cover image The Tapestry of Jewish Time: A Spiritual Guide to Holidays and Life-Cycle Events

The Tapestry of Jewish Time: A Spiritual Guide to Holidays and Life-Cycle Events

Nina Beth Cardin. Behrman House Publishing, $24.95 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-87441-645-9

This intelligently crafted guide to Jewish living likens the fabric of Judaism to a tapestry woven of communal celebration and personal spirit. Cardin, a Conservative rabbi in Baltimore, explores the structure of Jewish time and its ability to lead us to the sacred, by weaving together history, Jewish law, legend, practice, ritual both ancient and contemporary and suggestions for celebration. What distinguishes this comprehensive handbook is Cardin's imaginative, poetic language and her inspiring willingness to share intimate experiences in her own life, from her husband's illness to her young son's declaration that he wanted to be a Christian. Cardin compares the onslaught of the daily world to being in a bakery too long (""the smell is still there, but we no longer notice"") and suggests that Jewish patterns of prayer, blessings and sacred deeds ""help us remain conscious of the artistry of everyday living."" Part I features 14 Jewish holidays, including Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh (the New Month), while Part II elaborates on life-cycle observances, from birth and bar mitzvah to marriage and death. Cardin explains concepts and offers instructions clearly but not simplistically, enriching the text with snippets of ethical wills, memories, women's prayers, blessings and ""personal weavings"" (blank pages to be detailed with the reader's own observances). Meticulously researched and filled with tidbits of practical information, the book reads like a conversation with an intuitive friend. (Apr.)