Raisel’s Riddle

by Erica Silverman; illustrated by Susan Gaber

Book reviews Story Characters Use of Magic Country of origin & printable map Related Books

Publishers Weekly, March 24, 2003
“Starring a Jewish orphan in a long-ago Polish village, this colorful, expertly structured variation on Cinderella offers an independent-minded heroine and a tie-in to Purim that grounds the story without limiting its appeal,” wrote PW in a starred review. Ages 5-8. (Mar.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Once in a village in Poland, there lived a grandfather and an orphan granddaughter. The grandfather, who was a poor scholar, often gave advice and guidance to the villagers. When they could, the villagers would pay him with cheese, bread, or wood.

One day Raisel asked her grandfather why he studied so much. He told her that knowledge was precious. Raisel wanted to learn, so she and her grandfather read and recited from the ancient texts daily.

A harsh winter came. Raisel’s grandfather became ill and died. Not wanting to be a burden on anyone, Raisel looked for work in the city. She went from house to house but no one would hire her.

Raisel came to a home near the synagogue. She knocked on the door and asked for work. The woman told her to go to the poor house. She didn’t need any help. Then, the rabbi appeared. Raisel begged him for work. The rabbi turned to the Cook and told her to find her some work.

During the next days, the Cook worked Raisel hard. She was hard to please. When nighttime came, she made Raisel sleep on a straw mat behind the stove. The Cook was afraid that Raisel was trying to take her job.

Raisel worked harder than ever because the Purim holiday was drawing near. There were costumes to prepare and a feast to be made.

On Purim morning, Raisel was gathering wood when she bumped into the rabbi’s son. He was reading and was not paying attention. He apologized and helped her carry the wood to the kitchen. After he left, the Cook scolded Raisel for trying to win the rabbi’s son favor. She forbid her to be around him again or things would go badly for her.

That afternoon, guest arrived to celebrate Purim. As Raisel cleared the plates from the table, she overheard riddles that women were using to entertain the rabbi’s son. The rabbi’s son noticed Raisel and asked if she had a riddle. The Cook angrily pushed Raisel into the kitchen screaming that she would lock her in a pantry if she did not stay out of sight.

When the rabbi’s son and his guests left for Purim play, Raisel wished she could go. The Cook made fun of her rags and forced her to clean the pots and dishes left over from the dinner.

Raisel took her meager meal outside to eat. As she ate, an old woman approached her. Raisel seeing that the old woman was hungry offered her the food. Because of Raisel’s kindness, the old woman granted her three wishes. The old lady warned Raisel that the magic was only good until midnight.

Raisel’s first wish was for a Purim costume. Suddenly, she was dressed as Queen Esther. Her second wish was for a horse-drawn carriage. She entered the carriage and was on her way.

As she entered the play, all eyes were on her. She was beautiful in her Queen Esther costume. During the excitement, the rabbi’s son introduced himself. They talked a while, and then Raisel offered the rabbi’s son a riddle. Before an answer was given, the clock struck midnight. Raisel rushed to her carriage, drove as fast as she could until she reached the rabbi’s house. As she entered the kitchen, she realized that the dishes had to be cleaned. She used her third wish so that the kitchen would be spotless. In the clean kitchen, Raisel stood in her old rags.

The next morning, as Raisel was working, she heard voices. She asked Cook if there was company coming. The Cook angrily answered yes and barred her into the pantry. Through a crack in the pantry, Raisel could see into the dining room. She overheard the rabbi tell his guest that his son met a girl who told a riddle that showed she had rare intelligence. This is the girl he wants to marry. Many women came forward with riddles, but none of them were the girl he wanted. Raisel made a lot of noise trying to get out of the pantry. The rabbi’s son went to the kitchen and asked the Cook about the noise. She told him it was only Raisel cleaning the pantry. Raisel told the young son that she had also told him a riddle last night. The Cook interrupted her and told the son that Raisel was there all night. He said he wanted to hear the riddle; so, he opened the door. As the door opened, Raisel repeated the riddle. He asked her to marry him, but she said only if he could answer her riddle. He answered, “learning”. The rabbi’s son and Raisel were married and lived happily ever after.

Raisel’s grandfather - He was a poor scholar who studied day and night. The villagers turned to him for wisdom and guidance. He taught Raisel from the ancient texts. He died from the harsh winter.

Cook - She was gruff and bragged about her talents. She made Raisel work hard. She made Raisel sleep on a bed of straw behind the oven. She was jealous of Raisel. She forbid Raisel to talk to the rabbi’s son. She locked Raisel in the pantry.

Rabbi - He was kind and took her in. He helped his son find Raisel.

Rabbi’s son - He was kind and helped Raisel carry the wood to the kitchen. He admired Raisel’s beauty. She listened to Raisel’s riddle and knew the answer. He asked Raisel to marry him. He married Raisel. He lived happily.

Raisel - She was an orphan girl who lived with her grandfather. She was taught by her grandfather from the ancient texts. She searched for work and the rabbi took her in. She was made to work hard. She was given a bed of straw behind the oven for a place to sleep. She held her tongue, tears, and did what she was told to do by the Cook. She was able to go to the Purim feast and met the rabbi’s son. She was locked in the pantry by the Cook. The rabbi’s son married her. She lived happily.

There was only three times in the story where there was magic. When Raisel carried her meal outside by the well, an old lady appeared. Raisel seeing how hungry she was, gave her the meal. Because of Raisel’s kindness, the old lady granted her three wishes.

The first wish was for a Purim costume. She opened her eyes. She was dressed as Queen Esther.

Her second wish was for a horse-drawn wagon. Immediately a wagon appeared. It stood waiting to take her to the Purim feast.

The last wish was used when Raisel returned from Purim. As she entered the kitchen, she saw the pile of dishes to be washed. Fearing the Cook’s anger, she used her third wish to make the kitchen spotless.

Go to a Printable Map of Poland from National Geographic

Raisel was an orphan, but she lived with her grandfather. According to Paul Grajnert, it was not uncommon for grandparents to live with their grandchildren in the same house (21). That is probably why Raisel lived with her grandfather until he died.

“Education is very important to Polish people” (Ryan 17). When Raisel’s grandfather saw that she was interested in learning, he taught her from the ancient texts. I think her intelligence was one reason why the rabbi’s son fell in love with her.

The celebration of Purim in the story was a major feast. Everyone had costumes. “Most Polish holidays are religious in origin” (Grajnert 38). Even when Raisel attended Purim, her costume was that of Queen Esther. She was someone from their religion’s history.

Although Raisel lived in Poland, her family and the people she encountered were Jewish. “Today, approximately 8.000 Jews still live in Poland” (Grajnert 2). Raisel at the end of the story ends up marrying a rabbi’s son.

Grajnert, Paul. Countries of the World: Poland. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 2002.

Ryan, Patrick. Poland. Child’s World, 2001.