A Mitzvah for George Washington

A Mitzvah for George Washington is a historical fiction based on a real visit President George Washington made in 1790 to Newport. This was shortly after the ratification of the Constitution and raising support for the Bill of Rights, among them the freedom of religion. In this imagined story, the Jewish children find a way to show George Washington how happy they are for his Mitzvah, or good deed, in ensuring everyone is safe to practice their religion. The text is easy to follow, and the illustrations help transport a reader to that time in history. This story comes at a poignant time in our history to help us realize how important the Bill of Rights is in preserving our freedoms in America.

“A Mitzvah for George Washington” by Rachelle Burk, illustrated by Chiara Fedele, allows readers the opportunity to see, through a work of historical fiction, how religious freedom is so very important in our lives. The genuine goodness the children in the story feel about sharing their thanks with President Washington about his work to allow religious freedom in the United States is both appealing and humbling.

Children will understand, through the pages of this story, that standing up for what one believes in and for the values that one stands for is a positive trait to have. These children are kind and warm, and they so fervently desire the ability to talk with the president and share their happiness about the choices he has made that afford them the freedoms they long to maintain.

The story stands the test of time, since whether we look all the way to the past when Washington was president or we look at the present day, religious freedom is still an important part of our lives and our country. Any reader should find this book promising when looking toward a brighter future.