Handbook for the Jewish Home »

Rabbi Alfred J. Kolatch, celebrated author of The Jewish Books of Why, has helped a generation understand the reasons behind Jewish law, custom, and ritual. Now, in A Handbook for the Jewish Home, he provides us with a practical guide that explains precisely and concisely how to conduct ourselves both in our homes and when interacting with the Jewish community at large.

Without underestimating the reader's intelligence or overestimating his or her Jewish knowledge, the handbook instructs us how to derive the most from life's joyous occasions (picking a name for a newborn, preparing for a Bar and Bat Mitzva, planning a wedding celebration) and how to cope with the painful ones (arranging for a divorce, making funeral preparations, observing the rituals of mourning). It teaches us how to establish a kosher home, properly affix a mezuza to a doorpost, don tefillin, light Sabbath and holiday candles, and recite the Kiddush over wine. So that we might obtain maximum pleasure and inspiration from the Jewish days of celebration, it also presents background on each of the holidays and offers step-by-step guidance on how to observe the relevant customs.

Taking into account that the Jewish mosaic is diverse and that religious law can be intimidating, A Handbook for the Jewish Home explains the varieties of Jewish observance in straightforward language and compact, easy-to-understand units. Whether discussing how to kindle a Chanuka menora, assemble a lulav bouquet, or conduct a Passover Seder, it equips us with the knowledge and confidence necessary to fulfill Jewish tradition with ease and comfort.

Previously issued in hardcover as The Jewish Home Advisor and in paperback as How to Live a Jewish Life.

The Jewish Chronicle

"Whenever you see the name of Rabbi Alfred J. Kolatch, you can be sure the book is going to be chock full of useful information-and this volume is no exception . . . . Very well organized, [A Handbook for the Jewish Home] presents the kind of detailed information needed by the modern family committed to perpetuating Jewish tradition. . . . It deserves to be in every Jewish home."