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Building Your Home Jewish LIbrary
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Carolyn Starman Hessel Rabbi Stuart L. Kelman Jewish Book Council
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CONTENTS
Biblical and Rabbinic Literature Reference
Contemporary Jewish Life in America
The Jewish people have been called 'The People of the Book." There is
little that reflects this characteristic more than a family library: It adds to
a home's Jewish ambiance and the Jewish home is the natural venue for
transmitting Jewish culture.
"Since two Jews produce three opinions on any subject, no one should expect consensus on the contents of a library." The books on this list are among the best titles for the non-expert reader. Some are difficult, but all are accessible to people who are eager to learn. You will find selections that have been around a long time, and, as with great classics, they should be read by each generation anew. Most titles, however, will be new to readers.
All books are published in hardcover format unless otherwise noted. The price for each selection is current in 1999. An OP indicates the publisher is no longer stocking the book but that does not necessarily mean it is not available. Consult your local library; Jewish book, store, barnesandnoble.com, or the Jewish Book Council for assistance in locating these titles.
Carolyn Starman Hessel
Stuart L. Kelman
The Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) The Prophets, Writings in English and Hebrew, and commentary.
The Chumash: The Stone Edition. Nosson Scherman, ed. Mesorah, nd. $36.00.
ArtScroll (Mesorah) offers a contemporary English translation of the Five Books
of Moses. Classic and modern commentaries are set in Hebrew/Aramaic (Rashi and
Onkelos) and modern commentaries as well. The Tanach (Torah, Prophets and Holy
Writings) are also available in one 2,200
page volume ($59.95).
The Five Books of Moses. A New Translation with Introductions, Commentary
and Notes. Everett Fox. Schocken, 1995. $50.00.
Hailed as the 1990s version of the Torah, this edition is written in a translation closest to the Hebrew in terms of bringing forth the intent of the Five Books in modern verse.
Genesis: The Beginning of Desire. Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg. JPS, 1995. $24.95.
An unusual view is offered by Zornberg who explores the multi-layered meanings of Genesis in all its emotional and psychological splendor. The meditations weave biblical, midrashic and literary sources into a seamless story. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award.
The Haftarah Commentary. W. Gunther Plaut and Chaim Stern, eds. UAHC
Press, 1995. $40.00.
The Reform Movement has produced its own Haftarah Commentary as a partner to The
Torah (see below). Each haftarah includes a synopsis, an analysis of its
relation to the Torah reading and the message it conveys.
The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis, Nahum M. Sarna, ed. 1989, $47.50; Exodus, Nahum M. Sarna, ed. 1989, $47.50; Leviticus, Baruch A. Levine, ed. 1989, $47.50; Numbers, Jacob Milgrom, ed. 1990, $47.50; Deuteronomy, Jeffrey Tigay, ed. 1995, $47.50. Jewish Publication Society
This JPS Torah Commentary presents the Hebrew text with cantillation signs, aliyot breaks, Masoretic notes, the JPS English translation, and extensive commentaries based on traditional and modern sources.
Learn Torah With... Rabbi Stuart L. Kelman and Joel Lurie Grishaver, eds. Torah Aura Productions, 1996. $28.95.
A collection of the 1994-5 best Torah commentaries are presented as part of an
ongoing fax project bringing together people from all denominations and the four
corners of the world to comment on the Torah portion of the week. Reader's
comments fill another section of this project which is now in its fifth
consecutive year. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 are in production.
The Pentateuch & Haftorahs: Hebrew Text, English Translation & Commentary. J.H. Hertz, ed. Soncino Press, 1960. $27.50.
A one volume book divided according to the weekly portions with the related
Haftarah immediately following and including extensive traditional commentaries.
It is widely used throughout the English speaking world at the synagogue Torah
reading service in the synagogue.
Tanakh. Jewish Publication Society. 1985. $24.95.
A popular selection for the home, this modern English translation has been prepared through the collaborative efforts of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform branches of Judaism and includes the Torah, Prophets and Writings in one volume. It is also available in a paperback edition.
The Torah: A Modern Commentary. W. Gunther Plaut and Bernard J. Bamberger, eds. Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1981. $40.00.
The Torah appears in Hebrew and English, with wideranging contemporary and traditional commentaries all in one 1,824 page volume, prepared by the Reform Movement.
BIBLICAL and RABBINIC LITERATURE
The Torah is
essentially "the constitution of the Jewish People." Teachers are
interpreters. An entire literature arose to explain the various parts of the
Bible. Such collections are contained in the Talmud, Midrashim and mystical
writings.
Art of Biblical Narrative. Robert Alter. Basic Books, 1983. $14.OOpb.
Alter offers an expansive method of Biblical
commentary based on a literary perspective. Also see The Art of Biblical
Poetry (Basic Books, 1987).
Biblical Literacy: The Most Important People, Events and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible. Joseph Telushkin. Wm. Morrow, 1997. $25.00.
Telushkin retells the Bible's tales in a way that
will acquaint the reader with each event's most important details and gleans
from them insights about living: how to raise children, honor parents, serve
God, resist evil leaders and more.
Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts. Barry W. Holtz, ed. Summit Books/Simon & Schuster, 1984. $19.950P
Though officially out-of-print, this book can
still be found in bookstores and is well worth the search. It provides entry
into the essential classics of Jewish literature. There are chapters on the
Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Literature and Philosophy, Kabbalah, the
Hasidic Masters and the Prayerbook. Each chapter addresses the respective genre
in terms of its history, perspective and significance.
The Book of Legends: Sefer Ha-Aggadah- Legends from the Talmud and Midrash. Hayim Nahman Bialik and Y H. Ravnitzky, eds. Schocken Books, 1992. $75.00.
In one volume we read a rich tapestry of tales, homilies and legends all woven together. This is the classical edited collection gleaned from the large corpus of rabbinic literature.
Legends of the Bible. Louis Ginzberg. Jewish Publication Society, 1956, $19.95pb.
A one volume collection (condensed from a seven
volume series) of classical biblical stories and parables based on the most
famous book in the world. The seven volume set is now available in paperback
format (Johns Hopkins, 1998).
Reading the Book: Making the Bible a Timeless Text. Burton Visotsky. Schocken Books, 1996. $13.OOpb.
