Shabbat, 2nd Edition: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath (The Art of Jewish Living Series) [Paperback]

Ron Wolfson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002 | Series: Art of Jewish Living

Celebrate the joy of "making Shabbat" each week in your home—with rituals, prayers, blessings, food, and song

Bringing together all the spiritual and practical aspects of Shabbat, the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs and the University of Judaism offer today’s families the resources needed to celebrate this holy day—meaningfully, creatively, and joyously.

From preparing yourself and your home for Shabbat, through the beautiful ritual of Havdalah, this essential sourcebook uses pictures, memories, recipes, and stories to help you create a happier, more inspiring, spiritually refreshing Shabbat.

This expanded, easy-to-use edition of the classic spiritual sourcebook offers updated information, more ideas, and new resources for every aspect of the holy day. An inspiring how-to guide to every aspect of Shabbat, including:

--History and meaning

--How to prepare

--Rituals, prayers, and blessings (step-by-step)

--The Sabbath day

--Havdalah

--Songs and prayers in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish (with clear transliterations)

--Recipes for traditional and modern foods to spice up the Shabbat menu

--Family activities to enhance the experience

Enriched by real-life voices sharing practical suggestions and advice, this creative resource helps us to reacquaint ourselves with time-tested traditions and discover old and new ways to celebrate Shabbat, including biblically-inspired songs and games, Shabbat-related crafts, and more family-tested ideas.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Ron Wolfson’s books have helped Jewish families of all backgrounds and levels of observance bring greater spiritual meaning to Jewish holy days. He is the William and Freda Fingerhut Assistant Professor of Education, the director of the Whizin Center for the Jewish Future, and vice president of the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. A co-founder of Synagogue 2000, an institute for envisioning the synagogue of the twenty-first century, Wolfson is also author of Hanukkah: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration; The Passover Seder; and A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort: A Guide to Jewish Bereavement and Comfort (all Jewish Lights). He celebrates Shabbat in Encino, California, with his wife, Susie, and their two children, Havi and Michael.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; 2 edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580231640
• ISBN-13: 978-1580231640
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, I earned my Ph.D. in Education from Washington University in St. Louis and the MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Judaism. I am the Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, the Co-President of Synagogue 3000, and a member of the Consortium for the Future of the Jewish Family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Shabbat primer -- and more, April 27, 2004

By 

Meirav "yll" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shabbat, 2nd Edition: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath (The Art of Jewish Living Series) (Paperback)

This book is both a primer on how to introduce Shabbat in your home if you haven't been observing and remembering it, and a look at how others have incorporated the traditions in their homes and chavurot. It covers every aspect of the Shabbat: lighting the candles, kiddush, washing the hands, challot, blessing the family, songs, right on through havdalah. It covers halachah for each aspect, how to maintain the interest and attention of your children and how to deal with modern realities such as divorce and mixed families. It has English, Hebrew transliteration and Hebrew for each blessing and for some Shabbat songs.

I highly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Idiots Guide" to observing a traditional Shabbat., June 29, 2006

By 

Beverley (Lancaster, California, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shabbat, 2nd Edition: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath (The Art of Jewish Living Series) (Paperback)

I bought this book because of the author's approach of putting all prayers on their own page: each prayer or song is printed in the original Hebrew and transliteration version, and also has the English translation. (A suggestion for the next edition is to have the transliteration NEXT TO the original Hebrew, rather than separated by the English translation)

This book serves as an excellent guide for those who have never observed a traditional Shabbat, and who wish to start doing so now. The book clearly gives the order of the "Shabbat Evening Seder", from lighting candles, traditional blessings for family members, blessings over wine and bread, traditional around the table Sabbath songs, the "Birkat HaMazon" (full and abbreviated versions of the blessing after a meal), and "Havadalah" (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the normal week). In addition, it has a section where it discusses the meaning and tradition behind the prayers.

We entertain people from different backgrounds, including orthdox, traditional and secular Jews, and on occasion, people from other faiths. This book allows everyone present at our Shabbat evening meal to follow, understand and participate in our Shabbat dinner.

My only criticism is that the section covering the actual prayers and "zmirot" (songs) does not go from right to left (i.e. following the Hebrew rather than English direction of pages.) The explanation section can remain in the left to right direction. My suggestion is that all Hebrew sections start at the right-hand cover, while discussions, explanations and history start at the left-hand cover - giving a 2-part book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shabbat 2nd edition, August 6, 2011

By 

Melissa Daigneault - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shabbat, 2nd Edition: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath (The Art of Jewish Living Series) (Paperback)

A great introduction to anyone who has never celebrated shabbat or to the ones who are just wanting to learn more.