Midnight Mitzvah, The

Midnight MITZ VAH Th e

words by RUTH HOROWITZ art by JENNY MEILIHOVE

Ruth Horowitz is the author of award-winning children’s books about bats, giant cockroaches, horseshoe crabs, family, friends, and community. This story was inspired by her fascination with Jewish laws and lore, and the creatures she watches from her home in Rhode Island, USA, where she lives with her husband.

Jenny Meilihove is an Israeli children’s book writer and illustrator who paints dreamy scenes with gouache, pencils, and crayons. Her work delves into magical moments, evoking warm feelings and exploring beautiful themes. Jenny finds joy in the naive and vibrant world that children’s books create, where anything is possible.

Midnight MIT ZVAH

Th

e

For Zeke — R. H.

To the tender hearts that shine in secret acts of kindness — J. M.

Barefoot Books would like to thank the following consultants for their help in the creation of this book: Ahava Rosenthal (Director, Hebrew College Open Circle Jewish Learning), Professor Alan Verskin , and Rabbi Rachel Zerin for their cultural and developmental input; Emily Golightly for her literacy review; and Dr. Melody Ann Ross for her expertise in pronunciations.

Barefoot Books

23 Bradford Street, 2nd Floor Concord, MA 01742

Barefoot Books

29/30 Fitzroy Square London, W1T 6LQ

The moral rights of Ruth Horowitz and Jenny Meilihove have been asserted

First published in the United States of America by Barefoot Books, Inc and in Great Britain by Barefoot Books, Ltd in 2024

Graphic design by Meaghan Elyse Lueck and Elizabeth Jayasekera, Barefoot Books

Edited and art directed by Lisa Rosinsky, Barefoot Books

Reproduction by Bright Arts, Hong Kong

Printed in China

This book was typeset in Active, Epicursive Script, and KunKun

The illustrations were prepared with gouache and pencils on paper

Hardback ISBN 979-8-88859-234-2

Paperback ISBN 979-8-88859-235-9

E-book ISBN 979-8-88859-302-8

British Cataloguing-in-Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available under LCCN 2024932295

1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2

Midnight MIT ZVAH Th e

words by RUTH HOROWITZ art by JENNY MEILIHOVE

Hanina Chipmunk was great at gathering nuts, and she loved to share with her hungry friends.

She knew that helping others was a mitzvah. And hearing the great things they said about her was the best feeling in the world.

“So kind of you!”

“You’re the best!” said Leon Mouse. said Roselle Raccoon.

Everyone loved Hanina’s

gifts.

Well, almost everyone.

“Thanks, but I don’t need help,” said Mathilda Squirrel.

“I was gathering nuts before you were born.” Hanina didn’t understand.

“Mathilda used to be a champion nut gatherer,” explained Leon. “But she can’t get around like she used to, and she’s embarrassed to admit she needs help.”

“But it’s a mitzvah to help others,”

said Hanina.

“It’s also a mitzvah to make sure you don’t embarrass someone,” said Roselle.

“She must be so hungry, though,” said Hanina.

“There’s got to be a way to do both.”

The problem pestered Hanina all day, and nagged at her into the night. She stared out the window, searching for a solution. But all she could see was the dark. And there was her answer.

If she helped Mathilda at night, no one would see — not even Mathilda.

Mathilda would not be embarrassed. And she would not be hungry either. Perfect!

Hanina jumped out of bed. She filled her basket with as many nuts as it would hold, and she started out into the night.

Hanina had never been out at night. She knew the forest rules. Day creatures like her gathered food by day and slept at night, safe at home.

The forest was strange at night, with shifting shadows and rustling somethings.

Hanina trembled to think what the night creatures might do if they caught her breaking the rules.

But she trembled more when she thought of Mathilda, too hungry to sleep. She kept going.

Shooooosh .

Hanina froze.

But it was just the wind in the trees.

Plop!

Hanina startled.

But it was just a nut the wind had shaken from a tree.

Hanina crept towards the fallen nut.

But before she could reach it . . .

. . . a shadow sliced the darkness, and something blocked the path.

Something with eyes larger than large. Something with wings wider than wide, and claws sharper than sharp.

The Great Horned Owl!

“Who-who-who are you , day c reature?”

Hanina turned and ran.

But the Great Horned Owl flew ahead and blocked the path again.

“I asked you a question! What is your name?” “Ha-Ha-Hanina.” Her voice shook.

“And why are you out at night, Ha-Ha-Hanina? Don’t you know that you’re supposed to be sleeping now?”

The owl’s large eyes blinked.

Hanina’s heart hammered. She had to make the owl understand.

“I know lots of rules,” she squeaked.

The owl’s feathered head cocked.

“I know it’s a mitzvah to help others,” Hanina said, a bit louder.

“And it’s also a mitzvah to make sure you don’t embarrass someone.”

The owl’s sharp claws twitched.

