My People's Prayer Book, Vol. 7: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries---Shabbat at Home [Hardcover]

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman (Author), Elliot N. Dorff (Author), Marc Brettler (Author)

Book Description

Series: My People's Prayer Book | Publication Date: October 2003

My People’s Prayer Book is a momentous eight-volume series that opens up the traditional Jewish prayer book (the siddur) as a spiritual resource. Commentaries by respected teachers from all perspectives of the Jewish world provide the spiritual images that make up the siddur.

The seventh volume in the series explores the typical Ashkenazi-style table liturgy for Shabbat, along with a broad range of z’mirot (table songs) that reflect the rich diversity of Jewish practice. It illuminates the meanings behind the traditional blessings for ushering in Shabbat, as well as the rituals and ceremony for concluding the holy day.

My People’s Prayer Book: Volume 7—Shabbat at Home features the traditional Hebrew text with a new translation that lets you know exactly what the prayers say. Introductions explain what to look for in the prayers, and how to use the commentaries to find meaning in the prayer book. Commentaries from eminent scholars and teachers from all movements of Judaism examine Shabbat at home from the viewpoints of ancient Rabbis and modern theologians, as well as a myriad of other perspectives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, is widely recognized as a leader in bringing spiritual innovation into modern Jewish life and worship. He is the co-author of What Is a Jew? (Collier) and author of The Way Into Jewish Prayer, Israel--A Spiritual Travel Guide, and The Art of Public Prayer: Not for Clergy Only, 2nd Ed. (all Jewish Lights), as well as many scholarly works.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; Bilingual edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045850
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045859
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,568 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Prayerbooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a line-by-line commentary..., January 21, 2006

By 

Michael Lewyn (Forest Hills, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My People's Prayer Book, Vol. 7: Traditional Prayers, Modern Commentaries---Shabbat at Home (Hardcover)

on the major Shabbat home prayers, especially the Kiddushes and Havdalah. The commentaries are from a variety of perspectives, both ideological (Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative) and subject matter (Tanach, feminist, halachic, theological, historical, etc.). I found the halachic commentary to be the most interesting, since it is of the most practical value for anyone seeking to observe Shabbat.

One thing I would have changed: the 30 pages spent on Shabbat table songs. Because different families use such a wide variety of songs, any attempt to focus on three or four of them is likely to miss a lot of songs used by lots of people, and to use a lot of songs that lots of people have never heard of. I would have preferred to see the extra space spent on Birkat Hamazon (the blessing after meals) since that prayer is almost universally said after Shabbat meals.