Sammy Spider

Sammy Spider watches the Shapiros hang the calendar that shows all the Jewish holidays of the year. First comes Rosh Hashanah. "Spiders don't celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Spiders spin webs," says Mrs. Spider as the Shapiros dip apples in honey. "I like honey," said Sammy. "You are my little honey," said Mrs. Spider. "And you should stick close to me." Next comes Yom Kippur. A toot from the shofar blows a curious Sammy back to his web.

Sammy Spider is back in his 15th adventure story, learning about Jewish holidays and values with his buddy Josh Shapiro. In this story, when Josh gets a cold - "Achoo!" - his friend Moti delivers some chicken soup to him, and Sammy Spider learns about the mitzvah of visiting the sick. You'll also learn the Hebrew word for "Gesundheit"!

When Josh breaks the rules and plays ball indoors, he finds himself apologizing not only to his parents but to Sammy Spider as well. A Yom Kippur story about saying "I'm sorry".

Sammy Spider watches longingly as the Shapiro family celebrates Passover. He wants to help Josh find the afikomen (hidden matzah), but his mother reminds him, "Spiders don't celebrate Passover. Spiders spin webs." And his first attempt at spinning a new web yields some surprising results.

When an Israeli family moves in next door to the Shapiros, Sammy Spider and Josh learn about the Jewish mitzvah of welcoming guests. In the process, they each make a new friend and learn some Hebrew words.

Sammy Spider watches longingly as Josh Shapiro lights another candle and receives another brightly-colored dreidel each night of Hanukkah.

Uh oh! Curious Sammy Spider slips from his web and accidentally accompanies the Shapiro family to a wedding. Sammy watches the Jewish ceremony as the bride and groom stand under the beautiful chuppah, hears the seven wedding blessings, and - phew! - narrowly escapes as the groom's foot breaks the wedding glass. What an adventure!