Exploring Jewish Tradition : A Transliterated Guide to Everyday Practice and Observance

by WITTY, ABRAHAMWITTY, RACHELLE

• ISBN13: 9780385494540
• ISBN10: 0385494548
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Doubleday

Summary

What it means to be holy in the face of the anxieties of the modern world.

Author Biography

Rabbi ABRAHAM WITTY holds master's degrees in international relations from the City University of New York and in Jewish educational administration from New York University, where he was a fellowship recipient. RACHEL WITTY is an award-winning writer with more than twenty years of professional experience in the publishing industry. The Wittys have three grown children and live in northern New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xxiii
Preface	xxvii
What Is Torah?	1	(24)
Defining Torah	3	(1)
The Written Law	4	(6)
The Septuagint	4	(1)
The Holy Scriptures	5	(1)
The Hebrew Text	6	(2)
The Portions of the Torah	8	(2)
The Oral Law	10	(6)
The Mishnah	11	(1)
The Organization of the Mishnah	11	(1)
The Orders of the Mishnah	12	(1)
The Tractates of the Mishnah	13	(1)
The Gemara	14	(1)
The Tractates of the Gemara	14	(1)
How Mishnah and Gemara Differ	15	(1)
Jewish Law	16	(1)
Biblical Law and Rabbinic Law	16	(1)
What Is a Mitzvah?	16	(1)
Further Delineations of Jewish Law	17	(1)
The Code of Jewish Law	17	(1)
The Midrash	17	(1)
The Essence of Being a Jew	18	(2)
The Study of Torah	18	(1)
Prayer	19	(1)
Acts of Lovingkindness	19	(1)
Accessibility to Torah	20	(1)
Jewish Customs	20	(5)
A Witty Remark!	22	(1)
Word Works	23	(2)
The Synagogue	25	(24)
The Holy Temples	26	(3)
The Synagogue	29	(1)
Inside the Synagogue	29	(3)
The Holy Ark	30	(1)
The Eternal Light	30	(1)
The Mechitzah	31	(1)
The Torah Scroll	32	(8)
The Alef-Bet	32	(1)
The Numerical Values of the Alef-Bet	32	(2)
The Significance of Numerology	34	(1)
Writing a Sefer Torah	35	(2)
The Etz Chayim	37	(1)
The Gartel and the Mantel	38	(1)
The Rimonim and the Keter Torah	38	(1)
The Choshen and the Yad	38	(2)
The Religious Leaders	40	(9)
The High Priest	40	(1)
The Rabbi	41	(1)
A Witty Remark!	42	(1)
The Cantor	42	(2)
The Reader of the Law	44	(2)
Word Works	46	(3)
Prayer and Jewish Liturgy	49	(70)
The Origin of Prayer	50	(1)
The Names of God	51	(3)
In the Image of God	54	(3)
The Concept of Blessings	57	(13)
Thanking Him for the Bad and the Good	57	(1)
Clinging to God	58	(1)
The Derivation of Berachot	59	(1)
The Categories and Structure of Berachot	60	(1)
The Text of the Preliminary Blessings	61	(2)
Answering ``Amen'' to Berachot	63	(1)
Other Preliminary Blessings	63	(1)
Blessings of Thanksgiving	64	(4)
Blessings on Mitzvot	68	(1)
Blessings after Eating and Drinking	69	(1)
The Concept of Prayer	70	(7)
Why Do We Pray?	71	(1)
What Do We Pray?	72	(1)
How Do We Pray?	72	(2)
When Do We Pray?	74	(1)
Where Do We Pray?	75	(1)
Who Should Pray?	75	(2)
Getting Ready to Pray	77	(8)
The Prayer Book	77	(1)
The Holiday Prayer Book	78	(1)
The Prayer Shawl	79	(2)
A Witty Remark!	81	(1)
The Skullcap	82	(1)
The Phylacteries	83	(2)
The Morning Service	85	(19)
Birchot HaShachar	87	(1)
Pesukei D'Zimrah	88	(2)
Recitations before Kriat Shema	90	(1)
Kriat Shema	91	(5)
Shemoneh Esrei	96	(8)
Tachanun	104	(1)
The Reading of the Law	104	(5)
Preliminary Verses before Kriat Ha Torah	105	(1)
The Opening Procession	106	(1)
The Torah Honorees	106	(2)
Elevating and Closing the Sefer Torah	108	(1)