Visotsky offers a readable introduction to the
midrashic approach to Torah. Based on his weekly classes, he demonstrates an
ability to make the text come alive.
Rereading the Rabbis: A Woman's Voice. Judith Hauptman. Westview, 1997. $26.00.
Seeing the Bible as basically patriarchal, the
author of this volume tries to trace the changes made by the Rabbis of the
Talmud in order to elevate the status of the woman.
CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE IN AMERICA
Today more than
ever people, both scholars and laypeople, find the need to comment on our
current situation. It appears to be a prominent theme in American Jewish
literature.
Does the World Need the Jews?: Rethinking Chosenness and the American Jewish Community. Daniel Gordis. Scribner, 1997. $23.00.
This volume contains rationales for choosing Judaism that will appeal to Jews across the ideological spectrum. The author believes that by assimilating so thoroughly into American culture, Jews are loosing their distinctiveness. He suggests Jews should "stand out," not "blend in."
Faith or Fear. How Jews Can Survive in a Christian America. Elliot Abrams. Free Press, 1997. $25.00.
In order to insure Jewish survival Abrams suggests Jews return to the Jewish
religion through communal participation and long standing belief in the
covenental relationship with God.
Jews: The Essence and Character of a People. Arthur Hertzberg and Aron
Hirt-Manheimer. Harper San Francisco, 1998. $25.00.
This one volume discusses why Jews will survive. The authors believe it is because they are "chosen" in the sense of being different and outsiders.
Rethinking Modern Judaism: Ritual, Commandment, Community. Arnold Eisen. University of Chicago Press, 1998. $35.00.
Eisen looks at the story of modern Judaism, tracing it back to the Emancipation and the Enlightenment as watershed events in Jewish history. Jewish practice and ritual in modern days are viewed in relation to the changes that have emerged subsequently.
Taking Hold of Torah: Jewish Commitment and Continuity in America. Arnold M.
Eisen. Indiana U. Press, 1997. $24.95.
In the framework of the Torah, Eisen addresses new relationships between Jews
and their religious traditions. In each of
five chapters he addresses a major theme related to his vision of renewal.
Vanishing American Jew. Alan Dershowitz. Simon & Schuster, 1997. $14.OOpb.
This provocative book argues that American Jews are in danger of extinction because of intermarriage and assimilation. Dershowitz calls for a change in the way we see ourselves and a drastic revision of the institution of Jewish education.
As a Driven Leaf. Milton Steinberg, Behrrnan House, 1939 reissued 1996. $14.95pb.
This historical novel of on man's struggle for faith in ancient Israel is an illumination of the Jewish mind of its time: one that hungered for that absolute proof by which it claimed the universe and without which it was desolute. It is a story for every age.
The Book of Lights. Chaim Potok. Fawcett, 1997. $12.OOpb.
Potok explores fundamental issues of faith and
good and evil in a profound, touching story.
Call It Sleep. Henry Roth. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1934, reissued 1991. $13.OOpb.
This story of a Yiddish-speaking Eastern European
immigrant family who came to "the Golden Land" and settled on New
York's Lower East Side in 1907. It is a brilliantly told tale of the dark side
of the immigrant saga complete with a dysfunctional family.
The Chosen. Chaim Potok. Fawcett Book, 1976, reissued 1996. $11.OOpb.
Potok's most widely read book is about two Jewish
boys, one Orthodox, one Hassidic, growing up in Brooklyn, NY in the period of
the Israel War for Independence. It depicts the power of friendship in a
coming-of-age story.
Exodus. Leon Uris. Doubleday, 1957, Bantam, 1976. $7.99pb.
Uris wrote this historical novel establishing a whole genre of literature on Israel and Zionism. This leading entry is about the birth and birth pains of the modern state of Israel as told by a master author who writes with talent and heart.
The Rise of David Levinsky. Abraham Cahan. Harper & Row, 1960, reissued 1993. $13.95pb. Transaction, 1999. $29.95.
The first book to explore the American Jewish immigrant experience has stood the test of time and has become a prototype for other similar volumes. Written by the editor of the Forward, it focuses on problems common to that time and society; parent-child separation, religious adherence and the freedom of America, materialism vs. shtetl frugality, and more.
Stories One Generation Tells Another. Peninnah Schram, Jason Aronson,
1987, reissued 1996. $30.OOpb.
64 Jewish folk tales are retold by a leading contemporary Jewish storyteller.
They range from fables and parables to midrashic interpretations on biblical
portions to hasidic stories and more, all conveying the essence of Jewish
culture and customs.
Books for Jewish life cycle events and the extraordinary task of living a Jewish
life.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Basics: A Practical Family Guide to Coming of Age Together. Helen Leneman, ed. Jewish Lights, 1996. $16.95pb.
A useful guide into the "how-to" of the bar/bat mitzvah experience from the preparation to writing the "thank you" notes, all the while showing how the family can grow through the experience.
Beyond Beshert. Lisa Aiken. Jason Aronson, 1996. $35.00.
Integrating professional marriage counseling with traditional Judaism, Aiken includes advice for choosing a compatible mate, developing a meaningful relationship and communicating effectively to overcome problems.
Celebration and Renewal: Rites of Passage in Judaism. Rela Geffen, ed. Jewish Publication Society, 1993. $34.95hc, $19.95pb.
In ten essays, six experts from all branches of Judaism discuss Jewish law and explore its contemporary application. Chapters deal with both the halachic basis and the current spectrum of American practice.
The Everything Jewish Wedding Book: The Complete Guide to Planning the Ceremony and Celebration from Traditional to Contemporary. Helen Laitner. Adams Publ. 1998. $12.00.
The title describes the contents remarkably well. It is a user-friendly guide with historical background and the "whys" and "how-to's" everyone involved wants to know. It includes the traditional approach to weddings as well as a chapter on unconventional weddings. Sidebars throughout add interesting stories.
From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller. Warner Books, 1996. $21.95.
The leader of the Renewal Movement, Schachter offers a positive view of aging, how to face mortality, repair relationships and develop a regenerative spirit to transmit wisdom.
Give Me Your Hand: Traditional and Practical Guidance on Visiting the Sick. Stuart Kelman, Jane Handler and Kim Hetherington. EKS Publ., 1997. $5.00. [also available on this website requires acrobat reader]
This short and very practical booklet covers the obligation of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) in Jewish law, etiquette for performing this obligation, appropriate prayers, and "Do's and Don t's for Visitors."
