The subtitle says it all. Jaffe, a ba'alat teshuvah
(a Jew who was raised in a secular, nonobservant home and who as an adult chose to live a "Torah observant life") urges families who have diverged in their religious orientations to overcome conflict and preserve shalom bayis
, peace in the home. Jaffe tackles the philosophical and practical aspects of keeping kosher, with the understanding that "anything that threatens a family's ability to eat together is seen as tearing apart the fabric of family life." Shabbat and holiday observances raise thorny debates—some seemingly small—that can add up to a broader contentiousness ("I'd like to watch the 10 o'clock news before I go to bed. Do I have to avoid doing so in your home just because you don't watch TV on the Sabbath?"). Other questions include modesty, women's roles, dating practices, participation in life cycle events and education. Through general scenarios, personal reflections, suggestions for defusing tensions, and real answers to real questions, Jaffe encourages readers to treat each other with courage and respect in a way that "strengthens the family rather than destroys it." (Sept.)
