Hillel Takes a Bath - Hardcover

by Vicki L. Weber (Author), John Joven (Illustrator)

"This love-ly, mag-nif-i-cent-ly illus-trat-ed book keeps to the spir-it of Hillel's teach-ing by tak-ing a high-er con-cept and sim-pli-fy-ing it so it can be eas-i-ly under-stood." -- Jewish Book Council

Hillel's students never knew what to expect from the rabbi. A mitzvah could be an act of kindness or the observance of a ritual. What did the rabbi mean? What mysterious mitzvah could it be?

Front Jacket

Today I will use this cloth to do a mitzvah! Hillel the Sage announced to his class. He whisked the cloth off his shoulder and snapped it in the air. The rabbi's students were puzzled and delighted. What could be done with a cloth? What mysterious mitzvah could it be?

Through this charming story about the famous Hillel of the Talmud, readers will enjoy discovering that the mysterious mitzvah is taking a bath! The note for families at the back of the book will help readers dig deeper and let them think more about the Jewish value of guarding one's health, shmor et nafshecha, and how having healthy habits (like taking baths) is an important Jewish value.