Set in biblical times, the story of Nicanor's Gate—one of the entrances to the Temple in Jerusalem—shows how a man's faith is important to living a happy, fulfilled life. Nicanor, a wealthy merchant from Alexandria, is thrilled when King Herod calls on him to assist in rebuilding the ruined Temple in Jerusalem. Nicanor orders massive, beautifully intricate doors to be built, especially for the Eastern Gate of the Temple, but disaster strikes while the gates are being shipped from Alexandria to Jerusalem. To escape sinking, the ship must reduce its load, and one of the doors is pushed into the sea. But a miracle happens: the heavy door surfaces, is recovered from the sea, and installed as an entrance to the Temple area.
Eric A. Kimmel is the author of the beloved holiday classics Hanukkah Bear and Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins as well as the popular Scarlett and Sam series. His books have received numerous national and state awards including the 1990 Caldecott Honor Medal, the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award, and most recently the Regina Medal, awarded by the Catholic Library Association for his body of work.