The bestselling guide to understanding Jewish traditions, now in paperback "The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions is the jewel in the crown, to date, in the esteemed ... reference series. It's the perfect gift for the curious Jew, scholar or layperson." --Jewish Exponent "... offers a startling range of wisdom, history, and nuance behind every Jewish custom." --Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, author of Putting God on the Guest List "... a reference work for all time--clear, complete, and compelling." --Francine Klagsbrun, author of The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day "... a one-volume work that enables [us] to find information on virtually any aspect of the tradition -- the festivals, the cycle of life, and ethical behavior." --Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Entering the High Holy Days This is a comprehensive and authoritative resource with ready answers to questions about almost all aspects of Jewish life and practice: life-cycle events, holidays, ritual and prayer, Jewish traditions and customs, and more. Ronald Eisenberg has distilled an immense amount of material from classic and contemporary sources into a single volume, which provides thousands of insights into the origins, history, and current interpretations of a wealth of Jewish traditions and customs. Divided into four sections--Synagogue and Prayers, Sabbaths and Festivals, Life-Cycle Events, and Miscellaneous (a large section that includes such diverse topics as Jewish literature, food, and plants and animals)- this is an encyclopedic reference for anyone who wants easily accessible, accurate information about all things Jewish. Eisenberg writes for a wide, diversified audience, and is respectful of the range of practices and beliefs within today's American Jewish community--from Orthodox to liberal.