The Jewish Holidays

A comprehensive guide to Judaism's annual celebrations and observances "written in a clear, thought-provoking style" by the coeditor of The Jewish Catalog ( Booklist). For anyone seeking a deeper understanding and experience of the Jewish holidays, Michael Strassfeld offers this authoritative, comprehensive guide to the yearly festival cycle. The Jewish Holidays is a fascinating weave of the traditional and the contemporary, the communal and the individual, the letter and the spirit. For the observant Jew, Strassfeld gives learned, in-depth commentary on the practice and the meaning of the holidays and for the novice he provides accessible information on conducting a seder, building a sukkah, and preparing inwardly for the High Holy Days. "Although plenty of books have already been written about the Jewish holidays, this one . . . is fresh, different, and altogether worth having." — Hadassah Magazine "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 marvelous book." — Jewish Chronicle