Jewish Holiday Style (Hardcover)

~ Rita Milos Brownstein (Author) "THE BLAST OF THE SHOFAR IS THE SIGNAL-the alarm-that the Days of Awe, the ten-day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, has begun..." (more)
Key Phrases: matzo cover, matzo meal, seder table, Rosh Hashanah, New Year, Simchat Torah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"In Judaism, since the spiritual and the physical are intimately connected, each has the power to enhance and infuse vitality into the other, creating a divine partnership. This concept of beauty and spirituality is most attainable during the Jewish holidays." So writes Rita Milos Brownstein, in the introduction to Jewish Holiday Style, a Martha Stewart-esque treatment of the Jewish holy days. The book is a colorful step-by-step guide to making the highlights of the Jewish calendar as chic and elegant as they can be. Although Brownstein sometimes gets carried away with her rhetoric (Yom Kippur becomes "a day spa for the soul"), her ideas and instructions (such as making your own Chanukah menorah, or celebrating Rosh Hashanah by tasting various honeys) will add some zest to the oldest Jewish traditions. And even Brownstein's excesses have at least this to redeem them: they always encourage the biblical virtue of hospitality.

From Library Journal

Jewish cookbooks have become a rapidly burgeoning category. Appearing at the beginning of the annual cycle that starts with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, three of these four new titles focus on Jewish holidays and holy days, while Friedland's concentrates just on the Sabbath. Greene's book, a revision of her 1985 title, is by far the most ambitious of the group, with more than 250 recipes (80 or so entirely new, the others thoroughly revised) for all the major holidays and some minor ones, and including Israel's Independence Day as well as religious celebrations. A cooking teacher and the longtime food editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times, Greene also offers extensive background on each holiday, and her diverse recipes are from all around the globe. Highly recommended. Recently, a growing number of Jews have found themselves returning to their religious roots and observances they have let lapse, making Friedland's book on celebrating the Sabbath particularly timely. A cookbook editor and author of The Passover Cookbook, Friedland presents 175 recipes for the three meals of Shabbat (Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and the "third meal," marking the end of the Sabbath later on Saturday). Like Greene's, her recipes are international in scope, reflecting both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic heritages, and her text is readable and informative. Recommended for most collections. Brownstein, the former art director of Good Housekeeping and House Beautiful, offers a lavishly illustrated crafts book with recipes and ideas for the holidays. For each holiday, there is a menu, several crafts projects, and decorating suggestions. Brownstein's approach will not be to everyone's taste (the three sukkahs for Sukkot, for example, include a "fantasy" Penthouse Sukkah, "high-tech and sleek," but the minimatzo vases for the Passover seder are pretty cute). For larger collections. Rubin seems like a nice woman, but would her cookbooks have been published if she weren't actor/singer Mandy Patinkin's mother? Her second book, which opens with "testimonials" from grandchildren and other family members, includes recipes for Thanksgiving, a bridal luncheon, and a barbecue as well as for four major Jewish holidays. The recipes are simple, and many of them rely on convenience foods; some have little to do with traditional Jewish holiday cooking (the buffet menu includes Mexicali Layered Dip and two shellfish dishes). Only for collections where Rubin's Grandma Doralee Patinkin's Jewish Family Cookbook is popular.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; illustrated edition edition (September 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684849593
• ISBN-13: 978-0684849591
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #643,831 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh, contemporary approach to Jewish ritual and custom., October 10, 1999

By A Customer

The author has done a wonderful job of bringing fresh visual and culinary interpretations of all of the Jewish festivals and holidays, beautifully demonstrated through sensitively written text and gorgeous photos. Best of all, the author has done her research and has faithfully stayed on course in respectfully explaining Jewish religious ritual. It's a wonderful resource for those who have never attempted a Purim costume or Passover meal, as well as for those who prepare Sabbath meals week after week and just want a fresh perspective.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chock full of Jewish holiday food and decorating ideas, October 8, 1999

By A Customer

Rita Brownstein has created a unique guide to celebrating the Jewish holidays creatively. She combines outstanding artistic and culinary talents with a deep appreciation and knowledge of Jewish customs and laws. The result is a new and exciting approach to the annual cycle of traditional Jewish observance. This is not just a cookbook or only a home decorating book. This book will appeal to those who know the Sabbath and holiday celebrations are not just dinner parties. Beautiful decorations and holiday symbols enhance their beauty and meaning. This book is obviously a labor of love and I highly recommend it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jewish Holiday Style..., April 18, 2000

By A Customer

I bought this book for myself, and five more copies for my friends and family. This passover I am planning on making three matzah-cover vases for my pesach table, and I'm also going to have a glass-square sedar plate. These stylish things are chic and inexpensive, plus they look great with any room or setting. The book itself has more knowledge than any other style book: usually books are either one or the other. Is Ms. Brownstein planning on writing any books in the future?