FOLKTALES AND NURSERY RHYMES
Prose, Francine Podwal, Mark, Illustrator

You Never Know: A Legend of the Lamed-vavniks

(2) K-3 When the prayers of Schmuel the Shoemaker (called Poor Stupid Schmuel for his tendency to fix shoes for free) stop both drought and floods, the townsfolk realize he is one of the Lamed-vavniks, thirty-six holy people living lives of such goodness that their prayers have God's ear. When discovered, he quickly leaves town, and when a new shoemaker comes, they are kind to him: "After all, you never know." Glowing gems of illustrations capture the legend's reverence and mystery.

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