The JPS guide to Jewish traditions / Ronald L. Eisenberg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Eisenberg, Ronald L.

Contributor:

Jewish Publication Society.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judaism--Encyclopedias.

Judaism.

Genre:

Encyclopedias.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 806 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Jewish Publication Society guide to Jewish traditions

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia : The Jewish Publication Society, 2004.

Summary:

Have you ever wondered...: ...why ten people are required for a minyan? ...why a wedding ceremony is conducted under a huppah? ...why the Kaddish became an important part of the service? ...why the mezuzah is affixed to a door on an angle? ...what is behind the superstition of spitting three times? ...what is the traditional Jewish view on euthanasia and assisted suicide? These and hundreds of other topics are covered in this latest addition to the acclaimed JPS Desk Reference series. It is a comprehensive and authoritative resource with ready answers to questions concerning most aspects of Jewish life and practice. Using both classic and contemporary sources, Ronald Eisenberg has distilled an immense amount of material into a single volume, providing thousands of insights into the origins, history, and current interpretations of a wealth of Jewish traditions and customs. The book is divided into four sections: Life-Cycle Events, Sabbath and Festivals, Synagogue and Prayers, and a final Miscellany section that touches upon such diverse topics as food, animals, and magic and superstition. Eisenberg begins each section with an overview that provides the reader with a clear and basic understanding of the topic and then follows with more details and in-depth information. He writes for a wide audience and is respectful of the range of practices and beliefs within today's American Jewish community - from Orthodox to liberal. This thorough and factual encyclopedia of all things Jewish will be a valuable addition to synagogue and Jewish community libraries, as well as home and public libraries. It is also an excellent gift for a bar or bat mitzvah, confirmation, or wedding.

Contents:

Language xxiii

Life-Cycle Events

The Stages of Life 3

First 16 Years of Life 4

Birth 4

Circumcision 7

Names 14

Pidyon ha-Ben 20

Adoption 22

Bar Mitzvah 23

Bat Mitzvah 26

Confirmation 26

Marriage 28

Jewish Marriage 28

Marriage Ceremony 32

Harmonious Married Life 47

Obligations and Rights of the Husband 48

Prohibited Marriages 48

Levirate Marriage/Halitzah 52

Intermarriage 54

Sex 57

Premarital Sex 57

Male Homosexuality 58

Female Homosexuality 60

Divorce 62

Jewish Concepts of Divorce 62

Divorce Other Than by Consent 64

Consequences of Divorce 66

Get 67

Agunah 70

Death 74

Death and Dying 74

Angel of Death 77

Preparation for Burial 78

Funeral Service/Burial 82

Mourning 91

Suicide 103

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide 105

Cremation 109

Modern Issues Concerning the Dead 110

Afterlife and the World to Come 114

Sabbath and Festivals

Restrictions 130

Observances 136

Liturgy 145

Havdalah 147

Special Sabbaths 152

Festivals and Fasts 155

Jewish Calendar 164

Rosh Hodesh 166

High Holy Days 171

Repentance (Teshuvah) 171

Selichot 178

Elul 182

Rosh Hashanah 184

Ten Days of Repentance 204

Yom Kippur 206

Fall Festivals 227

Sukkot 227

Hoshana Rabbah 237

Shemini Atzeret 239

Simchat Torah 240

Winter Festivals 244

Hanukkah 244

Tu b'Shevat 252

Purim 254

Spring Festivals 264

Passover 264

Omer Period 293

Shavuot 298

Fast Days and Summer Observances 303

17th of Tammuz 303

The Three Weeks 304

Tisha b'Av 304

Tu b'Av 307

Tzom Gedalyah 308

10th of Tevet 309

Synagogue and Prayer

Synagogue 313

Synagogue Architecture 321

Torah Scrolls and Ornaments 324

Ark 332

Bimah 335

Mechitzah 337

Rabbi 338

Hazzan 346

Prayer 350

Major Themes of Prayer 355

Language of Prayer 356

Proper Forms of Prayer 357

Answer to Prayer 363

Congregational Prayer 365

Prayer as Polemic 366

Siddur 367

Minyan 372

Kippah 374

Tallit 377

Tefillin 382

Blessings and Benedictions 386

Amen 392

Kaddish 394

Daily and Sabbath Prayers 399

Daily Order of Prayers 399

Morning Blessings (Birchot ha-Shachar) 401

Pesukei de-Zimra 407

Barchu 411

Ahavah Rabbah/Ahavat Olam 412

Shema 413

Amidah 421

Tachanun 435

Torah Service 438

Haftarah 456

Av ha-Rachamim 461

Yekum Purkan/Mi She Berakh 461

Prayer for the Government 463

U-va le-Zion Go'el 464

Ein Keloheinu 465

Aleinu 466

Prayers Recited before Leaving the Synagogue 468

Psalm of the Day 469

Yigdal 470

Adon Olam 471

An'im Zemirot 472

Personal Prayers 473

Modeh Ani 473

Bedtime Prayers 473

Blessings before Eating 474

Grace after Meals (Birkat ha-Mazon) 476

Shir ha-Ma'alot 478

Shehecheyanu 479

Tefillat ha-Derech 479

Thanksgiving Blessing (Birkat ha-Gomel) 480

Jewish Literature

Bible 485

Ten Commandments 489

Masoretic Text 493

Biblical Commentary 495

Rabbinic Literature 498

Mishnah 499

Baraita and Tosefta 500

Talmud 501

Commentaries and Codes 504

Midrash 507

Thirteen Principles of Faith 509

Mitzvot

Enumeration of the Mitzvot 515

Rabbinic Commandments 516

Reasons for Observance of the Mitzvot (Ta'amei ha-Mitzvot) 517

Performance of the Mitzvot 523

Obligation of Women to Perform the Commandments 527

Proper Behavior and Ethical Living 530

Gemilut Hasadim 530

Tzedakah 531

Hospitality (Hakhnasat Orchim) 539

Visiting the Sick (Bikur Holim) 542

Pikuach Nefesh 548

Lashon ha-Ra 550

Washing the Hands 553

Mikveh (Ritual Bath) 555

Niddah (Menstruating Woman) 557

Sha'atnez (Mingling of Fabrics) 562

Jewish Courts and Judges 563

Business Ethics 568

Prohibition against Lending at Interest 570

Miscellany

Symbols of Jews and of Israel 575

Magen David (Star or Shield of David) 575

Israeli Flag 577

Hatikvah 578

Menorah 578

Mezuzah 580

Magic and Superstition 583

Amulet 583

Evil Eye 584

Popular Superstitions 586

Other Customs and Concepts 590

Beards 590

A Chosen People 592

Conversion 595

Dreams 603

Excommunication 607

Golem 610

Heavenly Bodies 611

Kissing Holy Objects 618

Kitel 619

The Messiah 619

Mizrach 623

Names of God 624

Numbers 630

Satan 648

Shalom 649

Food

Dietary Laws (Kashrut) 656

Seven Species 667

Specific Foods 674

Plants and Animals

Plants 695

Trees 695

Specific Plants 697

Animals 705

Cruelty to Animals 705

Specific Animals 709

Weekly Torah and Haftarah Readings 775

Torah Readings for Holidays and Special Sabbaths 777

Orders of Mishnah and Tractates of the Talmud 779.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 769-774) and index.

ISBN:

0827607601

OCLC:

54778509