Learn the laws of Shabbos and Yom Tov in a clear and pleasurable way

Sefer Kitzur Hilchos Shabbos was first written as a Hebrew textbook, when the author began teaching hilchos Shabbos at the Rika Breuers Teachers Seminary. The original paperback sefer soon grew into a handsome hardcover book, which sold out almost immediately. New editions were printed, and the popular Hebrew sefer has been selling steadily ever since. Schools and study groups use this sefer, and many families learn from it on a regular basis at their Shabbos table.

Now, for the first time, this sefer on the laws of Shabbos is available in the English language! This provides an even greater opportunity for the English-speaking public to learn the laws of Shabbos in a clear and pleasurable way.

As in Hilchos Shabbos, in Hilchos Yom Tov we have followed the “derech kitzora” (path of brevity), and have concentrated primarily on acquainting the reader with the main principles of the laws of Yom Tov. In addition, we have presented a number of practical applications. Thus, one will be equipped to ask one’s Rav for further guidance after studying this sefer.

In Hilchos Shabbos we organized the sefer in accordance with the sequence used by the Chayei Adam in his sefer Zichru Toras Moshe. Likewise, in Hilchos Yom Tov as well, we have organized the sefer according to the arrangement of the Chayei Adam, which follows the order of the thirty-nine Melachos. Thus, each chapter in this sefer parallels the corresponding chapter in Kitzur Hilchos Shabbos.

The advantage to this system is that one who has already studied the laws of Shabbos from our sefer can now easily find the halachos of Yom Tov relevant to that subject in the same chapter as that topic is discussed in Hilchos Shabbos. Moreover, within each chapter, one can frequently follow the order of the numbers assigned to each subtopic, and thereby see how the halacha in regard to Yom Tov differs from Shabbos.

By Rabbi Yaakov Yechezkel Posen, author of the Kitzur Hilchos series