A Mitzvah for George Washington
As Newport, Rhode Island, anticipates a visit from President George Washington, nine-year-old Bella Seixas learns from her father, the leader of Newport’s Hebrew Congregation, that he is preparing a letter thanking the President for supporting the right to religious freedom. Eager to follow his example in practicing the mitzvah of showing gratitude, Bella determines that she and the other children in the congregation will find their own way of thanking the President. But how can Bella and the other youngsters get the President to notice them among the crowds of well-wishers, much less hear their message of gratitude?
Inspired by Washington’s 1790 visit to Newport, during which Moses Seixas read a welcoming letter to the President and subsequently received a gracious reply letter, this is a charming, beautifully illustrated book that reminds us of one of America’s most cherished values—the right to worship freely—and of those who knew that it could not be taken for granted. Ages 7-11.
