A Year of Jewish Joy: Inspired Recipes, Rituals, and Traditions for Beautiful Celebrations

by Rebekah Lowin

Blending ancient traditions with modern elegance—and featuring more than 75 delicious Jewish recipes—this inspired guide to celebrating Shabbat and the major holidays will infuse your life with more Jewish joy and meaning, every day of the year.
Imagine a year of Jewish joy, anchored with welcoming, weekly Shabbat dinners, and punctuated with holidays imbued with depth and beauty—all enjoyed, of course, with plenty of delicious food.
In A Year of Jewish Joy, Rebekah Lowin—affectionately dubbed a "Jewish Martha Stewart" by her readers—gently explains the various traditions, blessings, and rituals for Shabbat and the major holidays, and shares menu ideas, entertaining tips, DIY crafts, and tablescape inspirations, along with more than 75 delicious Kosher recipes, blending beloved traditions and whimsical new ideas so you can create celebrations that are entirely your own. From Rosh Hashanah to Tu B’Av, Rebekah takes you on a journey through the Jewish calendar, infusing each holiday with creativity, elegance, and infectious enthusiasm.



Make Shabbat special with homemade challah, Sesame-Crusted Chicken Schnitzel, and Muffin Tin Tahdig.Welcome Rosh Hashanah with a crowd-pleasing Caramelized Onion Holiday Brisket, Hawaij-Spiced Apple Galette, and a mini "honey flight."Celebrate Purim with Brooklyn Blackout Hamantaschen, Shushan Sours, and a hamantaschen making party.Gather for the Passover seder around a table set with Pressed Flower Matzah Place Cards and DIY Ribbon Tambourines, and enjoy Funny Girl Pavlova with Passionfruit Curd and Gilded Matzah BrittleRing in Hanukkah with Gelt Wrapper Flowers, Caviar-Topped Party Latkes, Brigadeiro Sufganiyot, and Olive Oil Martinis.Celebrate all year long with Personal Pan Shakshukah, Knish-Kabobs, Perfect Rugelach, and adorable Mezuzah Cookies.
A Year of Jewish Joy is a book you will turn to throughout the year—and year after year—for a more joyous, more meaningful Jewish life.

Genres: Jewish

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 8, 2026

Reviews

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Overview: You've settled down, and it's your turn to host the next Holiday. Or, perhaps you want to try a traditional Jewish Sabbath, and you're not sure how to go about it. Mrs. Lowin has a solution. This is a cookbook and a hostess' encouragement book. How does the book work? Let's find out.

Likes: The baking sections sound delicious. Braided loaves, babka, and pastries all sound wonderful.

Also Mrs. Lowin offers hosting tips to aid the new hostess of the Holidays.

Conclusion: This is a pretty good book. If you are looking forward to hosting a Holiday, or just need a bridal gift, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC- Lowin alludes to working for Martha Stewart and thinking that there needed to be something like that for Jewish Holidays. The thematic crafts, the artfully arranged tables and the brief history of each section definitely has a Martha feel to it and really works for this book. The recipes are simple and use everyday ingredients to make each event special. The mix of photos and watercolors is cute. The only negative I saw was the inconsistent way the recipes were laid out. Some had the ingredients listed on the left, others on the right. It's annoying but maybe just to me.