The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices

Discover how to make virtually any moment in your day a significant part of a meaningful Jewish life.As we have discovered, and as our sages have long known, there is no experience in the life of a Jew that cannot be marked in Jewish ways…. The book you hold in your hands is the result of the kinds of rituals we have sculpted together over the years. It is not a prayer book or even a compendium of obligatory Jewish rituals. Rather, it is a source for all to use creatively.—from the IntroductionDecades of experience by CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership in connecting spirituality with daily life come together in this one comprehensive handbook. In these pages, you have access to teachings that can help to sanctify almost any moment in your day.Offering a meditation, a blessing, a profound Jewish teaching, and a ritual for more than one hundred diverse everyday events and holidays, this guide includes sacred practices for:Lighting Shabbat candlesBlessing your parentsRunning a marathonVisiting the sickBuilding a sukkahSeeing natural wondersMoving into a new homeSaying goodbye to a beloved petMaking a shiva callTraveling ... and much moreDrawing from both traditional and contemporary sources, The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices will show you how to make more holy any moment in your daily life.Contributors:Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, PhD • Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, PhD • Rabbi Daniel Silberman Brenner • Shari Cohen, PhD • David M. Elcott, PhD • Rabbi Niles E. Goldstein • Michael Gottsegen, PhD • Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, PhD • Rabbi Steven Greenberg • Rabbi Brad Hirschfield • Janet R. Kirchheimer • David Kraemer, PhD • Rabbi Jennifer E. Krause • Rabbi Irwin Kula • Rabbi Benay Lappe • Rabbi Natan Margalit • Rabbi David Nelson, PhD • Vanessa L. Ochs, PhD • Rabbi Rachel T. Sabath • Robert Rabinowitz, PhD • Andrew Silow-Carroll • Rabbi Lawrence Troster

“"A totally original and deeply needed book... Takes you by the hand and shows you how to make every important moment of your life holy." --Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and The Book of Jewish Values "Provides a refreshing and innovative path into Jewish life and ritual. Its format is easily accessible and will inspire both new learners and those who are more knowledgeable about Judaism." --Rabbi Lori Forman, director of the Jewish Resource Center, UJA-Federation of New York; coauthor of Sacred Intentions: Daily Inspiration to Strengthen the Spirit, Based on Jewish Wisdom "Clal's important work provides sensitive and innovative ways to help us find greater Jewish meaning in many moments in our life." --Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, editor of The Women's Haftarah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Haftarah Portions, the 5 Megillot & Special Shabbatot "An extraordinary guide for elevating the everyday activities of our lives into spiritual moments! An essential volume for the Jewish home." --Dr. Ron Wolfson, vice president of the University of Judaism; author of Hanukkah: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration and The Art of Jewish Living series”

"A totally original and deeply needed book... Takes you by the hand and shows you how to make every important moment of your life holy."—Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Jewish Literacy and The Book of Jewish Values"Provides a refreshing and innovative path into Jewish life and ritual. Its format is easily accessible and will inspire both new learners and those who are more knowledgeable about Judaism."—Rabbi Lori Forman, director of the Jewish Resource Center, UJA–Federation of New York; coauthor of Sacred Intentions: Daily Inspiration to Strengthen the Spirit, Based on Jewish Wisdom"Clal's important work provides sensitive and innovative ways to help us find greater Jewish meaning in many moments in our life."—Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, editor of The Women's Haftarah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Haftarah Portions, the 5 Megillot & Special Shabbatot“An extraordinary guide for elevating the everyday activities of our lives into spiritual moments! An essential volume for the Jewish home.”—Dr. Ron Wolfson, vice president of the University of Judaism; author of Hanukkah: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration and The Art of Jewish Living series