How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household. Blu Greenberg. Jason Aronson Inc, 1989. $30.OOhc, $14.95pb.
Blu Greenberg, a founder of the Orthodox Jewish Feminist Alliance, writes an introductory book filled with history and practical advice for the traditional family. Discussions include education, blessings, kashrut, laws of purity, and the expanding role of women in Jewish life.
Jewish Way in Death and Mourning. Maurice Lamm. Jonathan David, 1983. $14.00.
This is the book the rabbis, layleaders and mourners turn to as the definitive word on the subject. Lamm provides the necessary information for the mourner, family, friends and community involved with death and the mourning process.
Mourning and Mitzvah: A Guided Journal for Walking the Mourner's Path Through Grief to Healing. Anita Brener. Jewish Lights, 1993. $19.95pb.
The selection integrates the Jewish tradition and the knowledge of modern professional resources. It incorporates the rituals and their meaning and biblical passages. In addition, there are exercises for the mourners during each stage of the grieving process.
The New Jewish Baby Book: Names, Ceremonies and Customs- A Guide for Today's Families. Anita Diament. Jewish Lights, 1993. $15.95pb.
Diament weaves together ritual, practice, history and Jewish law to form a contemporary guide for today's young families. One will find the customs and ceremonies for welcoming a new child into the world and the Jewish community, as well as a complete directory of names.
Putting God on Your Guest List: How To Reclaim
the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Jeffrey Salkin.
Jewish Lights, 1993.
$16.95pb.
Rabbi Salkin provides explanation, instruction and inspiration to help bring new insights to America's most misunderstood ceremony. His contemporary views will be welcome by today's families.
So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them. Jack Reimer and Nathaniel Stampfer, eds. Jewish Lights, 1996. $17.95pb.
Ethical wills try to sum up what people have learned in life, and what they want most for and from their loved ones. This selection is a "how-to" and provides sample living wills from others.
To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life. Hayim Halevy Donin. Basic Books, 1972 reissued 1991. $25.OOhc, $13.OOpb.
This authoritative guide from the traditional perspective includes laws and customs as they apply to daily life and special life cycle events in the contemporary world. Donin includes Sabbath, dietary laws, family life, and prayer, as well as valuable background information.
Listed below are works on the Hebrew language which may be useful to the adult learner.
Derech Binah. Ruby Strauss, et al. Behrman House. $6.95.
Here is a "no-nonsense" primer
illustrated in full color. Supplementary materials are also available.
First Hebrew Primer. Ethelyn Simon, Irene Reznikoff and Linda Motzkin. EKS Publishing. $31.95.
Subtitled "The Adults Beginners Path to Biblical Hebrew;" this book is designed specifically for those who desire greater understanding of the Torah.
Ivrit Alfon: A Hebrew Primer for Adults. Lois Rothblum, Bella Bergman and Ora Band. Behrman House. $6.95pb.
These three authors give us a proven method of teaching motivated adult students to read and write Hebrew in six weeks.
Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way. Joseph Anderson, et al. EKS Publishing. $18.95.
Designed for those who can read Hebrew but wish to go further, this volume provides practice of the traditional Hebrew prayers.
Reading Hebrew: A Programmed Instruction Book. C. Castberg and Lillian W. Adler. Behrman House. $8.50pb.
Students are taken step-by-step in order to master the alef-bet in lessons of twenty frames each.
Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew. Ethelyn Simon and Joseph Anderson. EKS Publishing. $9.95 book only. $31.95 book and tape set.
A complete teaching unit designed for adults. Ten lessons teach pronunciation and how to read any Hebrew word. Cassettes are also available.
HISTORY
The 4,000 years of Jewish history reaches the four
corners of the earth and includes religious, political, social and economic life
both within the community, the Jewish influence on surrounding communities and,
in turn, the influence of surrounding cultures on the Jewish community in the
Diaspora.
The Course of Modern Jewish History. Howard Sachar. Vintage Press, 1990. OP
In this 891 page classic, the author casts light on the milestones of the Jewish saga from the 18th century to the close of the 20th.
A History of the Jewish People. Haim H. Ben-Sasson, ed. Harvard University Press, 1976, reissued 1985. $26.50pb.
This large one-volume selection is strong on the period of the Second Temple (Rabbinic Period) and the period of modern Zionist era through the early 1970's.
A History of the Jews. Paul Johnson. HarperCollins, 1988. $17.OOpb.
Emphasizing the interaction between Jewish history and the impact of surrounding communities in the diaspora, this volume compresses 4,000 years into 600+ pages.
The Jews in America. Abraham J. Karp, ed. Hugh Lauter Levin Assoc. 1994. $75.00.
This coffee-table size book spans more than three centuries of Jewish art and literary contribution to America. Lavishly illustrated.
Jews, God and History. Max Dimont. NAL/Dutton, 1976(reprint). $8.99pb.
The centuries of Jewish history and the Jewish contribution to civilization, past and present are presented in this comprehensive book.
The Jews of Spain: A History of the Sephardic Experience. Jane Gerber, Free Press, 1992. $24.95.
Gerber's history of the Sephardic Jews from their origins in Spain up to the present was a winner of the 1993 National Jewish Book Award in Sephardic Studies.
The World of Our Fathers: The Journey of Eastern European Jews to America and the Life They Found and Made. Irving Howe. Simon & Schuster, 1976, reissued 1994. $15.95.
Using newspaper reports, memoirs and photos, Howe recreates the life of the Jews on New York's Lower East Side at the turn of the century where so many of our great-grandparents and grandparents settled when they came from Europe.
The history of the Holocaust, 1933-1945, and the memories of the survivors.
The Destruction of European Jewry. Raul Hilberg. Holmes and Meier, rev. ed. 1985. $17.95.
A leading title in this category, the book gives the historical foundations and background of the administrative effort of and German bureaucracy by which ordinary citizens and bureaucrats participated in the Holocaust. It includes a discussion of the passivity of the Jews.
History of the Holocaust. Abraham J. Edelheit and Hershel Edelheit. Westview Press, 1994. $89.95.
