Get Real. Get Married.

Aleeza Ben Shalom has conquered the Shidduch crisis. 
In her book, Get Real Get Married, Mrs. Ben Shalom takes you through the perspectives necessary to get to the chupa in a clear and direct manner.



Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is peaceful and conveys a happy, sweet place to be. The size of the book is also friendly. Its a paperback with a large enough font, but not too large. Its easy to read with action plans and focused chapter subjects.

Some Details I Liked:

Actually, I not only liked, but loved the voice in this book. Aleeza was talking to me. There is clear communication. Sometimes its validating and other times, its pushing towards better actions. Its a real deal. Aleeza takes this stuff seriously, while covering a bunch of angles and even sticking in some humor at the end. 

Who This Book is For:

The best part about this book is that its for any non-atheist single. Meaning Aleeza talks about the hands off approach but doesn't specify that its a Jewish concept of shomer negiya, instead she details about the psychological benefit of keeping it non-physical. There also aren't any specifications of age or location in order to relate to her sage advice. Any part that is more for men (or the reverse)  is marked as such, and that segmentation is really a minor part of the book.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

If you are looking for a book full of passukim or proofs from Tanach that you should meet your zivug, this isn't it. Aleeza keeps a Torah true perspective and definitely keeps G-d in mind, but its a strictly English publication.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

Well, I like happily ever after stories, I mean who doesn't? It would have been fun to read a few more "names have been changed for privacy" success stories. The points were written well, but again for enjoyment purposes that addition might have been nice.

In Conclusion:  

This is my new favorite get real book. I highly recommend it to singles that are thinking about starting to date or that feel stuck in dating land. I look forward to reading the next Get Real book.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Right On Time, The Torah Approach to Punctuality

Did you ever wish you knew the Yekke secrets? "Right On Time" by Rabbi Leo Davids will give you a peek into how to become the master of time. 


Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover of this book is very plain, as it is more of a sefer to be studied than a book for reading pleasure. The title is a little more generic than the focus of the book, which is more about the importance of what a Jewish man does and how it should be done with respect and in a timely fashion.

Some Details I Liked:

I liked the content. A lot. The points are important and often fall to the wayside. Rabbi Davids presents them in a clear way, with proper explanation and expansion.

Who This Book is For:

This book is for a serious reader. It is good for teachers or any adult that would like to express to themselves or others about the importance of being punctual and discipline within the Torah lifestyle. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I would advise that this book not be given to a beginner to Torah. While it discusses core concepts, the framework of the book is written as something that needs improvement rather than a fresh education of the matter.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

There were two areas that I felt could be easily improved. The first is that the quote punctuation is not consistent with the language, meaning that, for example,  there is an end quote, where the next Hebrew line begins.  The second part that I didn't appreciate, are the comics. While comics are good to lighten the tone of a book, they are even better when they flow with the content of the chapter.

In Conclusion:  

This is an important work. It has a lot of great material and can be easily applied to life. At five chapters and just over 100 pages, this is a nice addition to any frum family's library.

The Doppelganger's Dance, the Latest Ezra Melamed Mystery!

The Doppelganger's Dance is another great read by Libi Astaire. It is the latest book in the series of the Ezra Melamed Mysteries. 


Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

I just adore the classy layout of each of these covers. With the setting in England, it is a perfect match!

Some Details I Liked:

The story-line is unique. Its realistic, but not too familiar, which makes it so enjoyable to read.

Who This Book is For:

This book has a great balance of male and female characters, which I found is not so common in non-romantic books. But, being that the balance is there, I think boys and girls alike would be fascinated by this tale.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This is clearly a novel, with historical detail, but a novel all the same. If someone is looking for a more factual tale, this is not for them. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

Really no complaints. I did feel bad for Master Salomon at times...

In Conclusion:  

This is another great addition to Libi Astaire's impressive portfolio. Definitely a "goodread"!

Disclaimer:

I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Sefiros, Spiritual Refinement Through Counting The Omer

"Hayom yom .... l'omer." Do you know what day it is? What is the significance of the day anyways? What should I do about it? All those answers and more are in Sefiros, by Rabbi Yaacov Haber and Rabbi David Sedley.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is a simple colorful one, which gives it a respectable sefer-like look. When flipping through the pages, you can see that each sefira is printed with a different shade. The layout of each "day" is clear, with a summary of the essence and "Action Points".

Some Details I Liked:

For a long time, I have been working on the idea that life is 3D. Meaning that in order to be the best you can be, you have to work in 3 areas - With God, With Others and With Yourself. In Sefiros, there are practical suggestions for how to grow in each area, each day.

Who This Book is For:

This book is for growing people. For someone who wants to better understand sefiros and/or the time period of sefiras ha'omer. It can be learned as a daily/nightly read throughout the 49 days, or it can be stretched and appreciated throughout the year.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Being that this book is a serious book, I'd say pick it up only if you want to genuinely learn. Its not watered down. I think it can be appreciated by children when parents use it as a teaching tool. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

To try and find room for improvement on a book devoted to being better, is a nonsensical task. As much as I have had this book and read it over the years, I have not yet mastered its curriculum and continue to learn from its wealth.