Hanina swallowed. “So, if someone is hungry but embarrassed to accept help, we should help them when no one will see.”

She took a deep breath.

The owl’s large eyes looked her up and down.

Finally, the owl spoke.

“You are kind and wise, Ha-Ha-Hanina.

A gift giv e n in secret is a very grea t mitzvah .

Now, run along and finish your errand.”

The owl was letting her go!

Hanina could hardly believe her good fortune.

But before she could say thank you, the owl’s wide wings were already disappearing into the fading night.

Hanina reached Mathilda’s home as day was breaking. Quickly and quietly, she untied her bundle and spread the nuts near the door. The last few nuts she tossed high in the air, so Mathilda would hear them fall.

Plop!

Plop! P lop!

Hanina scurried to hide as Mathilda stepped outside.

“Nuts

falling from a tree? So many! So close!

Such a blessing!”

Hanina heard Mathilda say as she gathered one nut after another.

Hanina always loved it when her friends said great things about her.

But helping someone in secret was even sweeter.

Where Does H a n i n a ’ s Stor y C o me Fr ?

This story is based on a tale from the Talmud , one of the most important books in Judaism. The tale is about a rabbi named Hanina bar Pappa, who gave tzedakah (charity) to people in need at night so that they would not feel embarrassed in front of others. In Jewish lore, nighttime is ruled by demons and evil spirits. One night, an evil spirit stopped the rabbi, and told him that he was not allowed to be out at night and would be punished for breaking this rule. When Rabbi Hanina e x plained that he was out after dark in order to give a gift in secret, the evil spirit fled, and Rabbi Hanina was able to complete his errand.

Rabbi Hanina was a real person. Whether or not he really met an evil spirit, the tale teaches a valuable lesson. Giving charity is an important Jewish value. Another is avoiding embarrassing others. Some people who need help prefer to keep their situation private. The earliest rabbis understood that some gifts are best given in secret, a lesson that’s still true today.

Why is Hanina not supposed to be out at night?

Chipmunks are diurnal (awake during the day), which keeps them safer from nocturnal (awake at night) creatures like owls that might try to eat them. What other diurnal and nocturnal animals can you think of?

What Is Tzedakah?

Tzedakah (tsuh-DA-kuh, or ts-da-KA in Hebrew) is the Hebrew word for charity. It also means justice. Giving money, food, or shelter to those in need makes the world fairer and helps bring peace. Many Jewish homes have special bo x es, like piggy banks, for collecting tzedakah. The rabbis teach that it’s best to give cheerfully and without being asked.

What Is the Talmud?

The Talmud is a collection of Jewish laws and lessons that was written almost 2,000 years ago. It is made up of many books on many different topics, including festivals, farming, dealing with demons, and doing good deeds. The Talmud contains teachings, questions, and e x planations from famous rabbis — and even their disagreements with each other.

What Is a Mitzvah?

The Hebrew word mitzvah (MITTS-vuh, or meets-VAH in Hebrew) means “commandment.”

But most people use it to mean “a good deed.” According to the Talmud, there are 613 commandments for Jewish people to follow. Some e x amples: returning a lost object to its owner, inviting friends into your home, caring for animals, visiting someone who’s sick, helping a couple celebrate their wedding, and giving tzedakah.

Giving in Secret

Giving in secret is an important value in many religions. In Islam, voluntary charity is called sadaqah (SAH-da-ka), an Arabic word closely related to tzedakah. Islam teaches that secret sadaqah preserves the receiver’s dignity, and prevents the giver from boasting. Orthodo x Christians tell the story of St. Basil. In order to help the poor without embarrassing them, he gave out special bread baked with gold coins hidden inside. People remember his e x ample today by eating vasilopita (va-seeLOH-pee-ta), a Greek New Year’s bread with a coin inside.

Author’s Note

For a while, I read one page of Talmud each day. While learning about Jewish practices and laws, I was always on the lookout for story ideas. When I came across the tale of Rabbi Hanina and the Evil Spirit (Jerusalem Talmud, Shekalim 5:4), I knew I had to tell it. But how to turn a few spare sentences into a book? And what does it mean for the night to belong to evil spirits? I thought about how there are night animals and day animals, predators and prey. And then I remembered my grandmother, Mathilda. She dedicated much of her life to raising money for charity. But when she became too frail to work, she was embarrassed to admit she needed help. I hope this story inspires readers to help and to respect those in need, and to ask for help when they need it.

— Ruth Horowitz

Illustra tor’s Note

As a child, I was captivated by book illustrations, as they helped me understand the characters and emotions in a story. This fascination sparked my own journey as an illustrator, where I now have the privilege of bringing stories to life through art. For this book, I used gouache, pencils, and crayons to show Hanina’s courage and the eerie atmosphere of the night. I love the dramatic moment in this story when Hanina encounters the big owl — when a small creature meets a large one, and they engage in dialogue and truly listen to each other.