About the Book

Back in print by popular demand, the classic JPS holiday anthologies are unequaled compilations of Bible, Talmud, prayer, poetry, and folklore. Even in our digital age, they deserve a place on the bookshelf of rabbis, cantors, educators, and any reader seeking the meaning and origin of the Sabbath and Jewish festivals. The volumes mine Bible, Talmud, midrashim, and a rich variety of other sources, including works by prominent authors.

The Sabbath Anthology mines Bible, Talmud, midrashim, Judeo-Hellenistic and medieval Jewish literature; showcases the works of modern writers—including Hayyim Nahman Bialik, S. Y. Agnon, I. L. Peretz, Meyer Levin, and Martin Buber—and presents many art and musical programming suggestions.

The Rosh Hashanah Anthology mines Bible, Talmud, midrashim, medieval theology and philosophy, law codes, and liturgy; showcases works of modern creative writers, historians, biographers, and folklorists—including S. Y. Agnon, Franz Rosenzweig, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Elie Wiesel—describes Rosh Hashanah observances in many lands, and presents detailed programming suggestions.

The Yom Kippur Anthology mines Bible, Talmud, midrashim, prayers with commentaries, Hasidic tales, and liturgical music; showcases the works of modern writers—including S. Y. Agnon, Martin Buber, Meyer Levin, and I. L. Peretz—and presents detailed programming suggestions.

The Sukkot and Simhat Torah Anthology mines the Bible, postbiblical literature, Talmud, and Midrash, prayers with commentaries, and Hasidic tales; showcases humor, art, food, song, dance, essays, stories, and poems—including the works of Chaim Weizmann, Elie Wiesel, Herman Wouk, S. Y. Agnon, Sholom Aleichem, H. N. Bialik—and presents acitivities for all ages.

The Hanukkah Anthology mines the Bible, postbiblical writings, Talmud, midrash, medieval books, and other Jewish literature over the past 2000 years; describes laws and customs, home liturgies, and observances in different nations; and presents art, recipes, and creative works—including by Herman Wouk, Judah L. Magnes, Chaim Potok, Heinrich Heine, Emma Lazarus, Howard Fast, Sholom Aleichem, Curt Leviant, I. L. Peretz, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The Purim Anthology relates how the first Purim originated, explains the laws and rites, describes its colorful celebration in different eras in commemoration of local deliverances, and presents a reservoir of contemporary articles, stories, and poems— exploring the holiday’s multifaceted art, music, plays, and humor.

The Passover Anthology describes the Jewish experience of Passover throughout the lands and ages —the story, celebrations in the home and community, laws and prayers, seder plates and songs, art and dances, prayers and games; and showcases modern writings by Winston Churchill, Heinrich Heine, Hayim Nahman Bialik, and others.

The Shavuot Anthology mines Bible, Talmud, midrashim, medieval Jewish literature and poetry; showcases the works of modern writers—including Abraham Joshua Heschel, Ahad Ha-Am, Hayyim Nachman Bialik, Martin Buber, and Sholom Aleichem—and presents cultural and culinary programming suggestions.