Rabbi Berel Wein once again exhibits his admirable talent for clear, lucid explanation in this highly informative work. Though each chapter is brief, the sweep of the book is broad – exploring life-cycle events from birth through death, the Jewish view of family life and values, character refinement, Sabbath, holidays and specific religious practices.
An enriching reading experience, Living Jewish enables every reader to find deeper meaning in Jewish traditions and reconnect with the ancient values that have found new expression in the modern era.
Rabbi Wein is well known as a historian, raconteur, lecturer and author of numerous works on Jewish history and Jewish thought. His enlightening and entertaining style will captivate your interest, and his inspiring insights will add meaning to your life.

Table of Contents

Foreword

LIFE CYCLE EVENTS

• 1. Birth
• 2. The Covenant of Abraham: Brit
• 3. Redeeming the Firstborn Son: Pidyon HaBen
• 4. Bat Mitzvah
• 5. Bar Mitzvah
• 6. The Wedding
• 7. Death in Jewish Tradition
• 8. The Funeral: Saying Good-bye
• 9. The Annual Yarzheit: Memorial Days
• 10. Immortality

FAMILY LIFE

• 11. Marriage
• 12. Intimacy
• 13. Children
• 14. Divorce

YEAR-ROUND MITZVOT

• 15. Ethics
• 16. Kosher Food
• 17. Tallit and Tzitzit
• 18. Tefillin
• 19. Mezuzah

PRAYER

• 20. The Morning Prayer: Shacharit
• 21. The Afternoon Prayer: Minchah
• 22. The Evening Prayer: Maariv
• 23. Cantors
• 24. The Blessing of Dew
• 25. Kaddish

THE SABBATH

• 26. A Bit of History: Sabbath and the Immigrant Experience
• 27. The Candles of Sabbath
• 28. The Sabbath Table
• 29. Sabbath Clothing
• 30. The Day of Rest
• 31. Havdalah

HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS

• 32. Measuring Time
• 33. The Names of the Jewish Months
• 34. Rosh Hashanah
• 35. New Year’s Greetings
• 36. Apples and Honey
• 37. Tashlich
• 38. Shabbat Shuvah
• 39. Yom Kippur
• 40. The Joy of Succot
• 41. Intermediate Days of Holidays: Chol Hamoed
• 42. Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
• 43. Chanukah
• 44. The Hasmoneans
• 45. The Tenth of Tevet
• 46. The Fast of Esther
• 47. Purim
• 48. Passover and The Spring Calendar
• 49. Selling the Chametz
• 50. Matzoh Shmurah
• 51. “Machine” Matzoh
• 52. Legumes on Passover: Kitnayot
• 53. The Seder
• 54. Sefirah
• 55. Lag B’Omer
• 56. Shavuot: A Sleepless Night
• 57. Cheese and Flowers
• 58. The Seventeenth of Tamuz
• 59. The Three Weeks
• 60. “The Sabbath of Stark Vision:” Shabbat Chazon
• 61. The Ninth of Av
• 62. National Memorial Days

CHARACTER REFINEMENT

• 63. Subduing Anger
• 64. Kindness
• 65. Justice
• 66. Truth

EDUCATION

• 67. Schools
• 68. Yeshivot
• 69. Schools for Women