The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions (A JPS Desk Reference)

About this book

Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of this book possible: Miles zl and Chris Lerman; David Lerman and Shelley Wallock The bestselling guide to understanding Jewish traditions now in paperback This is a comprehensive and authoritative resource with ready answers to questions about almost all aspects of Jewish life and practice: life-cycle events holidays ritual and prayer Jewish traditions and customs and more. Ronald Eisenberg has distilled an immense amount of material from classic and contemporary sources into a single volume which provides thousands of insights into the origins history and current interpretations of a wealth of Jewish traditions and customs. Divided into four sectionsSynagogue and Prayers Sabbaths and Festivals Life-Cycle Events and Miscellaneous (a large section that includes such diverse topics as Jewish literature food and plants and animals)this is an encyclopedic reference for anyone who wants easily accessible accurate information about all things Jewish. Eisenberg writes for a wide diversified audience and is respectful of the range of practices and beliefs within todays American Jewish communityfrom Orthodox to liberal.