Jewish Ritual
A Brief Introduction for Christians
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Ritual moments and opportunities guide the daily life of practicing Jews. These spiritual practices give expression to Jewish identity and reflect Judaism's core beliefs and values. But what can they mean to Christians seeking to understand their own faith? In this special book Rabbis Olitzky and Judson guide you through the whys and hows of nine specific areas of Jewish ritual.
o Observing the Sabbath
o Keeping Kosher
o Putting on Tefillin (Prayer Boxes)
o Wrapping the Tallit (Prayer Shawl)
o Covering the Head
o Studying Torah
o Praying Daily
o Saying Blessings throughout the Day
o Going to the Ritual Bath
Providing you with the biblical and historical background of each practice insight into its contemporary use and significance-including the often divergent approaches of different Jewish movements-and personal stories from rabbis and lay people this easy-to-understand guide illustrates the deep meaning these rituals have in the Jewish relationship with God. Linking these practices to familiar rituals in the Christian tradition Olitzky and Judson help you better understand the roots of Christianity and how the fundamentals of Judaism relate to and reflect your own spiritual foundation.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Of the many guidebooks to Judaism, few address themselves specifically to Christian readers. Given today's permeable religious boundaries and the cross-fertilization between traditions, this handbook should be warmly welcomed on the religious bookshelf. Olitzky and Judson, both rabbis and authors, offer simple but profound explanations of the rituals that inform, shape and reflect Jewish life, identity and values. They include understandable rituals like Shabbat, universal practices like prayer and study and identifiable signs of Jewish identity like wearing a kippah. The authors also branch out to explain traditions Christians might find peculiar, like wearing tefillin (prayer boxes). Each chapter includes the ritual's biblical origin, evolution, modern perspectives, practical instruction, symbolic and spiritual values and Christian parallels. Some rituals have easy commonalities, like baptism and the mikvah (ritual bath), but others require deeper and more creative links: tefillin and the rosary, for instance, both enhance the "tactile sensation of prayer." To show how practices seek to "infuse life with sense of holiness," Olitzky, Judson and three contributing authors mix straightforward explanations with personal narratives that reflect their own experiences. "The history of Jewish-Christian relations is... a place of brokenness," they write, hoping their book will generate spiritual healing, "allowing Jews and Christians to see each others' religion with greater clarity and greater respect."
