SOLVED. Children's Picture book. Jewish folktale: man tricks demons by squeezing eggs? [s]

[Benjamin]

This is a picture book my school librarian read to us in the 90s. Probably published in the 90s.

I'm pretty sure it's based on a Jewish folktale, but not certain. It takes place somewhere in Europe.

A synagogue is haunted by demons/ghosts/trolls. In order to make them leave, someone must stay in the building all night, but no one can make it through the visits of all three demons because they are too scary.

A man comes to town who accepts the challenge. He takes some eggs into the synagogue with him. When the first demon appears, he intimidates it by telling it he can squeeze water from stones. Then he smashes the eggs in his fist. The demon replies with something like "Just you wait for my brother, he's much bigger". The man has some clever plan to trick the other demons, and makes it through the night, breaking the curse.

I want to say the style of the pictures reminded me of Jan Brett (fairly realistic and detailed), but with black backgrounds (since it was night).

[Mai]

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins? Published in 1994.

[Benjamin]

Ding ding ding! First try! Thank you, Mai.

This is the picture from the book I remember:

[Mai]

Cool! Glad this was the book you were looking for!