The Book of Customs: A Complete Handbook for the Jewish Year

I have a rather unusual family. Kinda like Al Bundy's new Modern Family. My blood family (from my mother,thru my sister & even my daughter) have disowned me. I had to make tough decissions 'cause nobody else would & I got no support. My family now is my Signicant Other's family & her's is even a stretch.Her late husband had a daughter by her but also had a daughter by his first wife who was Jewish & raised her that way ...sorta. She (the first daughter) later married her present husband who shares my Irish ancestry. Not directly but both of our families are of Irish descent & we both strongly identify with our forefathers. I have been giving him & his kids presents relating to Ireland.Not exclusively but mostly. I was looking for a gift for her that would enable her to properly celebrate her heritage I gave it to her this past (forgive the spelling,please) Hannachuk. which has only been 2 monthes or so ago so I haven't heard whether she even read it or not.

Snuffy Johnson's Cowboy Christmas When I complained that the local bookstore wasn't stocking my Christmas book as the holiday season approached my friend Norma strode into the place and demanded a half-dozen copies. Of course, the flustered owner couldn't produce them. Norma left a fictional local phone number and huffily directed him to contact her soonest, then flounced out. Thus, the store had shelf stock which quickly sold out and more were ordered. Norma is Jewish. Norma is a secular Jew who is coming around to her roots. I gave her this book as a way to thank her for selling a few dozen Christmas books, and she absolutely loves it. It was a gift for both of us.

We gave this book to dear friends - practicing Jews - for Hanukkah and they are delighted with it. They said it is accurate and well written and have already used it as a handy reference. This book makes a wonderful gift for any occasion. I have already purchased a copy for a young man for his June high school graduation.

This book is educational, erudite, and accessible. As a non-Jew and a former editor for Brill Academic Publishers, I think this is a must-have for anyone interested in Jewish tradition and have recommended it to friends of many faiths. It's fascinating!

This book is a marvelous find. I have been what I consider an observant conservative Jew for all of my 52 years. In that journey, I have heard many Rabbis, prayed many times, read many texts, magazines and newspapers. My knowledge was, however, a patchwork---with many holes in it. This marvelous, well-researched and well-stated book pulls together many of the pieces that I had been missing---gives me the "WHY" for rituals and customs that, until now, have gone unexplained. Hooray to Mr. Kosofsky for an excellent book. A wonderful choice for a Bar Mitzvah, wedding, or new home gift. A wonderful gift to yourself. It has given me further answer to the question, "HOW have we gotten to where we are today?"