From Within the Tents: The Sabbath Prayers, Essays by the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University edited by Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman and Dr. Stuart W. Halpern; Maggid Books, New Milford, CT; ISBN 978-1-59264-446-9 ©2014, $29.95, p. 295 plus Appendix
By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.
WINCHESTER, California –Hermann Cohen, arguably the greatest German-Jewish philosopher of the nineteenth century said, “The Sabbath became the most effective patron-saint of the Jewish people… The ghetto Jew discarded all the toil and trouble of his daily life when the Sabbath lamp was lit. All insult and outrage was shaken off. The love of God, which returned to him the Sabbath each seventh day, restored to him also his honor and human dignity even in his lowly hut.”
From Within the Tents: The Sabbath Prayers, the fourth volume in the “From Within the Tent” series, captures, through the essays of more than twenty-five rabbis and scholars of Yeshiva University, the close loving relationship between Judaism and her Sabbath.
From Within the Tents: The Sabbath Prayers presents the essays in the order of the Sabbath liturgy, starting with articles relating to Sabbath preparation, including one by Dr. Jacob Schacter entitled, “To be an Erev Shabbat Jew,” in which he argues that “one does not just enter the Shabbat; one prepares all week for the arrival of Shabbat.” Other essays relating to the inauguration of the Sabbath include the familial and community meaning of lighting the Sabbath candles, the controversy behind chanting Kiddush in the synagogue, the origin, sources, and thematic analysis of singing Sabbath zemirot (songs), an interpretation of the Friday evening prayer Yedid Nefesh, an explanation of Psalm 93 and its place in the Sabbath liturgy, and why the poem Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is recited on Erev Shabbat.
There are many notable articles relating to the Sabbath morning prayer services. For instance, an analysis of Psalm 19, Pesukei De-Zimrah—the introductory prayer service— the history and meaning behind the prayers for the State of Israel and the welfare of the government, and the uniqueness of the Musaf (additional) Sabbath service. Also, there is an article on the minchah (afternoon) service and se’udah shelishit, the third meal of the Sabbath day.
From Within the Tents: The Sabbath Prayers brings together a group of knowledgeable and skilled writers, each a Jewish scholar, who provide the reader with thought-provoking material on Judaism’s most celebrated event and is a welcome addition to the excellent “From Within the Tent” series.
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Dr. Fred Reiss is a retired public and Hebrew school teacher and administrator. He is the author of The Standard Guide to the Jewish and Civil Calendars; Public Education in Camden, NJ: From Inception to Integration; Ancient Secrets of Creation: Sepher Yetzira, the Book that Started Kabbalah, Revealed; and a fiction book, Reclaiming the Messiah. The author can be reached via fred.reiss@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the U.S.)