Certain books are an essential part of any Jewish home: a siddur (prayer book), a Chumash (Five Books of Moses) and books of philosophy. These are the foundations for a Jewish life which pulsates with the rhythms of Torah study and practice.
Here's my list of top-10 favorites. A more extensive reading list is online at: http://www.aish.com/literacy/reference/Recommended_Books.asp
1) STONE CHUMASH (order from Arscroll)
Rabbi Nosson Scherman (ArtScroll-Mesorah 1993)
Modern translation of the Five Books of Moses. Features a thorough, user-friendly commentary, culled from Talmudic, medieval and contemporary sources.
2) ARTSCROLL SIDDUR (order from Artscroll)
Mesorah Publications 1984
The most complete and accurate prayer book on the market today. More than just a text of the prayers, it includes full explanations of all the prayers, laws and customs. Features a masterful essay on the essence of prayer. Includes special prayers for the holidays and life-cycle events. Beautifully organized and designed. A must for every Jewish home.
3) THE BOOK OF OUR HERITAGE (order from Amazon)
Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov (Feldheim 1978)
A thorough review of the Jewish calendar. Includes month-by-month explanation of all the holidays, laws and customs throughout the Jewish year. A classic.
4) TO BE A JEWISH WOMAN (Order from Amazon)
Lisa Aiken (Jason Aronson 1992)
The long-awaited compendium for the modern Jewish woman. Includes issues of the synagogue, child-raising, modesty, the mikveh, and spirituality. Plus a historical overview of the Matriarchs.
5) HEAVEN ON EARTH (order from Aish.com)
Edited by Nechemia Coopersmith and Shraga Simmons (Aish.com 2002)
An anthology of the best essays from Aish.com, showing how to bring spirituality into everyday life. Captivating true stories take you to a hospital in Ethiopia to the nightclubs of Moscow; from an ashram in India to a cancer ward in London; from Ground Zero in Manhattan to the Golden Gate Bridge, and to Jerusalem, standing before to the Western Wall. A perfect gift for beginners and veterans alike.
6) TRIUMPH OF SURVIVAL (order from Artscroll)
Rabbi Berel Wein (Shaar Press 1990)
The complete story of the Jews in the modern era, from 1650-1990. Filled with facts and anecdotes. Includes: Enlightenment, anti-Semitism, American Jewry, the Holocaust, and the State of Israel. Drawn from Rabbi Wein's masterful cassette lecture series.
7) THE ARYEH KAPLAN ANTHOLOGY (order from Artscroll)
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (NCSY-Mesorah 1988)
Listed in "Who's Who" as an accomplished physicist, Aryeh Kaplan applied his brilliant mind first and foremost to Torah study -- mastering all the works of Jewish philosophy, law and kabbalah. He shared his encyclopedic knowledge in a series of masterful essays that blend the mystical and the practical. Topics include: God, Jerusalem, Shabbat, Mikveh, Soul and Afterlife.
8) THE SCIENCE OF GOD (order from Amazon)
Gerald Schroeder (Bantam 1990)
A ground-breaking work that confronts head-on the cosmological debate and explains how Torah and science need not conflict. The author, a former M.I.T. professor of nuclear physics and member of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, is now a Discovery lecturer in Jerusalem.
9) GATEWAY TO HAPPINESS
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin (Aish HaTorah 1980)
Your attitude controls your mood. Learn the Torah's techniques for ridding anxiety, fear and stress -- while increasing joy, appreciation and energy. A noted psychologist and Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Pliskin heads the counseling center at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem.
10) ON JUDAISM (order from Artscroll)
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman (Shaar Press 1994)
In the form of conversations between a rabbi and a seeker, this book delightfully weaves through the fabric of Jewish life including faith, covenant, ethics, sin, holiness, prayer and more. The author, besides being a law school professor and magazine editor, is the rabbi who built Torah Judaism in Atlanta from the ground up.
Additionally, a wealth of excellent cassette lectures -- on spirituality, relationships, holidays, history and more -- are available through Voices From Jerusalem. Order online at: http://www.aish.com/audio/, or by calling 1-800-VOICES-3.
Additional Suggestions
In addition, I suggest the Artscroll editions of Pikei Avos and Tehillim.
(2) Stephen Baker 1/28/2003
One More Suggestion
Thank you for such a wonderful list. I am happy to see that I may have chosen my library well. I would like to also suggest the Handbook of Jewish Thought. This is a two volume set by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. It is very thorough but easy to read. The topics are divided into sections that can be read in a short period. Great references are provided in the footnotes for follow up.
(3) Mordechai Bendon 12/23/2002
Siddurim
Comment about Jay Grossman's comments about Artscroll and Metsudah sidurim.
I dafka think that the Artscroll is great for davening where as the Metzuda is perfect for sitting with my children and teaching the meaning of the tephilot. I used the Metzuda for davening a few times but found it far too heavy and large for practical use.
Living in Israel I often find the Artscroll anoying that it does not contain the small amounts of differences between nusach Ashkenaz in Israel and outside of Israel. Many Hebrew only siddurim incorperate these differences very well. There is no reason why Artscroll cannot add a few lines here and there to guide English speakers in Israel.
Another thought. If Artscroll did include references to the slightly different nusach in Eretz Yisrael then perhaps this would encourage more Jews to visit Israel.