«Jewish Holiday Style» by Rita Milos Brownstein

At last – the Jewish holidays transformed into exquisite celebrations, graced with sublime chic and elegant ease for the contemporary Jewish reader. Combining the flair of Martha Stewart with the warmth and accessibility of a delightful neighbor, Rita Milos Brownstein breathes new life into traditional Jewish holiday celebrations.
Entertaining in high style creates marvelous holiday memories for your family, your friends, and yourself. For each of the ten major holidays, Brownstein offers suggestions for creative projects that will bring the whole family together and mouth-watering menus that make it effortless to prepare festivities of true material and spiritual splendor. With more than 85 full-color photographs and easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrations, this captivating book will motivate you to explore your Jewish heritage and use your imagination to make it your own.
Jewish Holiday Style is packed with dazzling and inspiring ideas. For Rosh Hashanah, host a honey-tasting party to celebrate the sweetness of a new year. If you love the ocean, observe Sukkot in a sukkah with a seaside motif – even if you live in the cornfields of the Midwest. Make your own Chanukah menorahs – try a simple cruse of oil that reflects the miracle of the oil in the Holy Temple, or an elaborate metalworked candelabra that is sure to become a family heirloom. For the Passover table, create personalized pillows for your guests, which.will allow them to recline like the royalty of old while you serve a lavish yet simple-to-prepare feast.
As part of this eye-opening tour through the Jewish calendar, Brownstein also highlights the historical origins and religious importance of each major holiday with a delightful essay that brings ancient rituals into the modern day. Think of the fast of Yom Kippur, for instance, as "a day spa for the soul…the too rare opportunity to get in touch with the things that really matter." Purim is "the definitive holiday of joy and merriment," commemorating a bright moment in the often somber history of the Jewish people. On Shabbat, "appreciate that you are joining the wave of Jews who are kindling their candles as the sun falls, working its way around the world."
At once a handbook of creative ideas and a primer on the spiritual significance of the Jewish holidays, Jewish Holiday Style is the first lifestyle book to address these all-important rituals and ceremonies, an elegantly designed volume that blends sensational crafts and delectable cooking with the richness of Judaism's 3,300-year-old tradition. Bursting with fresh ideas and exciting new looks, here, finally, is the book you've been waiting for. Let the holiday celebrations begin!