Product Description
Raised in Queens, New York by formerly Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been undermined by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on his own personal quest for spiritual meaning. He was ready to accept God in whatever form He chose to reveal Himself and that form turned out to be Christ. But Bernstein soon perceived discrepancies in the various forms of Protestant belief that surrounded him, and so his quest continued -- this time for the true Church. Surprised by Christ combines an engrossing memoir of one man s life in historic times and situations from the Six-Day War to the Civil Rights Movement to the Jesus Movement in Berkeley with an examination of the distinctives of Orthodox theology that make the Orthodox Church the true home not only for Christian Jews, but for all who seek to know God as fully as He may be known. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

great introduction to Orthodoxy
Surprised by Christ is more than an autobiography. It is a great introduction into the Orthodox Church. In fact I would wager that more of the book is doctrinal than biographical. However the doctrine is described anecdotally which I found to be an excellent aid in understanding. What I mean by anecdotal is that Fr. Bernstein introduces concepts as they related to his journey from Judaism to Christianity. So the book does not suffer from the dryness that a proper Orthodox introduction might. Also, the book does a good job in comparing Salvation doctrines of different Christian churches. Also, the fullfilment Old Testament prophecy is described succintly.

Another plus, is that Fr. Bernstein is not overly critical and hostile of Protestants and Catholics. In fact he admits that some non-Orthodox friends of his are spiritually and morally ahead of him. He does however compare doctrines and makes a Biblical and historical case for the Orthodox viewpoint. In this sense, I think this is a good first book for non-Orthodox Christians to read.

Overall, a good read. Also, the writing style is very simple, clear, and succint. The reading is easy and therefore fast.

This wonderful Testimonial Biography is Enlightening and Inspiring.

"The story of Fr James' journey is fascinating. It reminds us again of the sovereignty of God, and his desire to reach every one of his beloved children, no matter where they are." Frederica Mathewes-Green



Mashiach & Messianic Hope:
Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? Messiah is an English rendering of the Hebrew word "Mashiach", which means the anointed one. The title refers to a person initiated into God's service by being anointed with oil. Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as a Mashiach or Messiah, a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during a utopic age. A central themes in Biblical prophecy is a promise of a future age of universal peace and devotion to God. The concept of the Messiah became rooted in Jewish inspiration, between the testaments. The first Christians were mostly Jewish, especially in the great Patriarchate of Antioch and Alexandria. They slowly moved from post Templar Rabbinic Judaism, without sacrifice, nor priesthood, to Messianic Judaism, which developed into Judeo-Christianity after worship separation which started in Antioch.
"Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of His son? Surely you know!"Proverbs 30:3-5

Book Themes:
Surprised by Christ comprises memoirs of one man's life in times and historic events, that ransince the Six-Day War from the Civil Rights Movement, to the Berkeley Jesus Movement. Such rich events, deeply felt, promoted the examination of the autonomy of Orthodox faith and tradition with Biblical that reveiled the Orthodox Church as the authentic home for Christian Jews within all who sincerely seek to experience the all loving Lord as fully as He may be humanly known. Surprised by Christ is a genuine story of searching for truth, refusing to rest until it appears. Raised in Queens, New York by Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been tested by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on his own personal quest for the Lord he earnestly sought, instinctively feeling He was really there. Ready to accept the Holy Lord without precondition, He chose to reveal Himself in His icon that turned out to be the Christ.
Encountering discrepancies in the various theological doctrines of Protestant belief that he encountered, his quest was to continue for the true Church. sticking with his Jewish heritage as a rock foundation, he searched the Bible, and eventually came to the conclusion that the faith of his forefathers was fully honored and brought to completion only in the belief of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.

Book Reviews:
"In sharing his 'surprise' with us, Fr. James Bernstein shows that he is a Hebrew prophet in the definition of prophecy provided by that other 'Hebrew born of Hebrews' who knew the same 'surprise.'..., Fr James 'speaks to people for their edification and encouragement and comfort.' (1 Cor 14.3)" Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, St. Vladimir OTS

Fr. James Bernstein:
The Rev. James Bernstein who helped founding the Jews for Jesus ministry in San Francisco, was a staff member of the Christian World Liberation Front in Berkeley. A chapter president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship at Queens College. Father James is the author of the booklets Orthodoxy: Jewish and Christian, 1990; Which Came First: The Church or the New Testament, 1994; and Communion: A Family Affair, 1999. He was a contributor to the Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms, 1993.

Couldn't put it down...
I read this in one weekend and it's 300 and something pages. Hearing stories of people's spiritual journeys has always fascinated me.

I loved the way he approaches drawing near to God. He puts that first and let's God take him where He may. Unlike most religion where people blindly follow what they're told and basque in the glow of their pride.

I like the part where he goes to a Pentecostal church and gets told that unless he speaks in tongues he's not a full on Christian.

