SAMMY SPIDER’S ROSH HASHANAH written by illustrated by Sylvia A. Rouss Katherine Janus Kahn THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK SAMMY SPIDER’S FIRST ROSH HASHANAH SYLVIA A. ROUSS illustrated by KATHERINE JANUS KAHN To my children, Gabrielle, Shannan, and Jordan who make all my days sweet. —SAR In loving memory of Joshua and Hannah Bernhardt— in whose house the love of God, of Judaism, and of all people flowered. I am proud to be part of the chain of tradition which passes it on. —KJK Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, comes in the fall, and begins a ten-day period called the HighHoly Days. It is a time for celebration. Families and friends gather for festive meals and wish each other Shanah Tovah, a sweet New Year. It is also a serious time. At synagogue services, the shofar, (ram’s horn) is sounded to welcome the new year. We pray for a year of happiness and peace. Text copyright © 1996 by Sylvia A. Rouss Illustrations copyright © 1996 by Katherine Janus Kahn All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise— without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotes in an acknowledged review. KAR-BEN PUBLISHING A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. 1-800-4Karben Website address: www.karben.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rouss, Sylvia A. Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah / Sylvia A. Rouss ; illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn. p. cm. Summary: A young spider wants to join in as he watches a family prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. ISBN-13: 978–0–929371–99–3 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0–929371–99–2 (pbk. : alk. paper) [1. Spiders—Fiction. 2. Rosh ha-Shanah—Fiction. 3. Jews—Fiction.] I. Kahn, Katherine, ill. II. Title. PZ7.R7622 Sao 1996 [E]—dc20 96-25665 Manufactured in the United States of America 4 5 6 7 8 9 – JR – 13 12 11 10 09 08 eISBN: 978-0-7613-8936-1 A BOOK OF SIZES Sammy Spider dangled from a silky strand of webbing near the big picture window in the Shapiros’ living room. “Look, Mother,” he said, pointing with one leg. “Here comes the mail carrier with more cards for the Shapiros. Why has she been delivering so many cards this week?” Mrs. Spider looked lovingly at Sammy. “Soon the Shapiros will celebrate Rosh Hashanah,” she replied. “Those cards are from family and friends who are wishing them a shanah tovah, a Happy New Year.” “Will we get cards, too?” Sammy asked hopefully. “Silly little Sammy,” answered Mrs. Spider. “Spiders don’t celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Spiders spin webs. Which reminds me, our web is getting a little crowded.