The Concise Family Seder [Paperback]

Alfred J. Kolatch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1987

This best-selling condensed version of The Family Seder contains all major elements of the Passover Seder service. It has found great favor with those whose Passover celebration previously consisted of little more than a meal.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ALFRED J. KOLATCH, a graduate of the Teachers Institute of Yeshiva University and its College of Liberal Arts, was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which subsequently awarded him the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa. From 1941 to 1948 he served as rabbi of congregations in Columbia, South Carolina, and Kew Gardens, New York, and as a chaplain in the United States Army. In 1948 he founded Jonathan David Publishers, of which he has since been president and editor-in-chief.

Rabbi Kolatch has authored numerous books, the most popular of which are Great Jewish Quotations, How to Live a Jewish Life, What Jews Say About God, This Is the Torah, and the best-selling Jewish Book of Why and its sequel, The Second Jewish Book of Why. Several of his works deal with nomenclature, about which he is an acknowledged authority. The New Name Dictionary and The Complete Dictionary of English and Hebrew First Names are his most recent works on the subject. Other books by the author include Our Religion: The Torah, The Jewish Heritage Quiz Book, The Jewish Mourner's Book of Why, Who's Who in the Talmud, and The Family Seder.

In addition to his scholarly work, Rabbi Kolatch is interested in the work of the military chaplaincy and has served as president of the Association of Jewish Chaplains of the Armed Forces and as vice-president of the interdenominational Military Chaplains Association of the United States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Jonathan David Publishers (January 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824603184
• ISBN-13: 978-0824603182
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Jewish Life
  • #41 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Passover, March 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Concise Family Seder (Paperback)

The Concise Family Seder by Rabbi Alfred J. Kolatch is an excellent guide for your first Passover observance or for anyone who is looking for a short, straight-forward, Passover Haggadah. That is the view of this conversion candidate.

It is relatively brief, comprising less than 50 pages. It guides you through the ritual with helpful explanatory commentary and weaves the story of the Jewish people from Abraham to Moses and from slavery to triumph. I particularly appreciated the author's kindness in including English transliteration and English translation with virtually every Hebrew language passage.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a simple, yet deeply meaningful, Passover Seder.

Shalom, Rod

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good concise traditional Seder Haggadah, March 11, 2001

By 

Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Concise Family Seder (Paperback)

This is 48 pages instead of Kolatch's more traditional 100 pages. Its good for an Abbreviated seder. English readings with a smattering of Hebrew text, reserved for the blessings. The FOUR QUESTIONS are in Hebrew text with English translation and English transliteration. Also the FOUR QUESTIONS are in the form of a responsive reading. Dayenu is in abbreviated form and transliterated, too. The Grace After Meals is abbreviated. Includes Chad Gadya and Echad Mi Yodeah (Who Knows One)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Passover Seder 2008, May 12, 2008

By 

Karen T (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Concise Family Seder (Paperback)

I chose this haggaddah over some other abridged versions because it actually opens and reads right to left, as any good Hebrew book should. It helped accomplish my goal of a short but meaningful seder. It would have been more enjoyable and more child or non-Jewish guest friendly with some traditional Passover legends we read every year as kids. The price was right at Amazon, especially since I ordered 12 books, which were shipped very promptly.