Also when he goes to Israel for his Christian deprogramming and ends up visiting right when the 6 day war starts.

He made the Orthodox church sound so good that I must confess I went to visit one on Sunday. I had no idea that the Orthodox Christian church didn't teach burning in hell forever. That was news to me and I wanted to hear more.

God's love really pours out through this book.

There's something different about Jewish Christians and the way they approach God.

Very inspiring and thought provoking book.

wonderful introduction to Orthodoxy
I won't write a long review, as others have already done so.I just wanted to emphasize what a wonderful introduction to Orthodoxy this book is, especially for those of us coming from Protestant backgrounds.Many of our particularly Protestant questions about liturgy and Church history and tradition are answered very thoroughly and with great sensitivity and understanding.
I have read many good and some not-so-good books about Orthodoxy in the last couple of years, but this one is outstanding.

A Memorable Theological Autobiography from the Heart
"Surprised By Christ," by Fr. James Bernstein, is best described as a theological autobiography. It is the long-awaited companion volume to the best-selling "Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith," by Peter E. Gillquist, which tells the story of approximately 2,000 Evangelicals who, in the 1970s and 80s, went on a search for the New Testament Church and found themselves being received into the Orthodox Christian Church 1987.

While most of that group was led by former staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ, Fr. James, then known as Arnold, joined forces with them after being raised as a devout Jew in Queens, and becoming a Christian while secretly reading a Jehovah's Witness translation of the New Testament under his bedcovers at night. He became active in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in New York before being selected by Moishe Rosen to help start Jews for Jesus in San Francisco.

While in the Bay area, Arnold (now Fr. James) became involved with the Christian World Liberation Front in Berkeley, which was led by Jack Sparks, a former Crusade staffer, and he became part of their quest for the New Testament Church while participating in evangelistic street theater.

I like to say that "Surprised by Christ" was written in three speeds, or rhythms. The autobiographical portions of this book, his childhood in Queens, his days in college, his year in Israel during the time of the "Six Day War," and in street ministry, are all a fascinating quick read, and are memorable reflections of those turbulent times.

Then Fr. James slows this journey down to reflect on his theological struggles, and the insights he gains as he compares his Jewish upbringing with his exposure to Evangelical Christianity, and his eventual discovery of more ancient Orthodox Christian teachings.

These alternating sections are written in Fr. James' own voice, and he is meticulous in spelling out the theological issues that brought him along the journey.

The third "speed" is even slower, because Fr. James supports his theological understandings with numerous, and sometimes lengthy, quotes from the Ancient Church Fathers, as well as the Scriptures. Some of these are in a very different language from Fr. James' own voice, but they are essential in supporting points he wishes to make.

I read this book over the course of about six weeks, because I needed to put it down and think about it many times. But I'm quite certain I'll pick it up and read it again very soon, because there is something refreshing in the way Fr. James approaches the Orthodox faith.

Most convert books are written by former Protestants and are very heady. This one, even though it is theological, comes from the heart. I know this to be true, because Fr. James is the one who brought me into the Orthodox Christian faith, after a two-and-a-half year inquiry, and he's been my priest for most of the past decade (I spent a few years in another parish).

This book is true to the man I've come to know and love. I recommend this book to Orthodox Christians who want to broaden their understanding of their faith, to individuals who are exploring the Orthodox faith, regardless of background, and to Evangelicals and Roman Catholics who would like to compare the differences between their understanding of the Christian faith with someone from a solidly Jewish background who now feels most at home in the Orthodox Christian Church. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a friendly, engaging explanations of the traditions and lifestyles of Orthodox Jews. Informative for both Jews and non-Jews, Eli W. Schlossberg draws on personal experiences as an Orthodox Jew active in the international business world to answer the most commonly asked questions people have about religious Jewish life. The World of Orthodox Judaism is a concise resource for anyone interested in learning more about the customs and standards of Orthodox Jewish life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very informative book!
In only ninety pages, Schlossberg was able to explain the basics of Orthodox Judaism.The first half of the book explains things like customs, holidays, Sabbath observances, lifestyle and dress, as well as the differences between groups who practice different types of Orthodoxy.The second half addresses the issue of Kosher foods - what makes food Kosher, how to entertain Jews who only eat Kosher, and the like.It was a very down to earth explanation from a practicing Orthodox Jew himself.I felt as if he were sitting across the dinner table explaining all this to me.(In a Kosher restaurant, of course!)I must admit, I was embarrassed how uninformed I was about Orthodox Judaism, their customs and culture, and certainly about what Kosher meant.Though reading this book certainly didn't make me an expert, it was an excellent beginning of understanding this subculture which exists both in the United States and around the world.

A book for all people
This book is an excellent reference for jews and non-jews alike. An enjoyable read, easy to understand and in an hour and a half a great deal one can learn. Recommended for parents whose children become more observant. An excellent tool for people to learn about kosher and jewish rituals. Makes a graet gift for jewish or non-jewish friends.

