Mattie & Mimi's Mitzvah Club

By Leah Urso and Martha Rast

Mattie & Mimi's Mitzvah Club is an amusing chapter book for Jewish children that will delight readers of all backgrounds. Set in Florida during the holidays of Purim and Passover, Mattie and Mimi start a club to do good deeds in their neighborhood with the help of a mischievous six-year-old brother. 

"Mattie and I are bes

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morah Leah Publishing
• Release date: Sep 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735194127

Leah Urso

Leah Urso M.Ed., author, teacher, musician and songwriter, lives with her husband in the ancient, mystical town of Safed, Israel. Also known as Morah Leah, her songs and videos are loved by children and streamed throughout the world. With degrees in both Elementary and Special Education, Leah has been an educator in Israel and America. She is currently working on a series of Bible stories for children. Mattie and Mimi's Mitzvah Club is her first chapter book and she is already working on a sequel!Visit her website: morahleahmusic.com

Book preview

Still Missing

Mimi, what are you planning to do when you meet your goal of one hundred bracelets? my mother asks. We are having a family dinner, but without our father, because Abba is working late today. He is a teacher at the boys’ school.

We are planning a bracelet gemach, I explain, in between bites of meatloaf. Lots of girls don't have their own bracelets, or they might need a certain color to match their Purim costume. So, the gemach will be kind of like a library where girls can borrow bracelets and return them when they are finished wearing them.

That's very nice Mimi! Ima says, as she picks up my sister Tali, and puts her in the highchair. 

Just then, Shmuli bangs the front door and comes into the kitchen. Can I hold Tali, pleeeze Ima?

Not now, Shmuli. Please, go wash for supper. And where have you been?

I was out looking for Linny-Alizah. Not much luck though.

Ima looks at me in surprise. Mimi, what has happened to Linny-Alizah?

She’s disappeared Ima! I explain, She’s not in my room! Shmuli is doing police work to solve the case.

I see, says Ima. Well, here is your supper, Officer Shmuli.

That night, I can't sleep. I’m used to having Linny-Alizah right by my pillow when I go to bed. When I do fall asleep, I have a dream. Linny-Alizah is in a tree and the birds are using her hair to build their nest. When I wake up, I remember that I read that in a storybook about a doll named Raggedy Ann.

In school, the next day, I draw pictures of Linny-Alizah. She is wearing lots of bracelets on both arms. When I get home, Ima suggests that we start cleaning early for the holiday of Passover.

Maybe you'll find your doll, she says.

I start by cleaning the birds' cage (since it is my job anyway). We have two birds. Tookie is blue and white, and Leo is green and yellow. Tookie jumps on my finger and gives me a kiss, but Leo opens his beak and backs into a corner of the cage.

It's okay, I'm not going to bite you, I coo.

Somebody knocks on the door, and I run to let in Mattie. She is wearing her mother's short brown wig and looks very mature.

Hi Mimi, I wrote a play, Mattie announces.

I am a rich widow, and you are my poor younger sister. Let's do it in your room,

It sounds like fun, but I have to help my mother clean. Do you want to help me clean my room? I ask. Maybe we'll find Linny-Alizah!

Sure. Maybe we can find some good costumes for the play, says Mattie. I put Tookie back in her cage and we head upstairs.

Hero

My room is clean, but there is no sign of Linny-Alizah. Mattie and I are doing homework on my bed. We have a big test tomorrow. Hey Mimi, where's Shmuli? Mattie asks. He's usually here, bothering us."

I don't know, I say, He must be outside, looking for Linny-Alizah.

I look out the window, and then I see someone coming up the steps from the laundry room. It's Shmuli, and he is holding something. A minute later I hear the front door bang and footsteps on the stairs. I open my bedroom door.

Hey, Shmuli, what is that behind your back?

Mimi, close your eyes and sit down, he says. I close my eyes and sit on the bed.

What is it?

Hold out your hands, says Shmuli.

I hold out my hands and Shmuli puts something in them. I feel it, but I’m afraid to believe it. It feels damp. I open my eyes. Linny-Alizah! I cry.

Wherever did you find her Shmuli?

You won't believe it Mimi. says Shmuli,

She was in the washing machine!

How could that be? I think hard. "Maybe she got picked up with a pile of my clothes and put in the laundry hamper. But why would she still be in the washing