by Erica Lyons
illustrated by Renia Metallinou
Kar-Ben, 5 September 2023
Long ago in China, a girl named Zhen Yu wanders away from her father at a busy market. A mysterious fortune teller helps Zhen Yu’s father find her, but also warns him that one day his daughter will be bitten by a snake on her wedding night. Years later, as Zhen Yu is dressing for her wedding, a knock comes on the door. Although it is her wedding day, she is not too busy to show kindness to a stranger. Based on the Talmudic tale of Rabbi Akiva’s daughter and the snake.