In Conclusion:  

This is a basic, yet complex book to own, learn and cherish throughout sefiras ha'omer specifically, but is also valuable throughout the year. It is a classic which I highly recommend.

Afterlife, The Jewish View - Where Are We Headed?

Do you lay awake at night wondering what comes next? Has someone close to you recently passed on and caused you to think about where exactly they passed on to...? Afterlife written by Jonathan Morgenstern and based on the teachings of Rabbi Sholom Kamenetsky, will answers those questions and more. 



Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

This cover is brilliant! Life is a road, with a curve or two, but we can't see where it is headed. All we can see is the powerful sun that shines on us from beyond the horizon. That is a great metaphor for the afterlife, the World to Come, etc.

Some Details I Liked:

This book is well sourced. It has footnotes as applicable on the pages, as well as a Hebrew appendix in the back of the book.
It has clear sub-titles and charts to help ensure that the information is easily understood. 

Who This Book is For:

I felt that this book was pretty much inline with what I learned in Bais Yaakov and grew up with since. Therefore, I'd recommend it for someone with less of a strong Jewish education. It is also the perfect read before speaking with people who might ask about the seemingly abstract concept of the afterlife.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book is written with the Jewish view and the Jewish view only. I would not share it with a non-Jew, just because its not relevant.  

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

There were some inconsistencies in the ways terms were written. Some had the sefardy/modern taf, while others used the ashkenazy saf. Its not a big deal, but the pronunciation does have an impact on the intended audience, so it should be one way or the other. 

In Conclusion:  

This book explains the Afterlife based on 3,000 years of Jewish tradition and scholarship, in just over 100 pages. It is also newly available in paperback.

THE Jewish Holiday HANDBOOK

If you ever wanted a handy-dandy guide to the Jewish Year, this is it! By this, of course, I mean "The Jewish Holiday Handbook" By Doron Kornluth. Its straightforward and accurate. Best of all, it fits in your hand!

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover, as you see, is quite pleasant to the eye. It has snapshots of the four seasons which occur throughout the year. Simple, but elegant. Truth be told, the Jewish Holidays have enough going for them, especially in this book, that they don't need an elaborate cover presentation. 


Some Details I Liked:

I very much liked the layout of the chapters. Each chapter discusses a holiday over a maximum of 20 pages. At the end of the chapter, is a section with "Fast Facts", followed by another section with "Questions for Discussion". There are also a few "I Didn't Know That" blurbs thrown in throughout the book. 
Overall, the layout of each topic and sub-topic is done in an easy to read manner.

Who This Book is For:

This book was clearly written with a lot of thought and wisdom. I say that because it translates the Hebrew terms, allowing a beginner to Judaism to grasp the basics, but at the same time, it has many deep insights, which allow even a seasoned Jew (no pun intended) to appreciate the times of the year. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I guess really anyone that doesn't care about holidays, prefers to think that Chanukah is just about latkes or that Passover is just about Matzah, should not pick up this book. :)

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I was disappointed by the Table of Contents. You see, the book completely skips over the following three minor Jewish Holidays - Tu b'Shvat, Tu b'Av and Lag b'Omer. While I understand that prayers are not different on those days, but they are marked days on the Jewish calendar. Perhaps there can be an expanded edition...

In Conclusion:  

Whether you want to brush up just before a holiday or you are going to experience it for the first time, this is one book you'll want to have within an arm's reach. 

The Mountain Family, a Story of a Family's Journey to Yiddishkeit.

This book is an original, unique recounting of a woman and her family's trek to Yiddishkeit. The Mountain Family goes from Mrs. Berger's childhood through grandmotherhood covering many diverse situations, locations and trepidations.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is enough to say that this is not your typical nonfiction Artscroll book. It doesn't give away much more than that its a book about a family that lived in a cabin and now has a connection to religious Jews and Jerusalem.

Some Details I Liked:

I liked the large span of time that the book covered. Obviously, it is hard to consolidate memories and key events, but it was done very well. The years flowed into each other, yet the next stage always held a distinction of maturity compared to the one prior. 

Who This Book is For:

This is a great family book. It touches on some of the emotional challenges that Mrs. Berger went through, but doesn't dwell on them. At first, I felt that it took away from the depth of the story, but then I appreciated that I could recommend the book to younger readers without being concerned about over exposure. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

It was also nice how the author maintained terminology that pertained to her at that time in life. For example, her kids are referred to as their names from birth until the book discusses when they chose their new names. To me, it added to the reality of the book, but I can imagine that some might not appreciate the detail.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

As much as this story is extreme and that is what made it print-worthy, I would love to read a autobiography of a giyores who was coming from a more easy to relate to background.
What helped the book a lot was to read one daughters synopsis of the whole situation. It would have been nice if all or almost all the children could have contributed.  Additionally I am curious to read the father's story...

In Conclusion: 

This is a great new nonfiction and possibly inspiring book. Definitely not something that someone just imagined and wrote up, but almost as exciting and unbelievable.

Disclaimer:

I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.