The Prophetic Portion	108	(1)
After the Haftarah	109	(1)
The Closing Procession	109	(1)
Be Strong and Courageous!	109	(1)
The Afternoon Service	109	(2)
The Evening Service	111	(1)
The Additional Service	111	(1)
The Closing Prayers	112	(7)
The Half Kaddish	114	(1)
The Rabbis' Kaddish	114	(1)
The Mourner's Kaddish	114	(1)
The Full Kaddish	115	(1)
The Burial Kaddish	115	(1)
Word Works	116	(3)
The Jewish Calendar	119	(34)
The Hebrew Months and Years	120	(1)
The Formulation of the Jewish Calendar	121	(1)
The Leap Year	122	(3)
Blessing the New Month	125	(3)
Sanctifying the New Moon	128	(1)
An Outline of the Jewish Year	129	(13)
Nisan	130	(1)
Iyar	130	(1)
Sivan	131	(1)
Tammuz	131	(1)
Av	131	(1)
Elul	132	(1)
Tishrei	132	(1)
Cheshvan	133	(1)
Kislev	133	(1)
Tevet	133	(1)
Shevat	133	(1)
Adar	134	(1)
A Witty Remark!	135	(1)
The Jewish Calendar at a Glance	136	(6)
The Liturgy of Rosh Chodesh	142	(1)
Blessing of the Sun	143	(2)
The Sabbatical Year	145	(3)
The Jubilee Year	148	(5)
Word Works	150	(3)
The Sabbath	153	(48)
Remembering and Observing the Sabbath Day	154	(2)
Ushering in the Sabbath at Home	156	(4)
Lighting the Sabbath Candles	156	(2)
A Witty Remark!	158	(1)
The Sabbath Loaves	159	(1)
Welcoming the Sabbath in the Synagogue	160	(6)
The Kabbalat Shabbat Service	161	(1)
Greeting the Sabbath Bride	161	(2)
Welcoming the Mourners	163	(1)
The Significance of Psalms 92 and 93	163	(1)
The Ma'ariv Service	164	(2)
The Abridged Shemoneh Esrei	166	(1)
Prelude to the First Sabbath Meal	166	(3)
In the Presence of the Sabbath Angels	166	(1)
In Praise of the Jewish Wife	167	(2)
Blessing the Children	169	(1)
The First Sabbath Meal	169	(8)
Reciting Kiddush in the Synagogue	170	(1)
Reciting Kiddush at Home	170	(2)
Ritual Washing before Eating	172	(1)
Reciting the Hamotzi	173	(1)
A Sabbath Menu	174	(1)
Sabbath Hymns	175	(1)
Grace after Meals	176	(1)
The Liturgy of the Sabbath	177	(5)
The Sabbath Morning Service	177	(2)
Kedushah of Shacharit	179	(1)
Musaf of Shabbat	179	(1)
Kedushah of Musaf	180	(1)
The Concluding Prayers of Musaf	181	(1)
The Second Sabbath Meal	182	(1)
The Third Sabbath Meal	183	(1)
The Concept of Work	183	(11)
Work as an Act of Creating	184	(1)
Physical Rest and Mental Relaxation	184	(1)
Privileges and Prohibitions of the Sabbath	184	(1)
The Categories of Work	185	(7)
The Blending of Domains	192	(1)
Setting Things Aside	193	(1)
Activities of the Weekdays	193	(1)
Desecration of the Sabbath	194	(1)
The Conclusion of the Sabbath	194	(7)
The Ceremony of Havdalah	195	(3)
Farewell to the Sabbath Queen	198	(1)
Word Works	199	(2)
The Days of Awe	201	(76)
The Month of Elul	202	(2)
Standing in Judgment	204	(1)
Rosh HaShanah	205	(1)
Yom Kippur	206	(2)
Getting Ready for the Yamin Nora'im	208	(1)
The Liturgy of Rosh HaShanah	209	(1)
Ma'ariv of Rosh HaShanah	209	(4)
Shemoneh Esrei of Ma'ariv	210	(1)
Four Special Inserts	211	(2)
Shacharit of Rosh HaShanah	213	(3)
Shemoneh Esrei of Shacharit	214	(1)
Kedushah of Shacharit	215	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Rosh HaShanah	216	(1)
The Call to Repentance	217	(2)
Musaf of Rosh HaShanah	219	(11)
Shemoneh Esrei of Musaf	220	(2)
Kedushah of Musaf	222	(1)
The Middle Blessings of Musaf	223	(5)
The Conclusion of Musaf	228	(2)
Minchah of Rosh HaShanah	230	(3)
Casting Away Our Sins	233	(1)
The Second Day of Rosh HaShanah	234	(1)
Customs and Observances of Rosh HaShanah	235	(4)
