Additional information
by Valerie Toizer Bloom (Author)
The annual cycle of Jewish holidays features abundant opportunities to celebrate freedom, appreciate the natural world and the harvest, feel connected to Jewish heritage and culture, express religious and spiritual beliefs, engage in self-reflection, remember the ancient stories of the Jewish people, and help the earth and its inhabitants. Because "Jewish" refers to both a religion and a heritage, there are many nuances as to how individuals experience being Jewish. For example, some describe themselves as religious, while others identify as spiritual or atheist. Within the complexity of the Jewish experience is an incredible array of possibilities for how individuals can choose to celebrate the holidays. Celebrating the Jewish Holidays: Life-Affirming Secular and Spiritual Observances provides information about the holidays and offers both traditional and modern ideas for how they might be celebrated. As readers consider the holidays and how the holidays relate to their personal religious and philosophical views, they are free to develop meaningful holiday rituals that express their Jewish beliefs and culture.
Author Biography
Valerie Toizer Bloom enjoys celebrating the Jewish holidays in ways that are meaningful to her and reflect her values. As the mother of two young boys, she shares and explores with her sons what it means to be Jewish in the context of their family's culture and worldview. https: //www.facebook.com/Valerie.Toizer.Bloom and https: //twitter.com/VToizerBlo
