Forgiving Louis Jacobs repetitive self-pitying polemic concerning his "disbarment" from the Orthodox establishment in England, this book is an excellent and wide ranging review of the flexibility which the Halacha has historically shown in comparison with the paralysis that has struck Halachic Judaism since the Enlightenment.

Although the historical analysis is not as deep as Neusner, this book is much easier to read, and highly recommended for anyone willing to to view Halacha as a way of life, without being bound to fundamentalist thought.

If you are interested in the development of Halacha, this is an excellent introduction with many interesting and classic examples.

Out of all the books I have come across on the development of halakha (Jewish law), this may well be the most imporant. Rabbi Jacobs, an adherent of the historical school, illustrates that Jewish law is not - and never has been - a closed system that ignores the outside world. As the book notes "considerations beyond the purely halakhic have always played a big part in the making of halakhah, both in its original formulation and in its subsequent development. Throughout the ages halakhic rulings have been influenced by rabbis' attitudes towards the wider ideals and demands of Judaism and by social, economic, theological, and even political considerations."

The publisher notes that "The most controversial element of _A Tree of Life_, when it was first published in 1984 and subsequently, was its final chapter, 'Towards a Non-Fundamentalist Halakhah'. The new introduction written for this edition responds to criticisms raised from both the right and the left wings of the Jewish world, and also summarizes further work that has been done by scholars in the various areas that the book covers. The bibliography and notes have been expanded, and the format of the book has been enlarged to allow the copious notes to be set at the foot of the page."

To help you get new ideas to enliven your seder each year, I recommend Wolfson's The Passover Seder (not a haggadah, but a great resource). Jewish Lights Publishers has just released an updated edition. This book contains suggestions from different families to make your seder an energetic production. Wolfson divides the seder into acts and scenes, with innovations for each section for you to put into practice. Even if you are not the seder leader, you are sure to benefit from this very helpful resource.

My favorite piece is entitled "How to Keep Them at the Table After They've Had Dessert." Wolfson also gives valuable suggestions for choosing a haggadah, making your home kosher, choosing your seder leader, and treating your seder guests. With so many families sharing their seder traditions, you're sure to walk away from this book with more new seder ideas than you could actually use over the course of decades.