Greenberg, Irving. The Jewish Way: Living The Holidays.
Summit Books, New York. 1988. Touchstone Books; 1993; Paperback reprint
edition. ISBN 0-671873-03-2. [A compelling presentation of Judaism as revealed
through its holidays. It presents an in-depth explanation and interpretation of
each holiday's origins, rituals and significance. The detailed instructions
emphasize how the rituals, prayers, foods and song reflect and reinforce its
central motif. Rabbi Greenberg studies the social and theological implications
that derive from each observance; his chapters on Yom HaShoah [Holocaust
memorial day] and Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Israel Independance Day] constitute a
groundbreaking theological view.]
Kitov, Eliyahu. The Book of Our Heritage: The Jewish Year and
Its Days of Significance. 3 vols. Feldheim, New York. 1970. Philipp
Feldheim; 1997. Hardcover expanded edition. ISBN 0-873067-63-0. [This three
volume set, from an Orthodox point of view, provides information and deep
insight into the Jewish year: its festivals and fast days, its days of
rejoicing and sorrow, and its laws, customs, and age-old lore. (1,156 Pages).]
[Kla98]
Klagsbrun, Francine; Podwal, Mark (Illustrator). Jewish Days: A
Book of Jewish Life and Culture Around the Year. Noonday Pr; 1998.
Paperback. ISBN 0-374525-66-8.
[Sch96]
Schauss, Hayyim. The Jewish Festivals: A Guide to Their History
and Observance. Schocken Books; 1996. Paperback. 316 pages. ISBN
0-805209-37-9.
Spier, Arthur. The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar.
Feldheim Publishers, Jerusalem/New York, 3rd revised edition, 1986. ISBN
0-873063-98-8. [Not only a calendar-date book, but easily gives anniversaries,
Parashioth, Haphtaroth as well as elements of calendar calculations without
straing one's eyes at the computer.]
Strassfeld, Michael. Jewish Holidays: A Guide and
Commentary. HarperCollins; 1985. ISBN 0-062720-08-2. [A guide to the
practice and meaning of the holidays by the co-editor of "The Jewish Catalog"
series. A fascinating weave of the traditional and the contemporary, the
communal and individual, the letter and the spirit.]
[Tov97]
Tov, Eliyahu Ki; Landesman, Dovid; Bulman, Nachman (trans.). The
Book of Our Heritage: The Jewish Year and Its Days of Significance. Philipp
Feldheim; 1997. Hardcover expanded edition. ISBN 0-873067-63-0.
[Was91]
Waskow, Arthur. Seasons of Our Joy: A Modern Guide to the Jewish
Holidays. Beacon Pr; 1991. Paperback. 245 pages. Reissue edition. ISBN
0-807036-11-0.
[Wit04]
Wittenberg, Jonathan. The Eternal Journey : Meditations of the
Jewish Year. # Aviv Press (February 25, 2004) ISBN: 0916219259.
Heschel, Abraham Joshua. The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern
Man. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York. 1951. Reprint edition,1995.
Hardcover. 118 pages. ISBN. 0-374253-21-8.
[KapXX]
Kaplan, Aryeh. Shabbos: Day Of Eternity. OU/NCSY. Paperback.
Neuwirth, Rav Yehoshua Y. Shemirath Shabbath: A Guide to the
Practical Observance of Shabbath. 2 vols. Translation of the second
edition of the Hebrew - Shemiras Shabbas Kehilchaso. Volume I: Chapters 1-22;
Volume II: Chapter 23 to the end. Philipp Feldheim; 1974, 2000. [An excellent
source for practical halachos of shabbos.] Volume I: ISBN 0-873062-98-1. Volume
II. ISBN 0-873064-77-1. Volume I:
;
II:
Wolfson, Ron. The Shabbat Seder (Art of Jewish Living).
Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-90-7. [A concise step-by-step
guide designed to teach people the meaning of this weekly celebration, as well
as its practices. Activities and rituals are set out in a straightforward way,
along with instructions on how to perform them. Each chapter corresponds to one
of ten steps which together comprise the Shabbat dinner ritual, and focuses on
the concepts, objects, and meanings behind the specific activity or ritual act.
It is designed in an easy-to-read format for people with varying degrees of
Hebrew skills. Conservative.]
Agnon, S. Y. Days of Awe: A Treasury of Jewish Wisdom for
Reflection, Repentance, and Renewal on the High Holy Days. Schocken, New
York. 1965. Schocken Books; 1995. Paperback reprint. 295 pages. ISBN
0-805210-48-2.
[GolXX]
Goldwurm, Hersh. Yom Kippur: Its Significance, Laws, And
Prayers. Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover. [A presentation anthologized from
Talmudic and traditional sources]
[Goo92a]
Goodman, Philip. The Rosh Hashanah Anthology. Jewish
Publication Society; 1992. Paperback. ISBN 0-827604-08-4.