The Edelheit's two-volume series offers an overview of European Jewish his tory and the Holocaust. The narrative is followed by a dictionary of related terms gathered from many lands and languages.
The Last of the Just. Andre Schwarz-Bart. Antheneum, 1973, reprinted by Library of the Holocaust, 1996. $8.98pb.
This seminal work of fiction is partially based on the Jewish belief that there are 36 righteous Jews (lamed-vavniks) in every generation. Here is the story of the last of those just people at the hands of the Nazis. The story explores the history of the Holocaust told through the eyes of a young boy.
Maus: A Survivor's Tale: Vols. I & II. Art Spiegelman. Pantheon, 1986, 1991. boxed set $25.00 pb.
Spiegelman gives a unique presentation of the Holocaust through a non-fiction story in comic-strip format in which the Nazis are portrayed as cats and the Jews as mice. Vol. I tells the story of his parents' survival and Vol. II focuses on the 14 author's attempt to come to terms with his father's ordeal. It is not only a story about the Holocaust; it also tells about a son's relationship with his father.
Night/Dawn/Day. Elie Wiesel. reissued by Jason Aronson Inc., 1985, $20.00.
These are the Nobel Prize winner's earliest
works, which set a standard for others. They are both devastating and
illuminating in a trilogy of unrelenting power and emotion. In Night, published
in 1958, and only 127 pages in length, Wiesel voiced his lamentation about the
experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. The fictionalized memoirs are the most
recommended books onthe Holocaust by a survivor. For adults and teens 16+.
Witness to the Holocaust. Michael Berenbaum, ed.HarperCollins, 1997. $32.95.
Here is a selection offering an understanding of the human tale- the anguish of the victims, the courage of the resisters, the morality of the rescuers and the depravity of the perpetrators. This is accomplished in an illustrated documentary format with material culled from primary sources presented in chronological order.
The rise of the modem state of Israel from its origins in Zionism in the mid 1800's to the fiftieth birthday of the state.
Israel: A History. Martin Gilbert. Wm. Morrow, 1998. $30.00.
Using contemporary documents and eyewitness accounts and drawing on his own intimate knowledge of the country and its people, the author weaves together all these dramatic events into a seamless narrative.
A History of Israel From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, sec. ed. Howard M. Sachar. Knopf, 1996. $30.00.
In one volume Sachar presents the story of a dream turned into reality; from the beginnings in the 19th century through the Oslo Agreement of 1994. Events appear in chronological order beginning with the growth of modern Zionism.
Israel: A Spiritual Travel Guide. A Companion for the Modern Jewish Pilgrim. Lawrence A Hoffman. Jewish Lights, 1997. $18.98pb.
Hoffman has written a different kind of travel guide. In quick reference format, including ancient blessings, medieval prayers, biblical references and modern poetry, this book assists the contemporary pilgrim in an exploration of the spiritual meaning of the ancient and modem Land of Israel.
Living History. Chaim Herzog. Pantheon Books, 1996. $30.00.
The late President of Israel, passionately tells the story of Israel's past and present in memoir form. He is writing about a history he helped write.
The Zionist Idea: A Historical Analysis and Reader. Arthur Hertzberg, ed. Atheneum, 1969, Jewish Publication Society, 1997. $24.95pb.
Hertzberg has gathered a collection of writings by major Zionist thinkers all of whom contributed to the building of the state of Israel.
This section includes one-volume books which focus on all of the major Jewish holidays and outstanding books on specific holydays.
Hanukkah. Ron Wolfson. Jewish Lights. 1996. $16.95.
Designed to help celebrate and enrich the holiday season, this book explores the origins, rituals, and symbols of Hanukkah and provides recipes and family activities as well as advise about coping with Christmas.
Jewish Days: A Book of Jewish Life and Culture Around the Year. Francine Klagsbrun. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1996. $27,50. 1998, $16.00pb.
Klagsbrun uses a reader?friendly style in a selection which 16 is organized by the Jewish month. The volume includes leg-ends, stories and interpretive essays for every special day. Enhancing the sections are interesting presentations of the holiday rituals and customs.
The Jewish Festivals: A Guide to their History and Observance. Hayyim Schauss. Schocken Books, 1938 reissued 1996. $15.OOpb.
This time-tested book offers historical background on all the major Jewish holidays giving their origin, meaning, importance and their traditional forms of celebration and observance.
The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays. Irving Greenberg. Jason Aronson, Reissued 1998. $40.00.
The Jewish holydays are seen by Rabbi Greenberg as the unbroken master code of Judaism. By deciphering them, one can come closer to discovering the inner core of the religion.
Keeping Passover Everything You Need To Know To Bring The Ancient Tradition To Life and To Create Your Own Passover Celebration. Ira Steingroot. HarperSan Francisco. 1995. $13.OOpb.
Beginning with the "how-to-handle" logistical questions and what kind of Seder to prepare, the author moves through food, song, text analysis and more. Steingroot provides an easy-to-use book in which he encourages Jews to prepare their own celebrations.
Preparing Your Heart For The High Holy Days. Kerry Olitsky and Rachel T. Sabath. Jewish Publication Society, 1996. $18.95.
The authors put you in the proper mood the month before and throughout the High Holy Day observances. An excellent alternative with a similar theme is Entering the High Holy Days: A Complete Guide to the History, Prayers and Themes by Reuven Hammer (JPS, 1998. $29.95)
Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man. Abraham Joshua Heschel. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1951, reprinted 1995. $15.00.
Heschel introduces the concept of "architecture of holiness" in Judaism, a religion of time where the Sabbath becomes a "cathedral." It also looks at the distinction between the sacred and the secular. This is a classic work about the Sabbath and spirituality in Judaism.
Sacred Celebrations: A Jewish Holiday Handbook. Ronald H. Isaac and Kerry Olitsky. KTAV, 1994. $19.95.
This book contains chapters on both the Jewish calendar and the major Jewish holidays and each chapter includes background, Torah thoughts, home celebrations for current times, basic blessings and family projects.
Seasons of Our Joy: A Modern Guide to the Jewish Holidays. Arthur I. Waskow. Beacon Press, 1991. $15.00.
The renewal movement's approach to the holidays is the focus of this book which includes the theological basis of the occasion, related readings, rituals and creative ideas and recipes for special holiday foods.
The Shabbat Seder. Ron Wolfson. Jewish Lights, $16.95.
