The Jewish Book of Why--Boxed Set

In this boxed set of the best-selling volumes The Jewish Book of Why and The Second Book of Why, Rabbi Alfred J. Kolatch explores almost 1,000 questions about Judaism. The views of Jews of all denominations are presented clearly and concisely. Jews and non-Jews alike will find these volumes enlightening.

The Jewish Book of Why explains what Jews believe, how they observe their holidays, the significance of their customs and ceremonies, and the differences between the denominations. Having sold over 1,000,000 copies, The Jewish Book of Why makes an important contribution towards dispelling many of the prevalent misunderstandings and misconceptions that surround Jewish observance.

The Second Jewish Book of Why delves into more complex, controversial, and far-ranging subjects, including the attitudes of Jewish legal scholars on such issues as abortion, conversion, birth control, artificial insemination, organ transplants, smoking, proselytizing, intermarriage, Sabbath observance, and Jewish observance.

Alfred J. Kolatch, a graduate of the Teachers' Institute of Yeshiva University and its College of Liberal Arts, was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which subsequently awarded him the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa. From 1941 to 1948 he served as rabbi of congregations in Columbia, South Carolina, and Kew Gardens, New York, and as a chaplain in the United States Army.

Rabbi Kolatch authored more than fifty books, the most popular of which are The Jewish Book of Why and The Second Jewish Book of Why, The Jewish Book of Why: The Torah, The Jewish Mourner's Book of Why, Inside Judaism, A Handbook for the Jewish Home, The New Name Dictionary, The Comprehensive Dictionary of English and Hebrew First Names, The Family Seder, and The Jewish Child's First Book of Why. Among his other notable works are Great Jewish Quotations: By Jews and About Jews, The Presidents of the United States & the Jews (with David Dalin), What Jews Say About God, and Masters of the Talmud: Their Lives and Views.

In addition to his scholarly work, Rabbi Kolatch served as president of the Association of Jewish Chaplains of the Armed Forces and as vice-president of the interdenominational Military Chaplains Association of the United States.