[Goo92b]
Goodman, Philip. The Yom Kippur Anthology. Jewish Publication
Society; 1992. Paperback. ISBN 0-827604-09-2.
[Ham98]
Hammer, Reuven. Entering the High Holy Days: A Complete Guide To
The History, Prayers and Themes. Jewish Publication Society; 1998.
Hardcover. 256 pages. ISBN 0-827606-09-5.
[Oli96]
Olitzky, Kerry M. Preparing Your Heart for the High Holy Days: A
Guided Journal. Jewish Publication Society; 1996. Paperback. 140 pages.
ISBN 0-827605-78-1.
[Rei97]
Reimber, Gail Twersky (ed.); Kates, Judith A. (ed.) Beginning
Anew: A Woman's Companion to the High Holy Days. Touchstone Books; 1997.
Paperback. 384 pages. ISBN 0-684826-87-9.
[SchXX]
Scherman, Nosson. Rosh Hashanah: Its Significance, Laws, And
Prayers. Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover. [A presentation anthologized from
Talmudic and traditional sources]
Sukkot/Simchat Torah
[Goo73]
Goodman, Philip. The Sukkot and Simchat Torah Anthology.
Jewish Publication Society; 1973. Hardcover. ISBN 0-827600-10-0.
[LieXX]
Lieber, Moshe. Simchas Torah/Shemini Atzeres: Its Significance,
Laws, And Prayers. Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover.
[ZolXX]
Zlotowitz, Meir. Succos: Its Significance, Laws, And Prayers.
Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover. [A presentation anthologized from Talmudic and
Midrashic sources]
Hanukkah
[Goo76]
Goodman, Philip. The Hanukkah Anthology. Jewish Publication
Society; 1976. Hardcover. ISBN 0-827600-80-1.
Wolfson, Ron. Hanukkah (The Art of Jewish Living). Jewish
Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-97-4. [Discusses the holiday's
origins, reasons for the Hanukkah candles and customs, and provides everything
from recipes to family activities. There are songs in English, Hebrew, and
Yiddish (with clear transliterations), recipes for Hanukkah foods, information
on the arts and crafts of Hanukkah, the calendar and its relationship to
Christmas time, and games played at Hanukkah. Putting the holiday in a larger,
timely context, "December Dilemmas" deals with ways in which a Jewish family
can cope with Christmas.]
Purim
[Goo88]
Goodman, Philip. The Purim Anthology. Jewish Publication
Society; 1988. Paperback. Reissue edition. ISBN 0-827603-19-3.
Goodman, Amy; Goodman, Philip (editor). The Passover
Anthology. Jewish Publication Society; 1994. Paperback. ISBN
0-827604-10-6.
[Ste95]
Steingroot, Ira. Keeping Passover: Everything You Need to Know to
Bring the Ancient Tradition to Life and Create Your Own Passover
Celebration. Harper San Francisco; 1995. Paperback. 352 pages. ISBN
0-060675-53-5.
[Ste01]
Stefansky, Chaim (Editor). The Carlebach Haggadah : Seder Night
With Reb Shlomo. Lambda Pub Inc; 2001. Hardcover. ISBN 9-657108-31-4. [The
teachings and stories of Reb Shlomo Carlebach relating to the Haggadah and
Passover Seder night].
Wolfson, Ron. The Passover Seder (The Art of Jewish Living).
Jewish Lights Pub; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 1-879045-93-1. [Explains the concepts
behind Passover ritual and ceremony in clear, easy-to-understand language, and
guides you with step-by-step procedures for observance and preparing the home
for the holiday. The Haggadah texts are in Hebrew, English, and
transliteration. A detailed description of the procedures involved in
performing rituals is included, along with a section of practical questions and
answers. "Innovations" offers imaginative ideas and customs for Seder
celebration.]
Lag B'Omer
[FinXXa]
Finkelman, Shimon. Lag Ba'omer. Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover.
Shavout
[FinXX]
Finkelman, Shimon. Shavuos: Its Observance, Laws, And
Significance. Artscroll Mesorah. Hardcover.
[Goo92c]
Goodman, Philip. The Shavuot Anthology. Jewish Publication
Society; 1992. Paperback. ISBN 0-827603-91-6.
Our
goal is to keep this list useful for its readers. To that end, suggestions of
books to add to the list are always welcome. In your suggestion, please be as
complete as possible; we need author, title, publisher, publishing date, and
ISBN number. We also welcome a one paragraph short summary of why the
book is of interest. Please send your suggestions to the FAQ maintainer at
maintainer@scjfaq.org.
The soc.culture.jewish Reading Lists have associations
with
Amazon.com
and Artscroll.
The presence of an Amazon ()
or Artscroll () tag on a list item means the
item is available from the indicated vendor. There is always the possibility
that the items status has changed since the tag was added; in particular, items
may have moved to special order, backorder, or on-order status. If you have
corrections to the tag, or want to provide a synopsis of the book, please drop
a note to maintainer@scjfaq.org.