Candlelighting for Rosh HaShanah	235	(1)
Eating Symbolic Foods	236	(2)
Greetings for the New Year	238	(1)
Havdalah after Rosh HaShanah	239	(1)
The Fast of Gedaliah	240	(1)
The Sabbath of Return	240	(1)
The Day of Atonement	241	(1)
Customs and Observances of Yom Kippur	241	(4)
The Ceremony of Atonement	242	(1)
The Meal of Separation	243	(1)
Blessing the Children	243	(1)
Yom Kippur Attire	244	(1)
Candlelighting for Yom Kippur	244	(1)
The Liturgy of Yom Kippur	245	(1)
Minchah of Yom Kippur Eve	246	(1)
Kol Nidrei	247	(3)
The Prelude to Kol Nidrei	247	(1)
A Witty Remark!	248	(1)
The Nullification of Vows	248	(2)
Ma'ariv of Yom Kippur	250	(8)
The Confessional Prayers	252	(4)
The Extended Prayers of Ma'ariv	256	(2)
Shacharit of Yom Kippur	258	(1)
Shemoneh Esrei of Shacharit	258	(1)
Kedushah of Shacharit	258	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Yom Kippur	258	(1)
Yizkor: Remembering the Souls of the Dead	259	(2)
Musaf of Yom Kippur	261	(9)
The Avodah	262	(5)
The Ten Martyrs	267	(2)
The Conclusion of Musaf	269	(1)
Minchah of Yom Kippur	270	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Minchah	270	(1)
Ne'ilah: The Concluding Service	271	(6)
Word Works	275	(2)
The Pilgrimage Festivals	277	(80)
Passover	278	(6)
The Jewish People in Egypt	278	(1)
The Designation of Moses	279	(1)
The Confrontation with Pharaoh	279	(1)
The Plagues	280	(1)
The Paschal Sacrifice	280	(2)
The Prohibition of Leaven	282	(1)
The Tenth Plague	283	(1)
Remembering the Redemption	284	(3)
Other Festival Names	285	(1)
Predominant Themes	286	(1)
Preparing for Passover	287	(7)
Selling the Chametz	287	(1)
Searching for the Chametz	288	(1)
The Fast of the First-Born	289	(1)
Burning the Chametz	290	(1)
Holiday Cooking	290	(1)
The Symbols of the Seder	291	(2)
Ushering in the Festival	293	(1)
The Seder	294	(20)
Kadesh	295	(5)
Urchatz	300	(1)
Karpas	300	(1)
Yachatz	300	(1)
Magid	301	(3)
Rachtzah	304	(1)
Motzi	304	(1)
Matzah	305	(1)
Maror	306	(1)
Korech	307	(1)
Shulchan Orech	308	(1)
Tzafun	308	(1)
A Witty Remark!	309	(1)
Barech	309	(2)
Hallel	311	(1)
Nirtzah	312	(1)
Sefirat HaOmer	312	(2)
The First Two Days of Passover	314	(1)
The Intermediate Days of Passover	315	(1)
The Last Two Days of Passover	315	(1)
The Liturgy of Passover	315	(8)
The Prayer for Dew	316	(1)
The Priestly Blessing	316	(7)
Kriat Ha Torah for Passover	323	(1)
Between Pesach and Shavuot	324	(2)
Yom HaShoah	324	(1)
Yom HaZikaron	325	(1)
Yom HaAtzma'ut	325	(1)
LaG baOmer	325	(1)
Yom Yerushalayim	325	(1)
The Festival of Weeks	326	(3)
Other Festival Names	326	(2)
The Covenant with God	328	(1)
Customs and Observances of Shavuot	329	(1)
Eating Dairy Foods	329	(1)
Decorating with Greenery	329	(1)
Studying Torah on the First Night	330	(1)
The Revelation	330	(5)
The Ten Commandments	332	(3)
The Second Luchot	335	(1)
The Liturgy of Shavuot	335	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Shavuot	335	(1)
Special Readings for Shavuot	336	(2)
Akdamut	336	(1)
Megillat Ruth	337	(1)
The Festival of Tabernacles	338	(2)
Customs and Observances of Sukkot	340	(4)
Building the Sukkah	340	(1)
Decorating the Sukkah	341	(1)
Sukkot in the Synagogue	342	(1)
The Feast of Drawing Water	342	(1)
Taking the Four Species	343	(1)
The Ritual of the Four Species	344	(2)
The Seven Days of Sukkot	346	(1)
The Liturgy of Sukkot	347	(1)
Prayers for Salvation	347	(1)
Hoshanah Rabbah	347	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Sukkot	348	(1)
