The Jewish holidays : a journey through history / Larry Domnitch.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Domnitch, Larry.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fasts and feasts--Judaism--History.

Fasts and feasts.

Fasts and feasts--Judaism.

History.

Physical Description:

xii, 243 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Northvale, N.J. : Jason Aronson, [2000]

Summary:

In The Jewish Holidays: A Journey through History, author Larry Domnitch contends that there is a cyclical nature to the events of Jewish history. He writes, "The events that make up the themes of the Jewish holidays did not occur in a vacuum but have recurred throughout history. The actual Israelite exodus from Egypt, or the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai as celebrated on Shavuot, may have occurred once, but in a sense the themes conveyed by those momentous events have been repeated over the centuries.

"The events surrounding the holidays molded the foundation of the Jews as a nation and are related to their continuity and survival as Jews throughout history.

"A known passage quoted in the Passover Haggadah states, `In every generation a person should see himself as if he personally exited Egypt.' Just as an individual can reflect upon the impact of the Exodus and its relevance on one's life, the events of the Exodus from Egypt did not end with the Exodus but have recurred throughout history. It is likewise with the other holidays. In every generation the Jews receive the Torah as they did on Shavuot. They wander the earth as they did the Sinai wilderness for forty years under Divine protection following their Exodus as commemorated by Succot. On Rosh Hashanah many Jewish communities begin anew and reassess their conduct, while on Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, Jews continually examine their deeds.

"The events of Purim and the post-biblical holiday of Chanukah reflect the threats posed to Jewish existence throughout history, threats which Jews have survived albeit far from unscathed. On Tisha b'Av, Jews have suffered numerous catastrophes. On that day both the First and Second Temples were destroyed. Six days later, Tu b'Av, which signifies revitalization, arrives. From the ashes of destruction the remains are rebuilt.

"This book attempts to give the reader an appreciation of the cyclical nature of Jewish history and a greater appreciation of the holidays and their relevance throughout Jewish history."

Contents:

Passover

Lag B'Omer

Yom Yerushalayim

Shavuot

Tisha B'Av

Tu B'Av

Rosh Hashanah

Yom Kippur

Succot

Chanukah

Tu Bishvat

Purim.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-228) and index.

ISBN:

0765761092

OCLC:

41156399