Shabbat, 2nd Edition: The Family Guide to Preparing for and Welcoming the Sabbath (The Art of Jewish Living Series)

This came quickly and as described. it is a perfect supplement to the Jewish culture and holidays we have recently began participating in.

This book is both a primer on how to introduce Shabbat in your home if you haven't been observing and remembering it, and a look at how others have incorporated the traditions in their homes and chavurot. It covers every aspect of the Shabbat: lighting the candles, kiddush, washing the hands, challot, blessing the family, songs, right on through havdalah. It covers halachah for each aspect, how to maintain the interest and attention of your children and how to deal with modern realities such as divorce and mixed families. It has English, Hebrew transliteration and Hebrew for each blessing and for some Shabbat songs.I highly recommend it.

I bought this book because of the author's approach of putting all prayers on their own page: each prayer or song is printed in the original Hebrew and transliteration version, and also has the English translation. (A suggestion for the next edition is to have the transliteration NEXT TO the original Hebrew, rather than separated by the English translation)This book serves as an excellent guide for those who have never observed a traditional Shabbat, and who wish to start doing so now. The book clearly gives the order of the "Shabbat Evening Seder", from lighting candles, traditional blessings for family members, blessings over wine and bread, traditional around the table Sabbath songs, the "Birkat HaMazon" (full and abbreviated versions of the blessing after a meal), and "Havadalah" (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the normal week). In addition, it has a section where it discusses the meaning and tradition behind the prayers.We entertain people from different backgrounds, including orthdox, traditional and secular Jews, and on occasion, people from other faiths. This book allows everyone present at our Shabbat evening meal to follow, understand and participate in our Shabbat dinner.My only criticism is that the section covering the actual prayers and "zmirot" (songs) does not go from right to left (i.e. following the Hebrew rather than English direction of pages.) The explanation section can remain in the left to right direction. My suggestion is that all Hebrew sections start at the right-hand cover, while discussions, explanations and history start at the left-hand cover - giving a 2-part book.

Great book

I use this book when I have Shabbat services at home. Gives a detailed outline of readings, blessings and traditions,

Not interested in the Yiddish language in it.

A great introduction to anyone who has never celebrated shabbat or to the ones who are just wanting to learn more.

I like it a lot but the book is very out dated.But i still like it good read verry good

I was disappointed in this book - so many of the reviews raved about it, but I thought it was pretty mediocre. It is dated, and moreover, doesn't actually contain that much information about Shabbat/ making Shabbos. I expected a book that would cover new ideas as well as basics, but you have to dig through pages and pages of dull, dated interviews with American families to actually come across a unique idea.As for all the comments saying this would be a great introductory book, I strongly disagree. I think any Jew looking intergrate more traditional practices into their Shabbat would find this book frustrating, because the transliteration of the Hebrew is bizarre (maybe it's an American thing?). For converts or those who are just curious, the book provides too many details in some places, and too few in others (ie: includes the blessing for challah, but not when/ how to eat it).Mostly this book acts as a 'through the keyhole' guide to how other people celebrate Shabbat, but I think it would be really unclear to the novice reader, and would be boring (and frustrating - it seems to focus on all the wrong things!) to the more experienced reader. This book left me regretting my purchase, and wondering who this book is really supposed to be for.