The Eighth Day of Holy Convocation	349	(1)
The Liturgy of Shemini Atzeret	350	(1)
The Prayer for Rain	350	(1)
The Book of Ecclesiastes	350	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Shemini Atzeret	350	(1)
Bidding Farewell to the Sukkah	351	(1)
The Day of Rejoicing with the Law	351	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Simchat Torah	352	(5)
Word Works	354	(3)
The Minor Festivals	357	(30)
The Festival of Lights	358	(1)
The Chanukah Candles	359	(2)
The Chanukah Blessings	361	(2)
The Delights of Chanukah	363	(3)
Chanukah Games	363	(2)
Chanukah Gelt	365	(1)
Chanukah Foods	365	(1)
The Liturgy of Chanukah	366	(1)
Kriat HaTorah for Chanukah	367	(1)
Publicizing the Miracle	367	(4)
A Witty Remark!	370	(1)
The Jolly Feast of Purim	371	(5)
The Plot Thickens	373	(1)
The Plot Unravels	374	(2)
The Mitzvot of Purim	376	(3)
Reading the Megillah	379	(2)
Blotting Out the Name of Haman	381	(1)
Purim Day	381	(2)
A Witty Remark!	383	(1)
The Minor Festivals Are Major	383	(4)
Word Works	384	(3)
The Jewish Life Cycle	387	(98)
A Guide for Living	387	(1)
Faith in the One God	388	(8)
Returning to the Faith	391	(1)
Choosing to Convert	392	(4)
Preparing for Marriage	396	(4)
A Marriage Made in Heaven	398	(1)
The Role of the Shadchan	399	(1)
The Engagement	400	(1)
The Jewish Wedding	401	(11)
A Canopy under the Heavens	402	(1)
The Bride	402	(1)
The Groom	403	(1)
The Ceremony	404	(2)
The Ring	406	(2)
The Marriage Contract	408	(1)
The Seven Benedictions	408	(2)
To Remember the Holy Temple	410	(1)
To Rejoice with the Groom and Bride	410	(2)
The Concept of Family Purity	412	(3)
The Jewish Home	415	(15)
A Sign upon the Doorpost	415	(2)
A Witty Remark!	417	(1)
The Concept of Shalom Bayit	418	(1)
The Jewish Husband	418	(2)
The Jewish Wife	420	(4)
Keeping Kosher	424	(6)
The Birth of a Child	430	(2)
Naming a Jewish Child	432	(2)
The Convenant of Circumcision	434	(4)
The Mohel	435	(1)
The Sandek and the Kvater	435	(1)
Elijah the Prophet	435	(1)
Blessed Is He Who Arrives	436	(2)
The Redemption of the First-Born Son	438	(5)
The Ceremony of Redemption	440	(2)
Special Circumstances	442	(1)
Adoption	443	(2)
Raising a Jewish Child	445	(9)
Educating the Jewish Child	445	(1)
Teaching and Learning Torah	446	(6)
Secular Education	452	(2)
Rites of Passage	454	(3)
The First Haircut	454	(1)
Religious Responsibility	455	(2)
When a Marriage Fails	457	(2)
When a Jew Dies	459	(26)
Dealing with Illness	460	(3)
A Witty Remark!	463	(1)
The Rituals of Dying	463	(2)
Reverence for the Dead	465	(3)
The Funeral	468	(3)
The Period of Mourning	471	(6)
Marking the Gravesite	477	(2)
Visiting the Cemetery	479	(1)
The Resurrection of the Dead	479	(3)
Word Works	482	(3)
Special Words and Phrases	485	(1)
With God in Mind	485	(2)
The Traveler's Prayer	487	(2)
Avoiding Even a Hint of Impropriety	489	(1)
With Every Good Wish	489	(1)
Evil Eyes and Amulets	490	(1)
Bad Dreams	491	(1)
Respect for the Living and the Dead	492	(1)
What's in a Name?	493	(1)
The Holocaust	494	(1)
Israel: Ancient Homeland, Modern State	495	(5)
Responsa Literature	500	(1)
The Chasidim	501	(1)
A Witty Remark!	502	(1)
To Perfect the World	503	(1)
Righteousness and Lovingkindness	503	(3)
Jewish Philanthropy	506	(1)
A Witty Remark!	507	(1)
Remembering the Animals	508	(1)
Above All, Peace	508	(2)
Word Works	510	(1)
Indices
Word Works	511	(10)
Sum and Substance	521