My Jewish year : 18 holidays, one wondering Jew / Abigail Pogrebin ; foreword by A.J. Jacobs.
By: Pogrebin, Abigail [author.].
Contributor(s): Jacobs, A. J [author.].
Material type: TextPublisher: Bedford, New York : Fig Tree Books, [2017]Copyright date: ©2017Description: ix, 326 pages ; 25 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9781941493205; 1941493203.Subject(s): Judaism | Fasts and feasts -- Judaism | Judaism -- Customs and practices | Jewish holidays | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Cultural Heritage | Fasts and feasts -- Judaism | JudaismItem type | Current library | Collection | Shelving location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book | South County | Nonfiction | Adult | 296.43 Pog (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 05000009182556 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
The much-dissected Pew Research Center study of 2013, "A Portrait of Jewish Americans," revealed that most U.S. Jews locate their Jewishness in their ancestry and culture--not in religion. Abigail Pogrebin wondered if perhaps that's because we haven't all looked at religion closely enough.
Although she grew up following some holiday rituals, Pogrebin realized how little she knew about their foundational purpose and current relevance. She wanted to understand what had kept these holidays alive and vibrant, in some cases for thousands of years. Her curiosity led her to embark on an entire year of intensive research, observation, and writing about the milestones on the Jewish calendar.
My Jewish Year travels through this calendar's signposts with candor, humor, and a trove of information, capturing the arc of Jewish observance through the eyes of a relatable, wandering--and wondering--Jew. The chapters are interspersed with brief reflections from prominent rabbis and Jewish thinkers.
Maybe you're seeking an accessible, digestible roadmap for Jewish life. Maybe you'd appreciate a fresh exploration of what you've mastered. Whatever your motivation, you'll be educated, entertained, and inspired by Pogrebin's unusual journey--and by My Jewish Year .
Includes bibliographical references.
How did I get here? -- Prepping Rosh Hashanah : self-flagellation in summer -- Post-Rosh Hashanah : tossing flaws and breadcrumbs -- The Fast of Gedaliah : lessons of a slain governor -- The truth about Hom Kippur : death and more death -- Yom Kippur letdown : maybe next year -- Sukkot in LA : serious Sukkah envy -- Hoshanah Rabbah & Shemini Atzeret : left out, then lingering -- Simchat Torah : the most pit -- Hanukkah reconsidered : a split in the Jewish soul -- Hanukkah at the bedside and the White House : unexpected light -- The Tenth of Tevet : starting the secular year hungry -- Slouching toward Shabbat : the most important holiday of all : Tu B'Shvat : sometimes you feel like a nut -- Tzom Esther & Purim : preparing to fast and spiel -- The Purim report : mirth and melancholy -- Passover : scallions and rare silences -- The feminist Passover : a (third) seder of her own -- Yom HaShoah : "We did more than survive" -- Yom HaZikaron & Yom Ha'atzmaut : for the fallen and the free : Israel's Memorial and Independence days -- Lag B'Omer : R-E-S-P-E-C-T -- Activist Shabbat : Friday night with the kids -- Sleepless on Shavuot : let my people learn -- 17th of Tammuz : another fast, seriously? -- Tisha B'Av : mourning history, headlines, and hatred -- My Shabbat landing : comforting consistency -- Where did I end up? -- Appendix 1. A Jewish year in bullet points -- Appendix 2. Interviews.
The author describes her research on the holidays of the Jewish calendar and how she came to understand how these celebrations have lasted for thousands of years.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Foreword: A. J. Jacobs (p. vii)
- Introduction: How Did I Get Here? (p. 3)
- 1 Prepping Rosh Hashanah: Self-Flagellation in Summer (p. 21)
- 2 Post-Rosh Hashanah: Tossing Flaws and Breadcrumbs (p. 33)
- 3 The Fast of Gedaliah: Lessons of a Slain Governor (p. 43)
- 4 The Truth about Yom Kippur: Death and More Death (p. 49)
- 5 Yom Kippur Letdown: Maybe Next Year (p. 59)
- 6 Sukkot in LA: Serious Sukkah Envy (p. 75)
- 7 Hoshanah Rabbah & Shemini Atzeret: Left Out, Then Lingering (p. 87)
- 8 Simchat Torah: The Mosh Pit (p. 95)
- 9 Hanukkah Reconsidered: A Split in the Jewish Soul (p. 105)
- 10 Hanukkah at the Bedside and the White House: Unexpected Light (p. 117)
- 11 The Tenth of Tevet: Starting the Secular Year Hungry (p. 125)
- 12 Slouching toward Shabbat: The Most Important Holiday of All (p. 135)
- 13 Tu B'Shvat: Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut (p. 145)
- 14 Tzom Esther & Purim: Preparing to Fast and Spiel (p. 159)
- 15 The Purim Report: Mirth and Melancholy (p. 169)
- 16 Passover: Scallions and Rare Silences (p. 177)
- 17 The Feminist Passover: A (Third) Seder of Her Own (p. 197)
- 18 Yom HaShoah: "We Did More Than Survive" (p. 207)
- 19 Yom HaZikaron & Yom Ha'atzmaut: For the Fallen and the Free-Israel's Memorial & Independence Days (p. 219)
- 20 Lag B'Omer: R-E-S-P-E-C-T (p. 229)
- 21 Activist Shabbat: Friday Night with the Kids (p. 241)
- 22 Sleepless on Shavuot: Let My People Learn (p. 251)
- 23 17th of Tammuz: Another Fast, Seriously? (p. 263)
- 24 Tisha B'Av: Mourning History, Headlines, and Hatred (p. 269)
- 25 My Shabbat Landing: Comforting Consistency (p. 279)
- Epilogue: Where Did I End Up? (p. 285)
- Acknowledgments (p. 293)
- Appendix 1 A Jewish Year in Bullet Points (p. 297)
- Appendix 2 Interviews (p. 301)
- Appendix 3 Bibliography (p. 304)
- Appendix 4 Glossary (p. 307)
- Appendix 5 Web Links for the Basics (p. 324)
- About the Author (p. 326)