(lubavitch.com) GOING KOSHER IN 30 DAYS! by Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards from PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association. The award recognizes excellence in independent publishing and highlights the best in major publishing categories.

PMA will honor the winning books and marketing programs at the annual Benjamin Franklin Awards in Los Angeles, on May 29, 2008. The award ceremony kicks off the 2008 BEA Expo (Book Expo America) in Los Angeles, which brings together the largest selection of English language titles in the world with buyers at wholesale and retail levels, librarians, book critics, and generates significant media coverage. 

Named one of three finalists in the Religion category, GOING KOSHER IN 30 DAYS! ($22.95, Sept. 2007, ISBN 978-1891293238) was highlighted for its design, content, and user-friendliness. The book shows the simply curious and those seriously considering going kosher all the whys and hows of kosher. With cleverly divided chapters following the days of a single month, the book contains everything needed to launch a personal path to kosher observance.

Judged by a panel of some 190 judges from the publishing industry who evaluated more than 2,500 submissions in more than 50 categories, the Benjamin Franklin award recognizes that GOING KOSHER IN 30 DAYS! was among those books most successful in achieving its purpose and meeting its intended audience's needs.

The award comes at a time when interest in kosher observance is at an all-time high, with more kosher food availability at chain supermarkets than ever before, and more possibilities for eating kosher when eating out. Even beyond the U.S., in Beijing, Buenos Aires and Goa, in countries with small Jewish populations, kosher awareness is growing. Recently, the world's largest barbeque in Uruguay, for example, was launched with a kosher beefsteak.

The book is another publication by The Jewish Learning Group which publishes user-friendly learning guides to help people gain the confidence and skills to participate comfortably in Jewish observance.

Rabbi Goldstein is a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and author of this and many other books, including the popular Shabbat Table Companion and Shabbat Synagogue Companion, which won the prestigious IPG/PMA award for their innovation and design. He specializes in coaching individuals and families in their quest for Jewish growth.

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