Understanding Jewish Holidays and Customs: Historical and Contemporary - Softcover

Sol Scharfstein

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0881256269 ISBN 13: 9780881256260

Publisher: KTAV Publishing House, 1999

Synopsis

Beliefs, practice and customs that make up the faith of Judaism. Covers synagogue and family celebrations. Illustrated with more than 400 photos and art mostly in full color.

About this title

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A historical and contemporary overview of customs and ceremonies as practiced by Jews from Biblical times to the present. The author begins with a discussion of the Jewish lunar calendar upon which the holidays are based and then distinguishes between the types of holidays. The Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot, and Sukkot go back to Biblical times and are religious. Passover (also Biblical), Purim, Chanukah, and the more recent Yom Ha-Atzma'ut celebrate historical "victories"-the survival of the Jewish people or Israel's independence. Yom Ha-Shoah memorializes the victims of the Holocaust and Yom Ha-Zikkaron commemorates the soldiers fallen in defense of Israel. Other topics covered include the synagogue and Jewish life-cycle events. Several small, black-and-white and color photographs and reproductions appear in the margins of every page, and each chapter begins with a color illustration. In a clear style and attractive format, this volume offers much information about Jewish traditions.
Marcia W. Posner, Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County, Glen Cove, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

From the most ancient Jewish traditions to a capsulization of current Israeli politics, this ambitious volume successfully describes and explains the history, customs, and teachings of Judaism. Only occasionally flowery, the always well-informed text introduces Hebrew terms and incorporates meaningful quotes from traditional writings, songs, and prayers. Scharfstein writes in concentric circles so that his history of a custom or holiday expands into modern-day practices. His chapter on Jewish books, for example, begins with animal skin scrolls, progresses to the Bible, and encompasses modern Jewish publishing and Jewish winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The text, which is attractively displayed down the center of the large pages, is supplemented by captioned photos, art reproductions, pictures of Israeli stamps, and other visuals displayed along the side margins. This valuable book makes a wealth of information accessible for both Jewish and secular collections. Ellen Mandel

Edition details

• Publisher: KTAV Publishing House
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0881256269
• ISBN 13: 9780881256260
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 186