Jewish Ritual: A Brief Introduction for Christians

by Kerry M. Olitzky, Daniel Judson

A window into the meaning of Jewish rituals throughout history and today
written especially for Christians.

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. Observing the Sabbath Keeping Kosher Putting on Tefillin (Prayer Boxes) Wrapping the Tallit (Prayer Shawl) Covering the Head Studying Torah Praying Daily Saying Blessings throughout the Day 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.

Genres: Religion, Jewish, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Rabbi Kerry M. Olitzky is a leader in the development of Jewish education, particularly for adults. He has shaped training programs for clergy of all faiths, especially in the area of pastoral care and counseling in the Jewish community. He is the author of over 75 books and hundreds of articles in a variety of fields. He is known for books that bring the insights of Jewish wisdom into everyday living. His opinion pieces are published in leading publications throughout North America and in Israel. Most of his recent publications are children's picture books, as well as the early reader The Adventures of Leila and Ilana

Reviews

[Kathleen Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to some of the rituals in Judaism and how they relate to practices in Christianity i.e., the mikvah and baptism, Passover and Easter and others. If you are interested in Judaism, this is a good place to start. I received this book as a gift from the Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, MN when I took my confirmation class to worship there.

[Ethan Cornett · Rating 3 out of 5]

While being accessible to most readers, I feel the book falls short of more detailed explanation and exploration of the topics it introduces. I'm in favor of providing broadstrokes for ideas that are new to readers, but these strokes are a bit too broad, in my mind.

[Elizabeth Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helped by explaining many of the Jewish rituals in an easy to understand way. I had heard of many, but there were a few new to me. Makes me want to read more in depth.

[Tatiana Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, very brief (around 100 pages) introduction to Jewish rituals written with an unfamiliar Christian audience in mind. This book goes over blessings and prayers, head coverings, tellefin and tallit, keeping kosher, and Shabbat. The chapters are necessarily short and generalized and the authors lean towards the Conservative, but overall it is well rounded and objective.

Skip this if you are looking for any sort of an in-depth understanding of Jewish daily life, OR if the "for Christians" part has you intrigued--each chapter ends with a "Christian Parallels" section, but it is minimal and barely scratches the surface of potential connections.

Read this if you are curious about Jewish rituals you may have heard about or seen, especially if you know nothing at all about them to begin with. It is also worth it to read the chapter on blessings, which I found to be the most engaging chapter, as it has beautifully translated prayers for both everyday and special situations. Since Christians and Jews pray to the same God, these prayers are a nice point of organic connection.

[LA · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review of Kessler.