Back by popular demand, the classic JPS holiday anthologies remain essential and relevant in our digital age. Unequaled in-depth compilations of classic and contemporary writings, they have long guided rabbis, cantors, educators, and other readers seeking the origins, meanings, and varied celebrations of the Jewish festivals.
The Sabbath Anthology delves into one of the earliest Jewish institutions—the holiday the prophet Isaiah characterized as “the day of delight”—elucidating its history, laws, customs and traditions, religious and ethical insights, and observances in different eras throughout the world. A wealth of Jewish creativity past and present—“The Sabbath in Judeo-Hellenistic Literature” by Flavius Josephus and Philo Judaeus; Talmud and midrashim; medieval Jewish literature by Judah Halevi, Abraham ibn Ezra, and Moses Maimonides; modern Jewish literature by Solomon Schechter, Mordecai Kaplan, Sholom Asch, Hayyim Nahman Bialik, and Ahad Ha’am; short stories by S. Y. Agnon, I. L. Peretz, Meyer Levin, and Martin Buber; ceremonial and decorative art; musical compilations and programming—will yield delight for many Sabbaths to come.
Author Bio
Abraham E. Millgram (1901–98) held a number of rabbinic posts and served as director of the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation at the University of Minnesota. He was education director of the United Synagogue Commission on Jewish Education and is the author of several books, including Jewish Worship (JPS, 1971).
Praise
“Throughout my long career as a rabbi, the JPS holiday anthologies have been an essential resource. All the core background is in one place. If I need a holiday story, the anthologies contain a wide range of choices. And sections on celebrations worldwide provide new approaches to festivals.”—Rabbi Steven Bob, author of Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives
“This reissue is good news! I read this rich, varied, and classic series with pleasure and collected the volumes avidly when they first appeared.”—Rabbi Reuven Hammer, author of Akiva: Life, Legend, Legacy
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations A Note from the Publisher Preface Acknowledgments BOOK I: THE SABBATH IN PRACTICE
THE TRADITIONAL SABBATH
THE SABBATH IN THE HOME
HOME SERVICE FOR THE SABBATH
THE SABBATH HOUR FOR CHILDREN
THE SABBATH IN THE SYNAGOGUE
THE ‘ONEG SHABBAT
THE LAW OF THE SABBATH
SABBATH SPICE
BOOK II: THE SABBATH IN LITERATURE, ART AND MUSIC
THE SABBATH IN THE BIBLE
THE SABBATH IN JUDAEO-HELLENISTIC LITERATURE
THE SABBATH IN THE TALMUD AND THE MIDRASH
THE SABBATH IN MEDIEVAL JEWISH LITERATURE
THE SABBATH IN MODERN JEWISH LITERATURE
THE SABBATH IN THE SHORT STORY
THE SABBATH IN JEWISH POETRY
THE SABBATH IN MUSIC
THE SABBATH IN ART
BOOK III: THE SABBATH IN HISTORY
THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SABBATH
THE STRUGGLE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SABBATH
THE JEWISH SABBATH AND THE CHRISTIAN SUNDAY
SABBATH OBSERVANCE IN THE FAR-FLUNG JEWISH COMMUNITIES