Reviews for Book of Our Heritage, 3 Vol. (pb)

The average rating for Book of Our Heritage, 3 Vol. (pb) based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2007-10-17 00:00:00 Joseph Ahmad This is a truly encyclopedic guide (at least from the perspective from someone who, like me, knew almost nothing about the subject before reading the book) to Jewish mourning practices. Brief summary: if a parent dies, be prepared to take a week off from everything, and don't shave. Try to avoid most forms of public entertainment for a year. (Whether these are realistic expectations for most readers, I can't say). If another relative dies, the restrictions are less severe. Lamm also briefly summarizes the Jewish depiction of the afterlife. In his own words: [there is] historic near-unanimity of [Jewish] scholarly opinion on the fundamental belief [in the afterlife but] the practical details of immortality are ambiguous and vague. There is no formal eschatology in Judaism, only a traditional consensus that illuminates the way. . . God revives the righteous dead, while the wicked remain in the dust." Lamm goes back and forth between justifying the halacha and neutrally describing it; I found his justifications persuasive in some instances, perhaps a bit overly aggressive at other times.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-11-28 00:00:00 Harry Jones I found this book practically useful, and sensitively written, at least in sections. Parts need updating due to cultural and technological changes, but overall this is an excellent resource. Recommended, for laity. Potentially better books as far as halachic references out there for rabbis who are looking for detailed references. (However, this is not a criticism, as Lamm states specifically who the book is intended for in the intro, and does a great job at sticking to his explanation)