Wolfson offers a ten step guide to the Shabbat dinner ritual. It includes craft projects, recipes, discussion ideas and more to enrich the experience. Also available is a Booklet of the Blessings and Songs and an audio cassette.
From early times Jews have expressed their theology in various ways. In the past indiW dual voices were heard. Today, for the most part, theologians are linked to denominations which carry the theological message within the Jewish world.
Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach. Rebecca T. Alpert and Jacob J. Staub. Reconstructionist Press, 1985.
This book, which defines the newest denomination within Judaism as developed by Mordecai Kaplan, provides an overview of reconstructionism.
God Was In This Place and I, i Did Not Know: Finding Self, Spirituality and Ultimate Meaning. Lawrence Kushner. Jewish Lights, 1991. $21.95hc, $16.95pb.
Rabbi Kushner helps us come closer to understanding who God is and who we are. He creates interpretations of Jacob's dream found in Genesis and opens a window of spirituality.
I and Thou. Martin Buber. Simon & Schuster, 1976. $8.00pb.
A seminal work that opens us to understanding our relationship to God and to the world. "I-thou" contrasts with "I-it"? the more common type of relations in our modern world. A classic.
Judaism As A Civilization. Mordecai Kaplan. Jewish Publication Society, 1981, reissued 1997. $29.95.
By the creator and guiding spirit of the reconstructionist philosophy, this work is reissued with a new introduction by Arnold Eisen. Kaplan poses challenges facing American Jews and says Judaism is more than a religion. It is a civilization
The Lonely Man of Faith. Haym Soloveichik. Jason Aronson, reprinted 1997. $30.00.
Soloveitchik, a revered Orthodox rabbi, explores the nature of faith. He
investigates aloneness using the example of a person of faith whom he deems
"alone" in our narcissistic technologically oriented utilitarian
society. One can
find personal redemption through a God of Biblical faith.
Renewing the Covenant: A Theology of the Postmodern Jew. Eugene B. Borowitz. Jewish Publication Society, 1977. $24.95hc, $18.95pb.
This powerful theological statement on liberal Judaism encourages study, reflection and response for those grappling with major Jewish issues.
Sacred Fragments: Recovering Theology for the Modern Jew. Neil Gillman. Jewish Publication Society 1995. $15.95pb.
Gillman addresses the theological question of retaining the sacredness of Judaism in modern times.
Prayer can be spontaneous or fixed. Throughout the ages many communities fixed their order of prayer in a standardized format. Some tried to teach about prayer or how to pray,
Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur: The Seif Edition. Rabbi Nosson Scherman. Artscroll/Mesorah Publications, 1998. $29.99.
The type is arranged with Hebrew lines on the right, transliterated Hebrew to the left of the corresponding line, and English translation directly below. Prepared with the Orthodox Union, this allows people who do not read Hebrew to follow the service and people who do read Hebrew to better understand its literal meaning.
Blessed Are You: A Comprehensive Guide to Jewish Prayer. Jeffrey Cohen. Jason Aronson. 1993. $30.00.
This is an encyclopedic presentation of all the important aspects of Jewish prayer primarily for the layperson. It offers short definitions and explanations of individual prayers as well as complete services.
The Daily Prayerbook: Ha-Siddur Ha-Shalem. Philip Birnbaum, ed. Hebrew Publishing Co., 1977. $17.00.
For over twenty years this has been a popular siddur for the traditional service (Orthodox) and is still used in many synagogues and homes. The Hebrew and English appear on facing pages with brief explanations.
Entering Jewish Prayer. Reuven Hammer, Schocken Books, 1993, $25.OOhc, $14.OOpb.
This is a choice for those who want to know more about why we pray and the meaning of the prayers. Hammer addresses many basic issues, provides background and includes a how-to guide for the modem worshipper.
Gates of Prayer. The New Union Prayerbook. Chaim Stern, ed. Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1975. $18.50.
Gates of Prayer is the standard liturgical work of the Reform Movement. It contains a variety of services for weekdays, Sabbath and festivals. It is a also available in large type.
Kol Hanishamah: Shabbat V'hagim. Reconstructionist Press, 1994.
The Sabbath and Festival prayer book is used in Reconstructionist services.
My People's Prayer Book. Vol I-The Sh'ma and Its Blessings. Lawrence A. Hoffman, ed. Jewish Lights, 1997. $19.95.
This diverse commentary to the section of the traditional liturgy includes the traditional Hebrew, a modem translation and commentaries from 10 respected Jewish scholars from all perspectives who look at the prayer book's connections to the Bible, history, halacha, feminism, and more. Additional volumes are forthcoming.
Siddur Sim Shalom. Leonard Kahan, ed. Rabbinical Assembly, 1998, $25.00.
A new prayerbook for the Conservative Movement includes gender sensitive language, clearer layout, better use of transliteration and increased readings. It will be followed shortly by a second volume for daily services.
To Pray as a Jew: A Guide to the Prayer Book and the Synagogue Service. Hayim Halevy Donin. Basic Books, 1980, 1991. $25.OOhc, $13.OOpb.
Rabbi Donin addresses the religious and practical aspects of traditional Jewish prayer with explanations, commentary and teachings useful to the beginner or practicing reader.
These volumes may be for a home library.
Atlas of Modern Jewish History. Evyatar Friesel. Oxford University Press,1990. $49.95.
This is a one volume selection of Jewish history, geographic distribution, demography, and intellectual developments from the 17th century to the 1980s.
A Glossary of Jewish Life. Kerry Olitsky and Ronald Isaacs. Jason Aronson, 1996.$40.00.
Offering concise definitions of terms and value concepts, this work also contains brief biographical sketches of important thinkers, teachers and leaders who helped shape the American Jewish experience.
Illustrated Atlas of Jewish Civilization. Martin Gilbert, ed. Wm. Morrow, 1993. $40.00.
One hundred detailed maps provide ready insight into every aspect of the 4,000
years of Jewish history. The supporting text explains why Jewish identity,
dispersed through many cultures, traditions and races, has survived.
Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things To Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History. Joseph Telushkin. Wm Morrow, 1991. $24.95.
An anthology of Jewish scholarship in concise readable segments, this volume covers trends and concepts of Jewish history, religion and culture, ethics, great personalities and life cycle events.