Vanessa L. Ochs is the Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies and associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia. A recipient of a fellowship in creative writing from the National Endowment of the Arts, she is author of several books, coauthor of The Jewish Dream Book: The Key to Opening the Inner Meaning of Your Dreams, and coeditor, with Rabbi Irwin Kula, of The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices: CLAL's Guide to Everyday & Holiday Rituals & Blessings (both Jewish Lights).Vanessa L. Ochs is available to speak on the following topics:Jewish Ritual InnovationHaggadahJewish FeminismWhat Makes a Jewish Home JewishRaising Kids with Jewish ValuesRabbi Irwin Kula is president of CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leading voice for religious pluralism in the Jewish community. A sought-after speaker, he was named by the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly as one of the "10 People to Watch" helping to shape the American spiritual landscape. Fast Company magazine listed him as one of the seventeen new economy leaders, and Forward newspaper named him one of the top fifty Jewish leaders in America. He received his rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership was founded in1974. A think tank, leadership training institute and resource center, CLAL convenesinterdisciplinary conversations that explore the Jewish and American futures, andenhances Jewish participation in civic and spiritual life in North America. Its facultyincludes rabbis from every denomination and scholars from a broad array of disciplines,including anthropology, political science and philosophy. CLAL combinesJewish texts and intellectual traditions with cutting-edge contemporary scholarship inits work to transform Jewish communities around the country.Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, PhD, is Director of Organizational Developmentat CLAL. He was ordained at the St. Louis Rabbinical College and received hisPh.D. in Psychology from St. Louis University and his Ph.D. in Philosophyfrom Washington University.Rabbi Daniel Silberman Brenner is a Senior Teaching Fellow at CLAL. He received his M.A. in Hebrew Letters and his ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.Shari Cohen, PhD, is a Senior Fellow at CLAL. She received her PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.Shari Cohen, PhD, is a Senior Fellow at CLAL. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.Rabbi Niles E. Goldstein, formerly a CLAL Steinhardt Senior Fellow, received his M.A. from and was ordained at Hebrew Union College.Michael Gottsegen, PhD, is Director of Internet Programs at CLAL. He received his PhD in Political Theory from Columbia University and is completing his PhD in Religion at Harvard University.Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, PhD, is President Emeritus and co-founder of CLAL. He received ordination from Beth Joseph Rabbinical Seminary and his PhD in History from Harvard University.Rabbi Steven Greenberg is a Senior Teaching Fellow at CLAL. He receivedhis rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary ofYeshiva University.Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is Director of Leadership and Communities at CLAL. He received ordination from the Institute of Traditional Judaism and his M.A. and M.Phil. in Ancient Jewish History from the Jewish Theological Seminary.Janet R. Kirchheimer is Director of Community Development and Assistant to the President of CLAL. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from Central Connecticut State College.David Kraemer, PhD, is a CLAL Associate. He received his M.A. and PhD in Talmud and Rabbinics from the Jewish Theological Seminary.Rabbi Jennifer E. Krause is a CLAL Associate. She received her M.A. in Hebrew Literature from and was ordained at Hebrew Union College.Rabbi Benay Lappe was a CLAL Spielberg Fellow and is a CLAL Associate. She received an M.A. in Rabbinic Literature and ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary.Rabbi Natan Margalit, PhD, is the director of the Oraita Institute for Continuing Rabbinic Education of Hebrew College, and assistant professor of rabbinics at Hebrew College. His writings on rabbinic literature and on Judaism and the environment have appeared in several academic and popular journals.Rabbi David Nelson, PhD, is a Senior CLAL Associate. He received his ordination from Hebrew Union College and his Ph.D. in Midrash from New York University.Rabbi Rachel T. Sabath is a CLAL Associate. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College. She is completing a Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy from the Jewish Theological Seminary.Robert Rabinowitz, PhD, is a Senior Fellow at CLAL. He received his PhD in Philosophy from London University.Andrew Silow-Carroll was a CLAL Spielberg Fellow. He received his B.A. in English from the State University of New York at Albany.Rabbi Lawrence Troster was a CLAL Steinhardt Fellow. He received his M.A. and his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary.Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, PhD, an award-winning Jewish educator, is widely recognized for making the study of Judaism and its sacred texts accessible and relevant to our everyday lives. She is the founder and director of Maqom: A School for Adult Talmud Study and a recipient of the Covenant Award for outstanding performance in the field of Jewish education. She teaches through the ALEPH rabbinic program and is author of Learn Talmud and Talmud for Beginners, among other books about Talmud and prayer. She is a popular speaker on the topics of Jewish learning and sacred literature.Rabbi Irwin Kula is president of CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leading voice for religious pluralism in the Jewish community. A sought-after speaker, he was named by the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly as one of the "10 People to Watch" helping to shape the American spiritual landscape. Fast Company magazine listed him as one of the seventeen new economy leaders, and Forward newspaper named him one of the top fifty Jewish leaders in America. He received his rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.Vanessa L. Ochs is the Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies and associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia. A recipient of a fellowship in creative writing from the National Endowment of the Arts, she is author of several books, coauthor of The Jewish Dream Book: The Key to Opening the Inner Meaning of Your Dreams, and co-editor, with Rabbi Irwin Kula, of The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices: CLAL's Guide to Everyday & Holiday Rituals & Blessings (both Jewish Lights).Vanessa L. Ochs is available to speak on the following topics:Jewish Ritual InnovationHaggadahJewish FeminismWhat Makes a Jewish Home JewishRaising Kids with Jewish Values

Discover how to make virtually any moment in your day a significant part of a meaningful Jewish life. As we have discovered, and as our sages have long known, there is no experience in the life of a Jew that cannot be marked in Jewish ways.... The book you hold in your hands is the result of the kinds of rituals we have sculpted together over the years. It is not a prayer book or even a compendium of obligatory Jewish rituals. Rather, it is a source for all to use creatively. --from the Introduction Decades of experience by CLAL--The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership in connecting spirituality with daily life come together in this one comprehensive handbook. In these pages, you have access to teachings that can help to sanctify almost any moment in your day. Offering a meditation, a blessing, a profound Jewish teaching, and a ritual for more than one hundred diverse everyday events and holidays, this guide includes sacred practices for: Lighting Shabbat candles Blessing your parents Running a marathon Visiting the sick Building a sukkah Seeing natural wonders Moving into a new home Saying goodbye to a beloved pet Making a shiva call Traveling ... and much more Drawing from both traditional and contemporary sources, The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices will show you how to make more holy any moment in your daily life. Contributors: Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, PhD Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, PhD Rabbi Daniel Silberman Brenner Shari Cohen, PhD David M. Elcott, PhD Rabbi Niles E. Goldstein Michael Gottsegen, PhD Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, PhD Rabbi Steven Greenberg Rabbi Brad Hirschfield Janet R. Kirchheimer David Kraemer, PhD Rabbi Jennifer E. Krause Rabbi Irwin Kula Rabbi Benay Lappe Rabbi Natan Margalit Rabbi David Nelson, PhD Vanessa L. Ochs, PhD Rabbi Rachel T. Sabath Robert Rabinowitz, PhD Andrew Silow-Carroll * Rabbi Lawrence Troster

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.