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Since the
somewhat plump Rabbi Saltzman enjoys eating while he
works, he often makes a mess with crumbs that rain
all over his desk and onto the floor. If the mouse,
who the rabbi names Mazel (luck), will keep his
study tidy, he can stay. As the weeks and months go
by, Rabbi Saltzman teaches Mazel about the Jewish
holidays and the special food associated with each.
Because they have become good friends, by spring
both rabbi and mouse are sad to part. Then there's a
great surprise ending!
“ I got the idea for the book when the
High Holidays were coming and our house was suddenly
inundated with mice... ”
While dealing
with the emergency, the longtime early childhood
educator began to imagine what would happen if a
mouse found its way into a rabbi’s study at Rosh
Hashanah. The rabbi she invented likes to eat at his
desk and enlists the aid of the mouse, whom he dubs
Mazel, to clean up his crumbs. Their humorous
relationship extends through a year of Jewish
holidays and gives Mazel a Jewish education, along
with tastes of challah, latkes, hamantashen and
other holiday leftovers.
Beautifully illustrated by Colorado pastel artist
Pegi Ballenger, the book includes a CD dramatization
of the story interspersed with holiday songs
performed by Daniel Stellini. While the warm-hearted
story is aimed primarily at children in kindergarten
through third grade, the story is educational and
entertaining for youngsters of any age, as well as
for adults interested in learning about Judaism.
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