September 18, 2009
Celebrating the Jewish Year
BOOK REVIEW reviewed by SYBIL KAPLAN
This three volume set by Paul Steinberg includes Volume I, Fall holidays; Volume II, Winter Holidays; Volume III, Spring and Summer Holidays. Published by the Jewish Publication Society, each 200page volume is $22. These books are the kind of books a reviewer says, every family should own this set. Paul Steinberg is rabbi and director of Jewish studies and Hebrew at the Levine Academy in Dallas. He was assisted by Janet Greenstein Potter, editor of several Jewish Publication Society publications. Volume I was published in 2007 and includes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. It is an invaluable guidebook to help the reader explore all aspects of these holidays. After introductory material on Jewish holidays and observance and the Jewish calendar, the book follows the same pattern for each holiday. First there is an exploration of the origins of the holiday in the Bible. This is followed by guiding through the sources, interpretation of the sacred texts, significance of the holiday and alternative meditations. One interesting aspect of the interpretation of the sacred texts is the three lev-
els at which these are discussed: peshot, the simple, literal meanings; derash, the historical and Rabbinic inquiry; and making it personal, contemporary analysis and application. Volume I concludes with notes on all of the sources, endnotes, a glossary and short bios of the contributing authors. Contributors include: S.Y. Agnon, Shlomo Carlebach, and a number of distinguished scholars and rabbis. Volume II, also published in 2007, includes Chanukah, Purim and Tu b’Shvat. Among the varied 18 contributing authors are: Theodore Herzl, Marin Buber, and Nachman of Bratzlav. Volume III was just published a few months ago and includes Passover, Shavuot, the Omer and Tisha b’Av. Contributors include wellknown American scholars and rabbis. Stories, essays, poems and explanations of rituals enhance the meaning of each holiday. This is really a terrific guidebook for friends and family members because it is such an enjoyable read that can be used at basic and in-depth levels. These should be top priority purchases for your library because they are “a one-stop resource” and will make meaningful contributions to the celebrations of Jewish holidays. Sybil Kaplan is a journalist, food writer, lcturer and book reviewer who made aliyah one year ago and lives in Jerusalem.
Unplanned Pregnancy?
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 65
Of blessed memory: deaths in 5769 Barry Abrams, Edith Abrams, Gail Spector Abramson, Barry Allen, Louis Azriel, Irving J. Babendir, Lillian Ban, Diane M. Bogdanoff, Minnie Yaffe Breslow, Jack H. Bufferd, Edward E. Chait, Corrine Wohlner Chapman, Esther Rae Chesnin, Leon Chesnin, Irving Chudacoff, Donald Cohen, Doris Kwiatek Cohen, Gwen K. Cohn, Rae Coren, Miriam Cooper, Ruth Stephanie Cullen, Regina Dunning, Bella Eisenberg, Cheryl Elberson, Lois Dvorkin Epstein, Rhonda Erlich, Leonid Etus, Lieb Etus, Jean-Pierre Farjon, Rose Fine, Louie Fedman, Helen Finkel, Leonard Gerald Finkel, Barbara Finnicum, William “Bill” Fitzgerald, Gertrude Guss Forman, Irving J. Forbes, Delores “Dee” Fox, Frances Rosenblatt Fox, Ruth Fox, Marilyn Joyce Bernstein Fried, Edythe Friedman, Thama Lee Friedman, Enrique Frydman, Babe Nachman Galemba, Olga Garanuner, Anne Rose Gerber, Abe Gershovich, Elaine Schlaifer Ginsburg, Lorraine Goldman, Herman Goldstein, Philip Gordon, Maurice “Bud” Irwin Greenspan, Paul Grossman, Marie Ham, Sheldon Harris, Eva Meyerson Handleman, Arthur Henry, Pearl Segall Herzog, Marie Herbert, Michael Hoberman, Jeanette Hulman, Eli Jabenis, Charles B. Kamp, Rose Shamberg Katzman, Ben Kaufman, James Kennedy, Marjorie Brodkey Kirshenbaum, Lou Klein, Leonard “Chris” Krasne, Norm Kronick, Sheldon Kushner, David Lazarus, Lewis Lavine, Sallye B. Levin, Libby F. Lincoln, Betty Lipman, Arthur Maischoss, Dr. Sidney
Merliss, Ida Miller, Kenneth Mommaertz, Constance Morgan-Jensen, Arlene Kuklin Moskovitz, Marc E. Novak, Shlomo Palmon, Sol S. Parsow, Harry Paskowitz, Nancy Peartree, Bess “Beth” Perlmeter, Janet Perlmeter, Gerald Pitalis, Bede Ostrow, Victoria Rendell, Margot Roesberg, Normand Edward Roffman, Rose Paperny Rosen, Edward Rosenbaum, Susan Rosenberg, Larry Rosenthal, Ethelyn Roseman, Shirley Rosenzweig, Doris M. Rosinsky, Elliot “Bus” Rubin, Herman Rubin, Mason Rudd, Edward Saag, Jack J. Schrager, Gerry Schuchman, Harry Schulman, Audrey Shapiro, Hershel Shulman, Miriam Shrier, Laura Sigala, Elvin Silverman, Fannye Simon, Joe Sokol, Leelo Sommerhauser, Harriet Ann Rothkop Starr, Phillip Henry Starr, Irene Wolf Stein, Esther “Tibe” Stoler, Judy Bordy Swiskay, Marilyn Jean Treller, Paul Corby Tully, Devora Urkowitz, Sally Venger, Sol Yaffe, Steven J. Wigodsky, Sara Wisnia, Bernice Paperny Wolfson, Joe Wolfson, Philip A. Wright, Michael Zevakin, Retired Lt. Col. William Zohn, and Roslyn “Roz” Zoob.
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What Does Jewish Law and Jewish Tradition Say About Health Care Reform? A presentation by
Rabbi Michael Broyde Professor of Law and Academic Director of the Law and Religion Program, Emory University
Nebraska Children’s Home Society is here to help. free, confidential, no obligation Call 24 hours, toll free: 1-800-390-6754 www.nchs.org
Best Wishes to All Our Customers and Friends for a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center Auditorium A question and answer session, with comments by
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