The Midnight Mitzvah
Ruth Horowitz and Jenny Meilihove
Barefoot Books

Hanina Chipmunk loves collecting nuts and sharing them with her hungry friends; she knows that helping others is a mitzvah (good deed) but not everybody welcomes her thoughtfulness. One such person is Mathilda Squirrel; she rejects a nut offering from the puzzled Hanina. Then mouse Leon explains that Mathilda was herself a champion nut gatherer but now, on account of her waning ability to move around she feels embarrassed about needing help. Yes, it’s a mitzvah to help but so too is not embarrassing somebody while so doing.

Hanina ponders on the problem and finally, at night the answer comes to her: she’ll work under cover of the dark thus accomplishing both objectives.

Aware that she’s breaking the forest rules by going out gathering at night, Hanina is much more troubled by the thought of Mathilda going hungry that the possibility of angering the nocturnal creatures.

As she gathers nuts the little chipmunk is suddenly confronted by the Great Horned Owl; this night creature, a possible chipmunk predator, questions Hanina and having heard what she has to say, ends up sympathising with her explanation, calling the little creature kind and wise: “A gift given in secret is a very great mitzvah” says the owl.

Based on one of Judaism’s central texts, the Talmud, the tale has a sweet message concerning the real meaning of charitable giving, Tzedakah, as the author’s end notes tell us.