Customer Reviews

Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-by-Step

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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This book provides exactly what the title advertises: a step-by-step guide through the Shabbat experience, from Friday night through the end of the day on Saturday. Whether you already keep Shabbat, or you are someone seeking to learn more about Jewish religious observance, this book will make Shabbat a more meaningful and spirtual experience.

Ever wondered what beginning Shabbat dinner with Shalom Aleichem is all about? Kiddush? Grace after meals? What about that washing of the hands before Hamotzi? Or, maybe you are curious about WHAT to do, not just why? This book answers all of these questions and more.

Indeed, for each ritual or step in the Shabbat experience, the book provides the what, how, and why. The author even includes the full text of prayers (in English, Hebrew, and transliteration) for both before and after the meals. Also included in each section of the book are first person antecdotes describing various individuals' personal stories behind their endeavors to observe particular rituals.

I highly recommend this book, especially for those who want to-the-point explanations of specific Shabbat rituals, including for those interested in learning what to do, and how to do it.

I now use the book to refresh myself on particular rituals so that I can share their meanings with Shabbat guests, making both mine and their Shabbat experiences more meaningful.

As an aside, the book would make a great gift for that friend or family member who keeps talking about wanting to learn about or "do more" on Shabbat but who feels overwhelmed by the prospect of having to catch-up years of not learning about Judaism. It certainly helped me in that regard.

My only regret about this book is that we didn't purchase it sooner. My wife and I are on the path of becoming more observant. We bought and read several Shabbos books before we found this one. The other books were o.k., but none came close to combining inspiration and instruction in such a pragmatic manner as Lori Palatnik is able to do. I strongly recommend this wonderful book to anyone wanting to learn and embrace the how's and why's of a traditional Jewish Shabbat.

This is the book for those of us for whom BEING Jewish isn't enough. This book is a wonderful introduction to DOING Jewish... the rituals that have kept Judaism going through the centuries.

If you worry that keeping Shabbat is beyond you, just dig into this book, written just for you by a woman who is much-loved here in her former hometown of Toronto (and much-missed now that she's moved down to Florida).

I have already lent my copy out twice to people just starting to observe Shabbos. It is very user-friendly, with step by step instructions for what to do and when but also includes the reasons for specific practices and even gives you first person accounts of others who have been there. This makes it very pleasant reading, not just another "how to" book. This is the one book you should read when you're starting out because it covers ALL the basics. I loved it and recommend it to people constantly!

Lori's book is just what the Spritual Doctor ordered to help me on my journey towards keeping the Sabbath. I have experienced the beauty of Shabbat in other peoples home but with the help of this book I can begin celebrating Shabbat in my own home.

Friday Night and Beyond is a great Shabbat starter and covers all aspects of Shabbat including prayers and traditional Jewish recipes. Lori is a fantastic teacher and never disappoints. Whether you are thinking about converting or want to brush up on your Shabbat tools this book is a must. It is the only book that I know of that goes through Shabbat with great detail but is easy enough to flick through if you need help in a certain area without having to read the whole book.

I observe Shabbat in part every week and this book has added so much to my weekly observances. I love reading the whys and the backgrounds behind each step as well as everyone's contributions of anecdotes along the way. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but this is an amazing book. I think it doesn't do a very good job of helping those growing in observance--there's no "take it step by step; anything you do is good"--it seems to be an instruction on Orthodoxy. Other than that small thing, I would highly recommend this book to anyone considering it.

This is an easy to read and consise review of the fundamentals of keeping Shabbos for the beginner. I highly recommend this book for those starting out in being Shomar Shabbos

This book illustrates the basics of jewish tradition in a clear, concise and non-threatening fashion. Very refreshing