Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Winter Holidays: Hanukkah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim

Named a 2007 National Jewish Book Award Runner-Up in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice.

JPS's new holiday books take us through the joys, spirit, and meaning of the seasons. Blending the old and the new, they ground us in the origins and traditions of each holiday and open up to us ways we can add our own expression to these special days. Although synagogue ritual is touched upon, the real focus here is on our personal connections to each holiday and our home observance.

As we move from season to season, Paul Steinberg shares with us a rich collection of readings from many of the Jewish greats--Maimonides, Rashi, Nachmanides, Shlomo Carlebach, Marge Piercy, Elie Wiesel, Martin Buber, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Arthur Green, and others--and he guides us in discovering for ourselves the many treasures within each text. The readings teach us about the history of each holiday, as well as its theological, ethical, agricultural, and seasonal importance and interpretation; others give us inspiration and much food for thought.

These stories, essays, poems, anecdotes, and rituals help us discover how deeply Jewish traditions are rooted in nature's yearly cycle, and how beautifully season and spirit are woven together throughout the Jewish year. The Fall Holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot is also available. The Spring and Summer Holidays: Passover, Shavuot, The Omer, and Tisha B'Av will follow in 2008.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
Published: 10/04/2007
ISBN: 9780827608498
Pages: 257
Weight: 1.23lbs
Size: 10.13h x 7.81w x 0.66d
Award: National Jewish Book Award - Finalist

Review Citations: Library Journal Supplements 11/15/2007 pg. 22
Multicultural Review 12/01/2007 pg. 15