The Non Jew S Guide To Jewish Holidays

Why is Chanukah celebrated close to Christmas one year, but closer to Thanksgiving another year? Why do Jews exchange presents on Chanukah? What is Purim, and why do Jews dress in costumes when they go to synagogue on that day? And what are the Four Questions anyway? After reading The Non-Jew's Guide to Jewish Holidays, you will know the answers to these questions and more. This book will explain why the Jewish holidays are observed and the rituals that are followed during the observances. You will also learn why the holidays are celebrated on different days on the secular calendar each year. Written by best-selling author Elizabeth Reynolds, this book is the one to buy if you want to learn more. It covers the Jewish holidays in chronological order beginning with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The holidays included in this book are Shabbat (Sabbath), Days of Awe - Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), Shemini Atzerit (Eighth Day of Assembly) and Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah), Chanukah (Festival of Lights), Tu B'Shevat (New Year for Trees), Purim (Feast of Lots), Pesach (Passover), Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Shavuot (Festival of Weeks), and Tisha B'Av (The Fast of Av).

We always tried to celebrate the Jewish Holidays as a family. Starting when our children were young, it soon became apparent to us that it was much better and much more meaningful if as part of our celebration, we discussed each holiday with each other, talking about why the holiday is celebrated, its origin and history, how it is celebrated and very importantly its meaning, relevance and value to us today and what we can learn and use in our everyday lives. We wanted the children to feel and understand that the holidays were important for them and each holiday had meaning and value for them and should be celebrated by them for its own sake, not just because they wanted to please their parents and grandparents. Over time we wrote up these discussions and added information for each holiday for our family use. At the urging of many family members and friends who have since seen and liked this material, we would now like to share it and make it available, with this book, for others to use. In the book, emphasis is placed on purpose, meaning, value, joy and inspiration for each holiday and our daily lives. We feel confident that the reader will find this material as valuable and useful as we have for helping to celebrate and getting the most out of the Jewish Holidays.

The coeditor of the enormously popular Jewish Catalog "help[s] readers understand more fully the meaning of our holidays and thereby to observe these festivals . . . with a greater devotion and joy."--Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler

A window into Judaism’s sacred days—throughout history and today. Written especially for Christians. Holy days and holidays provide the peak experiences of Jewish life. These moments speak deeply to the Jewish soul and animate Judaism’s culture. They encourage Jews to participate in their shared historical experience, which reflects their covenantal relationship with God, and articulate Jewish values that have allowed for the survival of the Jewish people. But what can they mean to Christians seeking to understand their own faith? In this special book, Rabbis Olitzky and Judson guide you through the major Jewish holidays and what they mean for the Jewish people. Each chapter explores a different holiday and explains the origin, historical background, customs and rituals that are part of observance and the holiday’s Christian parallels. Examining observance in both home and synagogue—and in all Jewish denominations—this easy-to-use guide to the Jewish holidays will be a valuable resource for your own understanding of Jewish sacred time throughout the year. And by linking the Jewish holidays to familiar Christian holidays and practices, you will be better able to appreciate the roots of Christianity and how the fundamentals of Judaism relate to and reflect your own spiritual foundation. Rosh Hashanah–New Year Yom Kippur–Day of Atonement Sukkot–Feast of Booths (Fall Harvest Festival) Simchat Torah–Rejoicing in the Torah Hanukkah–Rededication Purim–(Festival of Survival) Pesach–Passover Shavuot–(Receiving the Torah) Tisha B’Av (Mourning and Commemoration) and Other Special Days Shabbat (Day of Rest)

A survey of the sacred days of the Jewish yearly cycle providing detailed guidance on observing the Sabbath and the Jewish holidays, including Yom Ha-shoah (Holocaust Day) and Yom Ha-Atsmaut (Israeli Independence Day). Provides historical background, essays, a 25-year calendar of holidays, extensive notes, bibliography, glossary and index.

This simple, introductory guide answers 100 of the basic questions non-Jews ask in everyday conversation. It has answers about Judaism and Jewish culture, customs, identity, language, stereotypes, politics, education, work, families and food. This guide is meant as a quick, introduction for non-Jews in business, schools, congregations, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources who need a starting point in learning about Jewish neighbors and co-workers. It can lead to deeper conversations.

Recent years have seen an increased interest in Jewish life, its culture, and its celebrations. There are many new students of Judaism, often potential converts or members of interfaith families who are seeking to learn more about the religion and its rituals. Unfortunately, many of the existing texts that examine the Jewish holidays are written in a dry, unexciting way, making it difficult for the reader to retain much information. For those seeking to learn more about Jewish celebrations, Cantor Matt Axelrod has written Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays: From Shofar to Seder. Intended for the reader who has no prior knowledge about the Jewish holidays as well as the reader who knows the basics about the holidays but wants to understand the holidays on a deeper level, Axelrod’s book takes a humorous, light-hearted look at the 11 most important Jewish holidays. Instead of simply explaining that Jews are obligated to observe in a certain way because of a biblical text, Axelrod shows where each holiday, along with its rituals, came from in a historical context. He provides a humorous retelling of the biblical passages relating to the holiday, explorations of rituals associated with each holiday, and descriptions of traditional foods. Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays also features special sections labeled “In Depth” or “Perfect for Families” that expand upon elements of each holiday in ways that provide greater understanding of traditions or that invite the reader to get the rest of the family involved.

A good one-volume holiday kit for families looking for basic information and ideas for celebrating the holidays. in addition to the basic facts about the holiday, each chapter contains stories, songs, craft ideas, and recipes.