{"schema_version":"bf_book_companion_v1","release_id":"20260418T162306Z","book":{"amazon_purchase_url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142196193?tag=bookfrontier-20","asin":"0142196193","authors":["Alfred J. Kolatch"],"book_id":"9780142196199","canonical_url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/the-jewish-book-of-why-0142196193","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780142196199.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","description":"A complete, concise, fascinating, and thoroughly informative guide to Jewish life and tradition Rabbi Alfred J. Kolatch clearly explains both the significance and the origin of nearly every symbol, custom, and practice known to Jewish culture—from Afikomon to Yarmulkes, and from Passover to Purim. Kolatch also dispels many of the prevalent misconceptions and misunderstandings that surround Jewish observance and provides a full and unfettered look at the biblical, historical, and sometimes superstitious reasons and rituals that helped develop Jewish law and custom and make Judaism not just a religion, but a way of life. L'chaim! • Why do Jews eat gefilte fish? • Why is a glass broken at the end of a Jewish wedding ceremony? • Why must the chapter of curses in the Torah be read quickly in a low voice? • Why are shrimp and lobster not kosher? • Why do Jews fast on Yom Kippur? • Why are some Matzot square while others are round? If you've ever asked or been asked any of these questions, The Jewish Book of Why has all the answers.","forthcoming":false,"isbn13":"9780142196199","publication_date":"20030304","publisher":"Penguin Publishing Group","slug":"the-jewish-book-of-why","subtitle":"","title":"The Jewish Book of Why"},"discovery":{"categories":{"all":[{"bisac_code":"REL040010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Jewish Rituals & Practice","score":0.8692,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"REL034040","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Jewish Holidays","score":0.8448,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"REL040070","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Orthodox Judaism","score":0.8389,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"hint":[{"bisac_code":"REL040010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Jewish Rituals & Practice","score":0.8692,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"REL034040","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Jewish Holidays","score":0.8448,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"REL040070","confidence_band":"medium","label":"Orthodox Judaism","score":0.8389,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"publisher":[{"bisac_code":"REL040000","confidence_band":"high","label":"Judaism","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"REL040010","confidence_band":"high","label":"Jewish Rituals & Practice","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"REL040030","confidence_band":"high","label":"Jewish History","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"}]},"genres":[{"label":"Jewish Rituals & Practice","score":0.8692,"slug":"jewish-rituals-practice"},{"label":"Jewish Holidays","score":0.8448,"slug":"jewish-holidays"},{"label":"Orthodox Judaism","score":0.8389,"slug":"orthodox-judaism"}],"reader_fit":["Good for readers who enjoy Jewish Rituals & Practice","Good for readers interested in short stories","Good for fans of Judaism"],"related_lists":[{"intro":"","slug":"shelf-rel040070-orthodox","title":"Orthodox Books","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/lists/shelf-rel040070-orthodox"}],"series":null,"similar_books":[{"authors":["Alan Lew","Norman Fischer"],"book_id":"9780316830201","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780316830201.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":14.486,"title":"This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780316830201"},{"authors":["Alan Morinis"],"book_id":"9781590306093","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781590306093.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":14.078,"title":"Everyday Holiness","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781590306093"},{"authors":["George Robinson","David J. Wolpe"],"book_id":"9781501117756","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781501117756.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":13.8643,"title":"Essential Judaism: Updated Edition","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781501117756"},{"authors":["Sarah Hurwitz"],"book_id":"9780525510710","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780525510710.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":13.8127,"title":"Here All Along","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780525510710"},{"authors":["Jonathan Sacks"],"book_id":"9780805211962","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780805211962.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":13.6267,"title":"To Heal a Fractured World","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780805211962"},{"authors":["Norman Solomon"],"book_id":"9780141441788","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780141441788.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":12.9275,"title":"The Talmud","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780141441788"},{"authors":["Martin Buber","Chaim Potok","Bonny V. Fetterman"],"book_id":"9780805209952","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780805209952.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":12.9224,"title":"Tales of the Hasidim","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780805209952"},{"authors":["Liana Finck"],"book_id":"9780062291615","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780062291615.jpg?v=20260418T162306Z%3A2026-04-18T16%3A23%3A06Z","score":12.9149,"title":"A Bintel Brief","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780062291615"}],"topics":[{"evidence_refs":["keyword:spiritual"],"label":"Spiritual","score":0.1442,"slug":"spiritual"},{"evidence_refs":["phrase_map_match"],"label":"Short Stories","score":0.0624,"slug":"short-story"},{"evidence_refs":["keyword:jewish gift"],"label":"Jewish","score":0.0484,"slug":"jewish"}],"what_you_get":["Themes: Spiritual, Short Stories, Jewish.","Reading lane: Jewish Rituals & Practice and Jewish Holidays.","Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group."]},"llm_signals":null,"source_presence":{"amazon":true,"book_detail":true,"goodreads":true,"llm_signals":false,"similarity_seed":true},"stats":{"amazon_ratings_count":0,"goodreads_ratings_count":945,"goodreads_reviews_count":63,"quality_score":0.8988}}