Customer Reviews

You Never Know: A Legend of the Lamed-Vavniks

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A Lamed-Vavnik disappears/ Amongst us all for years and years./ This book should last for years as well/ A classic tale, as time will tell

Wonderful illustrations and a fabulous moral tale. Recommend for 4-6 year olds. It's a little over the head of my 3, but she's interested anyway.

Schmuel was a shoemaker whom the other people in Plotchnik called Poor Schmuel or Poor Stupid Schmuel because he often forgot to charge his customers and if they forgot pay, forgot to ask. But always somehow magically appeared whenever trouble emerged. To a beggar who came to town, Schmuel gave free and to a fierce bear which arrived in the streets, he gave a bowl of water.

No one cared if he prayed, because they figured he was too stupid to read, and God could therefore not hear them. When, during a drought everyone prayed for rain and none came, Schmuel meekly said from the rear of the synagogue, "Maybe I should pray. Please, God, send rain." Immediately, distant thunder roared, the sky blackened and huge raindrops began tapping on the town's roofs.

It rained for forty days and forty nights. Now the people prayed for the rain to stop, with equal success. Only when Schmuel said, "God, please make it stop raining" did the sun immediately appear.

That night the rabbi dreamed of Chanukah menorahs with 36 candles, and a banquet with 36 men. These were the Lamed Vavniks.

Lamed WHAT? Sorry, if you don't know, you'll have to get the book, which contains secrets about this special breed. If you know already, shhh! Stay as quiet as the stars, and let the Lamed Vavniks shine as brightly.

--- Alyssa A. Lappen

This was a wonderful story to share with my 8 year old daughter. The image stays with you and the lesson in the story too.