Modern Hebrew-English Dictionary. Avraham Zilkha. Yale University Press, 1989. $25.00hc, $12.95pb.
This is a Hebrew-English dictionary which concentrates on the vocabulary of modern Israeli Hebrew.
Jewish Roots in Poland: Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories. Miriam Weiner. Routes to Roots .Foundation, 1997. $50.00. (For information 1?800?742?5403).
Ms Wiener, a leading Jewish genealogist, presents a large "coffee?table" book which is both a travel guide and a how to genealogy guide with photos, maps and documents covering 1,250 towns in Poland with Jewish histories.
Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Zvi Werblowsky and Geoffrey Wigodor. Oxford University Press, 1997. $50.00.
2,400 alphabetically arranged entries appear in this comprehensive 764 page volume.
Schocken Guide to Jewish Books: Where to Start Reading About Jewish History, Literature, Culture and Religion.Barry W. Holtz, ed. Schocken Books, 1992. $24.500P
Holtz has gathered experts in the major categories of Jewish literature to discuss Jewish life and experience with suggested books for follow-up. Topics include the Bible, Jewish life, Israel, Hebrew and Yiddish literature and more.
Shengold Jewish Encyclopedia. Shengold Books, 1958, revised 1998. $36.00.
Presented in alphabetical order, with photos, diagrams and maps, and covering people, places and events from a 4,000 year history, this is a concise, easy-to-use all purpose volume for young adults and families.
Timetables of Jewish History. Judah Gribetz. Simon and Schuster, 1992. $35.OOhc, $19.95pb.
In a reader-friendly format the author presents a chronology of the most important people and events in Jewish history and the relationship of the Jewish people to the larger story of world civilization.
A Treasury of Jewish Quotations. Joseph Baron, ed. Jason Aronson, reissued 1996. $25.00pb.
This classic book lists proverbs and comments by Jewish authors and/or on Jewish themes. It is arranged topically and includes the sayings of philosophers, writers and wits from 25 centuries of Jewish literary sources.
The 1990s have brought the search for meaning and exploration of the relation between Jews and God. Literature focusing on this search is generally classified under the word "spirituality,.
Endless Light: The Ancient Path of the Kabbalah to Love, Spiritual Growth, and Personal Power.David Aaron. Simon & Schuster, 1997. $22.00.
The ancient mystical texts of Judaism are a popular source for spirituality. Using the Kabbalah as the guide, the author addresses concerns in life such as personal growth, love and destiny.
Dancing With God: Everyday Steps to Jewish Spiritual Renewal. Wayne Dosick. Harper San Francisco, 1997. $22.00.
Dosick has written a popular, do-it-yourself approach to spirituality complete with exercises and suggestions
Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism. Daniel Matt. Castle Books/ HarperCollins, 1995. $18.00.
Matt gathered together the most important and profound passages from a variety of Kabbalistic literature. He offers the history of the Kabbalah's concepts and symbols followed by accounts of the primary aspects of Jewish mysticism including Ein Sof (the radical transcendence of God), the Sefriot (ten divine attributes) and Shekhinah (the feminine aspect of God).
Finding Joy: A Practical Spiritual Guide to Happiness. D. Schwartz and M. Hass. Jewish Lights, 1995. $19.95.
Searching for happiness is common; finding it is more unusual. This guide explores and explains how to find joy based on the teachings of traditional Jewish mysticism.
The Healer of Shattered Hearts: A Jewish View of God. David Wolpe. Viking-Penguin, 1991. $12.95pb.
With clarity and wisdom, Wolpe addresses the modem generation who question belief in God. He shows that God still speaks to people, to their daily struggles and fears, and offers comfort and inspiration.
Jewish Wisdom. Joseph Telushkin. Wm. Morrow, 1994, $25.00.
Jewish Wisdom is a popular book which explores many aspects of human life in short focused passages. It uses the literature of great Jewish writings along with commentary by the author.
The Jew in the Lotus. Roger Kamenetz. Harper San Francisco. 1994. $20.00.
This is Kamenetz's account of Jewish-Buddist Dialogue among several of our foremost thinkers and the Dali Lama during a trip to Tebet. It traces the author's rediscovery of his Jewish roots through this dialogue. New in 1997 is Stalking Elijah (Harper San Francisco, $22.00), winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Thought, in which the same author pursues his quest for Jewish meditation practices with present day master teachers.
Spiritual Judaism: Restoring Heart and Soul to Jewish Life. David Ariel. Hyperion, 1998. $21.95.
Ariel's guide to Judaism from a spiritual perspective is designed for those seeking to incorporate their Jewish heritage into everyday life.
The Thirteen Petaled Rose. Adin Steinsaltz. Basic Books, 1985, reissued by Jason Aronson 1994. $30.00.
This classic has eleven essays which serve as an introduction to the essence of Jewish existence and belief based on principles of Kabbalah. It includes descriptions of the most basic ideas in Jewish mysticism.
When Bad Things Happen To Good People. Harold S. Kushner. Schocken Books, 1981. $22.00.
The author says, "there is a difference between denying the tragedy (the author lost his young son) . . . and seeing the tragedy in the context of a whole life, keeping an eye on what has enriched you and not only on what you have lost." (p.139) The reader walks away with a new understanding of tragedy.
Seeing Judaism through the lens of women has not played a major part in our tradition. Currently attempts are underway to view this same tradition through the eyes of women and to create ritual which embody some of this new perspective.
Beginning Anew: A Women's Companion to the High Holy Days. Gail Twersky Reimer and Judith A. Kates. Touchstone /Simon&Shuster, 1997. $14.00 pb.
Two childless women, Sarah and Hannah are "granted the gift of pregnancy through the direct intervention of God." This is the focus of twenty-four of the leading contemporary women writers who present their views on the Biblical texts read on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
A Breath of Life: Feminism in the American Jewish Community. Sylvia Barack Fishman. Free Press, 1993. $17.95.
A professor at Brandeis University, Fishman surveys the rise of American Jewish feminism beginning with Biblical times. She traces its growth throughout the ages to the contemporary scene and makes it consonant with all major trends in Judaism today.
Engendering Judaism: A New Theology and Ethics. Rachel Adler. Jewish Publication Society, 1997. $34.95.
