From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Food is just one of the 44 topics in this broad-based approach to what's kosher and what's not for Jews. "The word kosher has come to mean... the correct way to do something according to Jewish law and tradition," explains Isaacs. The book not only covers the expected Jewish topics—circumcision, marriage, prayer, Shabbat, synagogue behavior and more—but also intriguing items of general interest, such as employer-employee relations, shopping and even war. The alphabetical q&a format makes the book easy to navigate and explore. Each section is divided into two parts: "What's kosher" and "What's not kosher," followed by "expert" and primary sources. Isaacs acknowledges that his guide in no way constitutes a definitive code of Jewish law, but his succinct answers clarify thorny issues from abortion to stem cell research, presenting views from differing branches of Judaism and concluding with his own "modern traditional view." Thought-provoking sections on subjects with far-reaching ethical ramifications should fascinate both Jewish and non-Jewish readers: Is there a kosher way to argue? Is it kosher for a Jew to be a conscientious objector? Is it kosher to own a gun store, or for a liquor store owner to sell beer to a person who he knows is an alcoholic? Is it kosher to donate one's organs? This resource offers timeless wisdom through a contemporary lens. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“…guides the reader through Jewish ethics and morality in everyday life.” (Publishers Weekly, February 14, 2005)
Review
“…guides the reader through Jewish ethics and morality in everyday life.” (Publishers Weekly, February 14, 2005)
Review
"Rabbi Isaacs has a beautiful list of books to his credit that have taught us all wonderful, practical, and meaningful Torah. This latest volume will certainly add many more ways for us to live the Good Life Jewishly. Yasher Koach to the Rabbi!"
--Danny Siegel, author, poet, lecturer
"Judaism is a civilization that stresses the pursuit of holiness through moral behavior. People of all religious backgrounds will find that Kosher Living provides insights into not just the foods that are kosher or fit to eat but, more importantly, the behaviors and practices that are ethical."
--Arnold Dashefsky, professor, department of sociology; director, Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life; director, Berman Institute North American Jewish Data Bank
Book Description
Kosher Living is an essential guide to Jewish ethics and morality for your everyday life. Rabbi Ron Isaacs offers a warm, humorous, and eminently useful book that shows what is really kosher, proper, and appropriate in all aspects of our lives. Kosher Living includes comprehensive entries organized into practical categories of daily life practices¾business, hospitality, relationships, care of the body, and more¾it gives advice from all aspects of Jewish religion, custom, ritual, and tradition. This book is an invaluable source of inspiration; and a definitive reference work for every Jewish family. Written in an easy-to-use format, Kosher Living is a perfect tool for teaching Jewish values and tradition.
From the Back Cover
Kosher Living
Kosher Living is an essential guide to Jewish ethics and morality for your everyday life. Rabbi Ron Isaacs offers a warm, humorous, and eminently useful book that shows what is really kosher, proper, and appropriate in all aspects of our lives. Kosher Living includes comprehensive entries organized into practical categories of daily life practices—business, hospitality, relationships, care of the body, and more; it gives advice from all aspects of Jewish religion, custom, ritual, and tradition. This book is an invaluable source of inspiration and a definitive reference work for every Jewish family. Written in an easy-to-use format, Kosher Living is a perfect tool for teaching Jewish values and tradition.
"Rabbi Isaacs has a beautiful list of books to his credit that have taught us all wonderful, practical, and meaningful Torah. This latest volume will certainly add many more ways for us to live the Good Life Jewishly. Yasher Koach to the Rabbi!" —Danny Siegel, author, poet, lecturer
"Judaism is a civilization that stresses the pursuit of holiness through moral behavior. People of all religious backgrounds will find that Kosher Living provides insights into not just the foods that are kosher or fit to eat but, more importantly, the behaviors and practices that are ethical." —Arnold Dashefsky, professor, department of sociology; director, Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life; director, Berman Institute North American Jewish Data Bank
About the Author
Rabbi Ron Isaacs is the rabbi of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and codirector of its Hebrew High School. An adjunct lecturer at the Jewish Theological Seminary, he is the author of many books, including Ask the Rabbi: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Being Jewish from Jossey-Bass.
Kosher Living: It's More Than Just the Food FROM THE PUBLISHER
Rabbi Ron Isaacs offers a warm, humorous, and eminently useful book that shows what is really "kosher," ethical, and appropriate in all aspects of our life. Including comprehensive entries organized into practical categories of daily life-business, health, relationships, parenting, and more-this book gives advice from all aspects of Jewish religion, custom, ritual, and tradition. An invaluable source of inspiration and a definitive reference work for every Jewish family, the book is a perfect tool for teaching Jewish values and tradition in a simple, easy-to-use format.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Food is just one of the 44 topics in this broad-based approach to what's kosher and what's not for Jews. The word kosher has come to mean... the correct way to do something according to Jewish law and tradition, explains Isaacs. The book not only covers the expected Jewish topics circumcision, marriage, prayer, Shabbat, synagogue behavior and more but also intriguing items of general interest, such as employer-employee relations, shopping and even war. The alphabetical q&a format makes the book easy to navigate and explore. Each section is divided into two parts: What's kosher and What's not kosher, followed by expert and primary sources. Isaacs acknowledges that his guide in no way constitutes a definitive code of Jewish law, but his succinct answers clarify thorny issues from abortion to stem cell research, presenting views from differing branches of Judaism and concluding with his own modern traditional view. Thought-provoking sections on subjects with far-reaching ethical ramifications should fascinate both Jewish and non-Jewish readers: Is there a kosher way to argue? Is it kosher for a Jew to be a conscientious objector? Is it kosher to own a gun store, or for a liquor store owner to sell beer to a person who he knows is an alcoholic? Is it kosher to donate one's organs? This resource offers timeless wisdom through a contemporary lens. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Isaacs, a busy popular writer on Jewish subjects (e.g., Every Person's Guide to Hanukkah) as well as a rabbi, has written an extremely useful and wide-ranging guide to kosher. Arranged alphabetically by broad topic (e.g., "Celebrating a Wedding" or "War"), these sections feature the likeliest questions ("Is it kosher to give gifts at Hanukkah?") and conclude with "What the Experts Say," a kind of minianthology of Jewish scriptural and post-scriptural sources. A very helpful book, likely to get lots of use in many households and libraries. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
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