Rachel's Gift

Rachel of Chelm

by Richard Ungar

Named a 2003 Notable Book for Young Readers by The Association of Jewish Libraries

Spring has come to the little town of Chelm and everyone is busy making things clean and fresh for Passover. At Rachel’s home, a special gift has Bubbie from Bialystok has sent along her recipe for Bubbie’s Own Matzo Ball Soup. Rachel’s mother is thrilled. Maybe the fragrance of the soup will lure Elijah the Prophet to their home and he will bestow good fortune on them.

The soup is indeed wonderful, and soon it draws the neighbors. But none of these everyday folk could possibly be the great prophet. Or could they? As in Rachel Captures the Moon , the solution lies in the hands of a loving child.

Genres: Jewish

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Richard Ungar is the middle-aged, middle child of middle class parents who writes middle grade fiction, when he's not in the middle of doing something else that is...

And oh yes, his debut novel, Time Snatchers, is coming out the middle of March!

Reviews

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this! This story takes place in Chelm and involved a community of women helping to make the best matza ball soup to entreat Elijah to come to their house during the seder! After a mysterious visitor leaves, we are left to wonder, was that Elijah? The illustrations are fun! All sorts of rainbow colors with objects a little off kilter like you might expect in a Chagall painting!