And You Shall Tell Your Son": Identity and Belonging as Shaped by the Jewish Holidays" Itzik Peleg Yitzhak

In this volume, Bible Studies scholar Yitzhak (Itzik) Peleg offers an educational, values-based approach to the cycle of Jewish holidays--festivals and holy days--as found in the Jewish calendar. The biblical command "And you shall tell your son" (Exodus 13:8) is meant to ensure that children will become familiar with the history of their people via the experience of celebrating the holidays. These special days play a dual role: they reflect a sense of identity with, and belonging to, the Jewish people, while simultaneously shaping that identity and sense of belonging.

It is the author's claim, however, that this command must be preceded by another educational command: "And you shall listen to your son and your daughter."The book examines the various Jewish holidays and ways in which they are celebrated, while focusing on three general topics: identity, belonging, memory.