, who loves to share the nuts she gathers with friends. The only one who doesn’t like accepting her generous gifts is Mathilda Squirrel. Mathilda, we are told, used to be a champion nut gatherer herself. But now that she’s too elderly to continue, she’s embarrassed to accept help. Kind hearted Hanina solves this problem by deciding to share her nuts with Mathilda secretly, at night. She has to journey out into the dark and face an intimidating owl—but ultimately is successful in her mission. Mathilda receives her nuts and will be hungry no more—all without embarrassment. The illustrations are vivid and evocative. The nighttime pictures especially are beautiful combi...

The Hedgehog Who Said Who Cares? by Neri Aluma, illustrated by Amit Trainin Kalaniot Books, 2024 Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Cindy Rivka Marshall Buy at Bookshop.org Author Neri Aluma has transposed a teaching story from the Talmud into a vibrant picture book that is relevant to challenges in our contemporary world. Hedgehog digs a burrow, smack in the middle of a road used by other animals. Rabbit and Mouse, stymied by the large pile of dirt blocking their way, wonder who is responsible. Meanwhile Hedgehog is oblivious and cozy in his new home. When Rabbit and Mouse confront him, Hedgehog snorts “Who cares?” But the next day, when a rainstorm causes the burrow to collapse into mud, Hedgehog needs help. Rabbit and Mouse come to his aid and help him dry off and get warm. Hedgehog apologizes and admits his wrongdoing. The book ends with Hedgehog helping others to plant a garden of flowers along the road. This book was originally published in Hebrew and the translation does an admir...

 A Rainy Day Story by Ruth Calderon, illustrated by Noa Kelner Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner Publishing Group) Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org This very short story is found in Talmud Taanit 24b: “Rabbi Ḥanina ben Dosa was traveling along a road when it began to rain. He said before God: Master of the Universe, the entire world is comfortable, because they needed rain, but Ḥanina is suffering, as he is getting wet. The rain ceased. When he arrived at his home, he said before God: Master of the Universe, the entire world is suffering that the rain stopped, and Ḥanina is comfortable? The rain began to come again.” The Talmudic Scholar and former Knesset member Ruth Calderon simply, yet eloquently expands upon it. The addition of beautiful watercolor and colored pencil illustrations by Noa Kelner provide the strong visual associations with suffering and comfort that will lead to further discussion about the appropriateness of asking Go...

Nicanor's Gate by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Alida Massari Category: Picture Books Reviewer: Rachel Kamin Buy at Bookshop.org Nicanor’s Gate by Eric Kimmel was first published by The Jewish Publication Society in 1979 with illustrations by Jerry Joyner (1938-2019). The undersized 7x7 inch trim had lengthy, dense text in a small font on the right side of each page along with a framed two color black and blue, difficult-to-decipher illustration on the right. It’s no wonder the book hasn’t circulated from my synagogue library since 1990! Fortunately, Eric Kimmel has penned a new, more accessible version of this wonderful, ancient Talmudic tale with lush, radiant full-color, full spread illustrations in earth tones, blues, and pinks by Alida Massari (Under the Sabbath Lamp , 2017). The simple, clear, and concise text tells the story of the wealthy merchant from Alexandria who volunteers to commission new gates for the ruined Temple in Jerusalem. But when the ship carrying N...