Adler "engenders" a Judaism that both men and women recreate and renew as equals and one in which women's concerns transform our understanding and practice of Jewish law, prayer, sexuality and marriage. Winner 1998 National Jewish Book Award.
Five Books of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah. Ellen Frankel. Grosset?Putnam, 1996. $30.00.
Here is a dialogue between women past and present which parallels the weekly Torah portion structure. The voices go from folksy to scholarly and draw upon midrashic sources as well as modern pieces.
Jewish Women, Jewish Men. Aviva Cantor. Harper San Francisco. 1995. $30.00 OP.
Cantor sees a patriarchal society through a 20th century lens. She presents a sweeping analysis of Jewish history in a new light with a unique view of the past and modern vision for the future.
Lifecycles I: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones. Debra Orenstein, ed. Jewish Lights, 1994. $24.95.
Leading women authors cover the entire spectrum of life's passages from ceremonies around childbirth to new perspectives on aging. The approach includes traditional concepts, innovative observances and a guide to creating new rituals.
Reading Ruth: Contemporary Women Reclaim a Sacred Story. Gail Twersky Reimer and Judith Kates. Ballentine, 1996. $19.95pb.
The editors assembled a group of leading women writers on the American Jewish scene to present a modern literary approach to themes in the Book of Ruth.
Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism From a Feminist Perspective. Judith Plaskow. Harper SanFrancisco, 1989, 1991. $17.OOpb.
Now becoming a basic work in the field of feminist writing, Standing Again at Sinai offers a feminist critique of Judaism as a patriarchal tradition and an exploration of the increasing involvement of women in naming and shaping Jewish tradition.
Women and Jewish Law: The Essential Texts, Their History, and Their Relevance for Today. Rachel Biale. Schocken Books, 1984. $15.OOpb.
What does Jewish law say about the major issues Jewish women are addressing today? This selection offers an explanation of some of these issues based in halachic sources.
While today's generation of parents and grandparents remember Molly Cone books and K'tonton, we must add another layer to the generations by offering our children the opportunity to select their favorite book. It is upon this that memories are created and Judaism is passed from generation to generation.
A Jewish home library should include an assortment of children's books and should grow and change with the child. A youngster will benefit from a personal Jewish book corner. Very young children, from the time they are old enough to hear their first story, will enjoy and be influenced by read-aloud stories with a Jewish theme.
Many of the books for young adults (loosely geared to ages 11-14) relate to the Holocaust for it is at this age that awareness of this event is heightened. Certainly The Diary of Anne Frank should be on everyone's reading shelf. From 14+ one may select appropriate adult books.
The Always Prayer Shawl. Sheldon Oberman. Boyd Mills Press, 1994. $14.95hc. $5.99pb.
This award winning tale traces the path of a tallit (prayer shawl) passed down from generation to generation. A powerful, yet simply told story of about tradition and the passing of generations. Ages 6-9.
Beni's Little Library: A Jewish Holiday Boxed Set. Jane Breskin Zalben. Henry Holt, 1991. $19.95.
Four colorful books- Beni's First Chanukah, Goldie's Purim, Happy Passover, Rosie and Leo and Blossom's Sukah- present the story of the holiday, their prominent symbols and the significance. Ages 2-6.
But God Remembered: Stories of Women From Creation to the Promised Land. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Jewish Lights, 1995. $16.95.
This lively collection brings together four stories about important women often overlooked in Jewish history. Lilith, Serach, Bityah and the Daughters of Z are celebrated for their courage and wisdom. Ages 7-11.
The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank. Doubleday, 1967. $21.95 hc, Pocket Books, $4.95 pb.
The classic diary of a young girl caught in the Holocaust gives an enduring testament of faith and hope. Ages 11+
Esther's Story. Diane Wolkstein. Morrow Jr. Books, 1996. $15.00.
Queen Esther tells her own story in diary form which reveals the transformation of a shy orphan girl into a compassionate queen willing to risk the wrath of a king to save her people. Ages 6-10.
Eve and Her Sisters: Women of the Old Testament. Yona Zeldis McDonough. Greenwillow, 1994. $16.95.
The author/illustrator retells the stories of 14 women of the Bible who were wives, mothers, prophets, warriors and queens. Fully illustrated. Ages 6-10.
The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays. Malka Drucker. Little, Brown, 1994, $21.95.
Each major holiday is experienced through activity, stories, background and tradition in this large format book with well detailed color illustrations. Ages 5 and up.
God Sent a Rainbow and Other Bible Stories. Yona Zeldis. Jewish Publication Society, 1997. $17.95.
Fourteen Bible stories are retold for children and illustrated with unique folk art which adds beauty to the narrative. The selections, range from Genesis and Exodus and include Creation, Noah's Ark and The Baby Moses. Ages 4-8.
God's Paintbrush. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Jewish Lights, 1992, $15.95.
Using illustration and simple text the child encounters God through moments in his/her personal life. Offers opportunity for child and parents to discuss their views of God. Ages 3-8.
I Never Saw Another Butterfly. sec. ed. Hana Volavkova, ed. Schocken Books, 1994, $14.00pb.
In these poems and pictures some of the 15,000 children who passed through the Terezin Concentration Camp between 1942-1944 tell of their daily misery as well as their courage and optimism. Only 100 of the total population survived. Ages 9+
Miriam's Cup: A Passover Story. Fran Manushkin. Scholastic Press, 1998. $15.95.
Miriam's significant role is captured in this warm retelling of the traditional story which introduces Miriam's cup as a new holiday ritual. Includes a new composition, "Miriam's Song," by Debbie Friedman. Ages 6-10.
Molly's Pilgrim. Barbara Cohen. Lothrop, 1983, reissued 1998, $15.OOhc, $3.99pb.
The author's family provides the basis for this award winning book about a young girl and her classmates who find an additional dimension to the all American holiday of Thanksgiving. Ages 6?10
My Very Own Jewish Library. Judyth Saypol and Madeline Wikler. Kar-Ben Copies, 1974-1983. $27.00. (8 volumes)
There is a separate soft cover book for each of the major Jewish holidays with related stories and activities which provide a good hands-on introduction. Ages 4 to 8.
Next Year in Jerusalem: 3,000 Years of Jewish Stories. Retold by Howard Schwartz. Viking, 1996. $16.95.
