The Jewish Home (Updated Edition)

Jewish living begins at home.

Have you ever wondered why Jewish homes have a mezuzah on the doorpost, why 13 is the age of the bar/bat mitzvah, and whether it really matters which Hanukkah candle you light first?

Get answers to many of the whys of major Jewish holidays and life-cycle events, and learn the whats and how-tos of Jewish rituals and practices, and the symbolism and historical and cultural roots of those practices. With a simple question-and-answer format, The Jewish Home addresses such topics as:

• Why we blow a shofar on the Jewish New Year
• What the Exodus has to do with eating matzah
• Why brides wear a veil
• What to say to someone in mourning

With his signature warmth and clarity, Rabbi Daniel Syme explains traditional and contemporary practices in this highly readable resource that explores Jewish observance and explains the root of Jewish life.

Rabbi Daniel B. Syme, a graduate of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, holds a doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Rabbi Syme has authored or co-written more than two dozen books, including the acclaimed Finding God and What Happens After I Die? He is currently rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and founder of A Single Soul, a suicide prevention program in Michigan.