Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story

By Laura Krauss Melmed and David Slonim

A magical frying pan creates havoc in this “original Hanukkah story that has the sound and feel of a traditional folktale” (Booklist).

In the little village of Wishniak, Moishe the mailman is known for his generosity and good heart. The only one who doesn’t appreciate him is his wife, Baila. How can they afford to make latkes when he keeps giving and giving to everyone else?

Then Moishe receives a gift himself—a pan that magically produces all the latkes anyone could wish for. . . . enough to feed the whole village! But Moishe is supposed to be the only one who can use the miraculous pan. When Baila tries to use it for her own benefit, she cooks up some big trouble—in this beautifully illustrated holiday story featuring a visiting rabbi, a talking cow, lots of laughter, and some delicious fried pancakes.

“This entertainingly illustrated tale unwinds itself and reveals the meaning of Hanukkah.” —The New York Times

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452122663

Book preview

Reviews for Moishe's Miracle

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A generous and gentle soul, Moishe the Milkman was forever giving away extra milk and cream to the poorer villagers, driving his penny-pinching wife, Baila - a born complainer and scolder - to distraction. When his kindheartedness is rewarded, and a magical frying pan - one which produces an endless supply of latkes, if (and only if) Moishe is using it - is mysteriously left in his barn as a gift, it seems that all the couple's problems have been solved. Now they will always have enough for themselves, and for all their friends and neighbors as well! But Baila, not content with the gift, tries to use it herself, in order to make a profit, and disaster ensues. Instead of latkes, she's produced demons! Can everything be set to rights again...?An engaging original story, one that reads like a traditional folktale, Moishe's Miracle follows the basic narrative outline of stories like The Sorcerer's Apprentice, or Strega Nona, in which a magical gift or ability, when wielded by someone for whom it was not intended, goes dangerously awry. I liked the ending here, in which the rabbi's arrival puts a stop to the frying pan's shenanigans, and the magical ability is lost, as this highlights the notion that our actions have consequences, often permanent. The artwork, done by David Slonim in earthy tones, is marvelously expressive (one can almost hear Baila rolling her eyes, in one scene), and adds to the book's other charms. All in all, an appealing Hanukkah title, one I would recommend to anyone looking for fun stories for the holiday!

[elizabethhart_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story is a beautifully illustrated story containing the aspects of many Jewish folktales including comedy, mystery and yiddish and hebrew words. The reader will find my favorite addition, a glossary, in the back of the book defining hebrew vocabulary found throughout the tale. The main character, Moishe, is a kind and generous man who provides the people in his poor village of Wishniak with an extra quart of milk here and there. His wife, Baila, however is not so giving and scolds Moishe for his generous ways. One night, a stranger leaves Moishe a miraculous gift in the barn - a pan that produces an unlimited number of latkes when placed over an open fire. Latkes are potato pancakes traditionally eating during Hanukkah. The stranger warns Moishe that he, and only he, must use the pan. After discovering its miraculous qualities, Baila attempts to use the pan to sell latkes to her neighbors for a price in order to retrieve the money lost by her generous husband. The reader learns the importance of sharing gifts and how a husband, wife, and village come together in a Hanukkah miracle.

[stba_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

On the eve of Hanukkah, a poor man receives a magic frying pan that produces endless latkes. Moishe wants to feed the whole village but his wife, Baila, has other ideas...The deep, dusky pictures glow with magic.