To express their affection for Rabbi Benjamin, his congregation presents him with a special vest decorated with symbols of the holidays and fastened with four beautiful silver buttons. Starting on Rosh Hashanah, the rabbi proudly wears the vest to every holiday meal he shares with them. But as his hosts urge him to eat more and more of their delicious food, the vest gets tighter and tighter. By Passover, the last of the four buttons has popped off and been lost. Determined to lose weight — and fit into his vest again — the rabbi becomes even more active, helping his congregation garden, harvest vegetables, and pick apples. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah the vest fits, but it’s not the same without the silver buttons. Before he can decide what to do, his congregants come to his house with a New Year’s gift — a brand-new vest with four familiar silver buttons. The lively watercolor and ink illustrations depict a congregation that is not only diverse, but who are clearly delighted to be a part of such a warm and inclusive community. A glossary, notes on four major Jewish holidays, and recipes for honey cake, strudel, latkes, and matzoh ball soup are included. young boy leaves his family behind
Recommended for ages 5 – 9.
Susan Kantor was a senior writer/editor for Girl Scouts of the USA, a children’s book editor, and a past judge for the National Jewish Book Awards in the illustrated children’s book category. She is a writer and a docent at the Rubin Museum in New York City, where she leads public and private tours.
