The Synagogue Survival Kit

October 30, 2000
To anyone unfamiliar with the synagogue service, the prayers and the rituals may seem like a "confusing hodgepodge of activity." Wagner provides a simple, detailed and thorough road map for navigating the service and understanding its structure and content. He assumes no prior knowledge, explaining such basics as clothing and decorum, when to arrive at services, how to lift a Torah and what greetings to use. The book grew out of a lengthy orientation letter Wagner wrote to a friend who was preparing to attend a traditional service. Although the material he has set out to explain is sometimes quite cumbersome, his informal, encouraging tone make this an engaging, reader-friendly introduction. He breaks down the service piece by piece and transforms the reader's picture of it from an "amorphous blob" to a highly structured diagram. Explanations of pronunciation, customs, architecture, who's who in the service and the nature of prayer help set the stage for specific explorations of each prayer. Interpretations are worded so as to be acceptable to the spectrum of Jewish philosophies and denominations. Extensive notes follow each chapter, and a cross-reference to selections in the most commonly used prayer books fleshes out this carefully crafted primer, which is perfect for Jews rediscovering their own traditions, Jews by choice and others who wish to participate in Jewish events.

May 15, 2013
This user-friendly road map to traditional (Orthodox) services is for readers new to the faith or recently affiliated. Although other books show how a person can live in a more Jewish way daily, this is a guide to worshiping with greater ease. A synagogue teacher and administrator for 20 years, the author brings together what he has learned in a clear and helpful pathway. The book breaks down the complexity of services, the central ideas of each prayer, and objects and symbols in the synagogue. It offers comprehensive coverage of all aspects of traditional services and is respectful of other practices. There is a helpful pronunciation guide and an index. Recommended for public, academic, and congregational libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)