This book has hundreds of short stories and probverbs that remind you of the important things in life. It's like "chicken soup" for the Jewish soul.

A SHABBAT READER is certain to become the standard reference work on the theme of the Jewish sabbath. This book is a must.A SHABBAT READER is the latest contribution by the indispensable Jewish anthologist, Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. (Elkins, by the way, is co-editing JEWISH CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, to be published this summer). A SHABBAT READER contains numerous essays by some of the leading voices on the contemporary Jewish scene, from the scholarly to the contemplative, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal leaders. (Kudos, by the way, are due to the UAHC Press for including opinions by such a diverse group). Also included are many important female voices: don't miss the thoughtful, very special piece--never published before--by Harvard undergraduate Ilana Kurshan.No synagogue or home library should be without this book. It would be of particular value in college classes and for adult education.This is one of the most important Jewish books of the decade. Get it.

Wonderful stories, not only feel good stories, but some actual miracles! I cried, I smiled. I read this book one or two at a time at bedtime. The short stories would be nice to read at the table on Shabbat. I agree with another reviewer, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this book!

I laughed, I cried, I remembered. This is a great book, even if you are not Jewish. It contains a wonderful story about the present Pope. There is something for everyone.
Now, I am waiting for Chicken Soup For the Jewish Soul #2 and hopefully, #3.

So nu, it's about time we finally got "Chicken Soup for the JEWISH Soul" -- after all, didn't we Jews invent the chicken-soup-cure-all metaphor in the first place? And storytelling is such a big part of our culture, that there was no shortage of material. In fact, according to the intro to this book, one of the reason it took so long to edit is because there was SO MUCH material. Enough, I hope, to do a sequel or two.

I was delighted to find so many of my favorite contemporary stories included: Larry Trapp, the ex-KKK member who had a real change of heart; a prison inmate touched by a hug from the late Shlomo Carlebach; How Kirk Douglas re-connected with his Jewishness at the Western Wall; how Eddie Kantor started the March of Dimes; the heroism of Raoul Wallenberg; the good-hearted people of Billings, Montana, who took a stand against antisemitism, etc. Plus there are many, many new stories to touch the heart and soul. Ten stars!

I buyed, thinking was a biography and it's not!. It's a story with facts of Rav Kook life writen in a biography way but not a serious one. For a giant like Rav Kook I don't like the way the author describe his life...Rav Kook deserved more.

A good book describing the unique personality of the greatest Jewish thinker of the 20th century-Rabbi AI Kook. Presents stories from Rav Kook's biography in anecdotal form. Good introduction to Rav Kook's biography

Dov Peretz Elkins deserves credit for taking a complex subject and trying to make it accessible to a broader audience as his mentor Jack Canfield (author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul") has done. Unfortunately, in his effort to offer a degree of breadth regarding the usage of guided imagery, he sacrifices depth. Since this book is primarily about the use of Jewish Guided Imagery for pedagogical purposes, the reader would have been better served had Elkins limited his scope to addressing imagery in a religious learning context. Instead the book attempts to address vast topics such as the use of imagery in stress reduction, psychoneuroimmunology, and therapeutic interventions. Greater emphasis on learning styles, the emotional aspects of relgious education, and traditional uses of imagery in Judaism would have been beneficial. In addition, given the target audience of this book (educators, rabbis, etc.), a more academic approach would have better substantiated his stance.

Despite these drawbacks, Elkins has provided the reader with dozens of examples of guided imagery exercizes in addition to teaching us how to immediately begin to use imagery in religious education work. The book outlines important considerations for providing successful experiences with those who have had little exposure to guided imagery. Overall, this book is a helpful tool despite a somewhat simplistic presentation. It is recommended as a jump off point.