Accompanied by Neil Waldman's beautiful illustrations, this is a gathering of wonderful stories about Jerusalem through the ages. Winner of National Jewish' Book Award. Ages 8-11.
One Yellow Daffodil: A Hanukkah Story. David A. Adler. Harcourt Brace, 1994. $16.00.
A moving story of a lonely survivor who is invited to a family holiday celebration where he tells young children about Hanukkah before the Holocaust.' Ages 6-10.
Sefer Ha'Aggadah: The Book of Legends for Young Readers. Seymour Rossel. UAHC Press, 1996. $15.OOpb.
Rossel gracefully rewrites the stories in Genesis for children in this adaptation of the widely read The Book of Legends by Bialek and Ravnitsky. Ages 8-12.
Sharing Blessings: Children's Stories for Exploring the Spirit of the Jewish Holidays. Rahel Musleah and Michael Klayman. Jewish Lights, 1997. $18.95. Ages 6-10.
David and Ilana show the ways to get into the "spirit" of the holidays through stories which bring their everyday life, a holiday, the family and a Jewish value together.
Tell Them We Remember. The Story of the Holocaust. Susan Bachrach. Little Brown & U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 1994. $19.95.
The Holocaust Museum's resources are used in this photo-history which focuses on young people whose world was destroyed by the Holocaust. The narration, enhanced by the visual material, brings out the reality of the event. Ages 10-16.
Beyond Scandal: The Parents' Guide to Sex, Lies and Leadership. Yosef I. Abramowitz, ed. Newton, MA: JFL Books, 1998. $9.95pb.
Abramowitz brings together experts to discuss "Talking to Your Kids About Sex;" "When Your Kids Lie;" "Dirty Jokes' and Other Bad Language;" and more, based on biblical, religious and humanistic values. A practical guide for today's families.
The Hadassah Magazine Jewish Parenting Book. Roselyn Bell, ed. Free Press, 1989. $19.95.
Hadassah presents essays on Jewish education, intermarriage, adoption, divorce, death, becoming a grandparent, adolescent separation, and other topics of current importance.
Jewish Family and Life: Traditions, Holidays and Values for Today's Parents and Children. Yosef Abramowitz and Susan Silverman. Golden Books, 1997. $14.95hc, $12.00pb.
The authors, parents of young children themselves, offer practical reference and a hands-on guide in gender friendly terms and address both the traditional and non-traditional Jewish family. They are concerned with integrating Jewish life into everyday situations as well as holidays.
The Jewish Parents' Almanac. Julie Hilton Danan. Jason Aronson, 1996, $24.95.
Danan's guide for integrating Judaism into modern family life includes hands-on information about the holidays, education and home life. The extensive list of resources is especially helpful.
To Raise a Jewish Child: A Guide for Parents. Hayim Halevy Donin. Basic Books, 1991. $19.95 hc, $11.OOpb.
A practical handbook, this work includes chapters on choosing a Hebrew school, planning family observances, and how best to help children find meaning and happiness in their Jewishness.
Teaching Your Child About God: A Modern Approach. David Wolpe. Henry Holt. 1994. $22.50.
The author addresses a growing concern in spiritual renewal and a concern of parents seeking answers to God, suffering, etc. to satisfy their children's (and maybe their own) inquiring minds and souls.
When Children Ask About God. Harold S. Kushner. Schocken Books, reissued 1995. $12.00 pb.
Parents who themselves may not have all the answers, but also are not satisfied with the answers they themselves received as children, will appreciate this book.
Children's Jewish Holiday Kitchen. Joan Nathan. Schocken, $18.00.
The author provides recipes of edibles children love to make and love to eat for all the Jewish holidays. Recommended for all ages with adult supervision.
Jewish Cooking in America. Joan Nathan. Knopf, revised ed. 1998. $35.00.
The "dean of the Jewish cookbook" has updated her popular book to include new recipes based on new eating habits in the 90s. A staple in every kitchen, it provides recipes for traditional Jewish foods as well as extensive creative ideas to add that special touch to your meals.
The Jewish Holiday Baker. Joan Nathan. Schocken Books, 1997. $23.00.
By the author of Jewish Cooking in America and The Jewish Holiday Cookbook, (see above) the work contains recipes taken from an international assemblage of Jewish bakers with step-by-step instructions for every kind of bread and cake imaginable and then some!
The Book of Jewish Food: An Odyssey from Samarkand to New York. Claudia Roder. Alfred Knopf, 1996. $34.50.
Much more than a cookbook, this award winning book contains, in addithon to the extensive choice of recipes from both Ashkenazic and Sephardic cooks, fascinating information from the myriad of cultures that influenced the dishes representing the scattering of the Jews throughout the Diaspora. Winner of the 1997 National Jewish Book Awarad, Becky Levy Memorial Award in Sephardic-Ashkenazic Culture.
Spice and Spirit: The Complete Kosher Jewish Cookbook. A Lubavitch Women's Cookbook Publication, 1990. $32.95
Recipes are divided by the type of dish they describe in this selection which offers suggestions for when to make the dishes, and includes symbols telling whether a recipe is fast, gourmet, international, and/or appropriate for Shabbat and holidays. It includes challah baking and braiding instructions, and an introduction to concept of kosher.
World of Jewish Entertaining: Menus, Recipes and Helpful Hints for Celebrating Holidays and Life Cycle Events. Gil Marks, Simon & Schuster, 1998. $30.00.
The author of The World of Jewish Cooking, takes us one step further with a "take-you-by-the-hand" guide to the planning, purchasing, preparing and presentation of food in the Jewish home at every season of the year.
The World of Jewish Cooking. Gil Marks. Simon & Schuster, $1996. $30.00.
Mark's offers more than 500 diverse recipes for Jewish food accompanied by their history and modern usage. Sample dishes are identified with mouthwatering illustrations. Beautifully presented.
The Sephardic Kitchen. Robert Sternberg. HarperCollins, 1996. $30.00.
These wonderful, easy-to-follow Mediterranean recipes are greatly enhanced by anecdotes, folk tales, essays about Sephardic homemaking, customs and culture.
Carolyn Starman
Hessel is Director of the Jewish Book Council, NY
Stuart L. Kelman, Ph.D., is the rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in
Berkeley, CA.