Havdalah Is Coming! (Tracy Newman's Jewish Celebrations)

This simple, family-centered account of weekly observance should be welcome in many Jewish homes.

Copyright 2020 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

"A family is ending Shabbat (Sabbath) and is looking forward to Havdalah coming, which symbolizes that Shabbat is coming to an end. Havdalah means 'separation'. It shows how some of the markings of the end of Shabbat seem to create some excitement for the family that Havdalah is coming. It also shows that even though Shabbat is ending something great comes when it ends. I remember hearing the word 'Havdalah' when I attended some congregations but I never picked up on what it was until reading this book. Since I've been celebrating Saturday Shabbat, I mostly remember being more excited to observe Shabbat than to be excited for a new week, so even though I think this observance (or the name of it at least) is something that was made up (but I am open to finding Scriptures about it), I think it will help me to be more excited for the week ahead after resting on Shabbat. I might be able to find something in the Bible about people being excited about a new week after Shabbat, which is what Havdalah sounds like to me. Since this book is teaching about Havdalah, I like that it keeps explaining that Havdalah is coming throughout the book so that children will understand better what is being taught about in this book. I like that the family wants to include friends in the Havdalah celebration when it starts. I think it will show a lot of children that both Shabbat and Havdalah are important observances for some families and that the day of Shabbat is helpful to look forward to a new week. I think it's great that a new series of 'A Holiday Is Coming' was created by the author of this book." — Jill Harris