Informative, valuable introduction
Being curious about the requirements inherent in Orthodox Judaism, this slim volume looked like a good starting point for my research.It didn't let me down.Mr. Schlossberg has done a great job covering so much groundin such a short book.I especially appreciated the humanity and humor theauthor brings to the various discussions, especially the explanation ofwhat makes food kosher.While I'd hoped that this book might have provideda little more coverage of the differences of observance among the Orthodox,this book is both a good quick reference and a good read.

Outstanding! Interesting! Thorough! Highly recommended!!
A wonderful book for someone who wants to learn more about the life and customs of an Orthodox Jew.The book answered many questions that I've had and explained the Orthodox practices very well.I learned a great dealfrom this book and I really enjoyed reading it. I would highly recommendit. ... Read more

Product Description
ORTODOXIA YEHUDIT. Is there a justification for continuous debate about Orthodox Judaism? This collection of articles presents Orthodox Judaism as a rich and varied phenomenon, from a new historic, social and geographic perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Disappointing
I was hoping that this book would provide a detailed look at the conversion to Orthodox Judaism, so that one could compare it with the Conservative and Reform movements.This book is a disppointment, because it doesn't really address in any substantive way the conversion process to Orthodox Judaism, especially for someone contemplating conversion, not even what is required of that individual in any great detail.

In fact, for the most part, Rabbi Angel seems to be trying to suggest to other Orthodox rabbis why they should welcome converts to Judaism, while sympathizing with their reasons for not being welcoming.It's more philosophical with respect to why the Orthodox community, and more particularly its rabbis, should welcome and assist non-Jews in their journey to conversion, but even in this respect it's not very persuasive.

It's a very thin book, and, based on the very thin content, I think the rabbi was just trying to add to his publishing credentials.

Had I known what it was, I would not have wasted my money.

A great book but too short
This book is very encouraging.Its a good start, but you will need to research far more before making any decisions. If it was more complete in its knowledge, I'd give it 5 stars.

Choosing to be Jewish
Rabbi Marc Angel delivers a comprehensible, succint overview of the conversion process. He compassionately addresses all of the issues and concerns that a potential convert might have. Reading the book made me believe that conversion was an acheiveable goal.

Revamping
Conversion to judaism is never an easy thing. Unfortunatelly, orthodox rabbis tend to dismotivate it and often create barriers to one who is trying to join our people. This book shows people that conversion isn't an impossible thing, although difficult and shows what people have been through when dealing with this factor.

To be absolutelly perfect, this book could contain a certain Orthodox Rabbis Directory who acepts dealing with such a delicate matter or, at least, tell how to aproach an orthodox rabbi to discuss this. Anyways, I really recommend the book to whomever is considering conversion.

I would like to thank Rabbi Marc D. Angel for writing this book. It gave us help and hope.

An excellent Assessment that should be a primer for Rabbis
When I lived in New York, I learned from Rabbi Angel during his Rambam classes at the Spanish Portuguese synagogue in New York and I will say that I truly respect his perspective in both class and in this book.Choosing to Be Jewish by Rabbi Marc Angel takes one through the historical and legal issues that revolve around the conversion process in Judaism.This book also covers the Orthodox format of such and the issues concerning conversions through other methods.

Yet, most important this is a personal book that not only laments the problems that exist in some areas of how it is carried out today but it also covers the reliability of the process in the Orthodox community.Rabbi Angel provides stories of conversations that were successful due to a balanced approach to the process as well as the stories of the people who either returned to a lively and vibrant Judaism because of the process or who became observant Jews due to the process.He also does not bow to any pressure to assume that their is a problem in the tenants of Orthodox conversions, but Rabbi Angel deals with the reasons that a fresh look at how potential Geirim (Converts) should be handled.

As has been mentioned before this book is not meant to be a strict 1, 2, 3 this is how you convert, it is meant to help both those who convert and those who would convert them understand the Orthodox perspective, and some of the problems that exist with some of situations.So even though it is not a 1, 2, 3 how to it can help a potential convert understand the issues thus helping avoid shame or major problems.The book also gives pieces written by people who have completed the conversion process to Judaism, and their personal stories. These stories include people who found out that they had Jewish ancestry as well as people who converted for the sake of living as a Jew dedicated to God and the Torah.

I think anyone who studying to become a Rabbi should have this book as required reading.I also believe it should be required reading for anyone wanting to convert to Judaism. ... Read more

Product Description
Orthodox by Design, a groundbreaking exploration of religion and media, examines ArtScroll, the world's largest Orthodox Jewish publishing house, purveyor of handsomely designed editions of sacred texts and a major cultural force in contemporary Jewish public life. In the first in-depth study of the ArtScroll revolution, Jeremy Stolow traces the ubiquity of ArtScroll books in local retail markets, synagogues, libraries, and the lives of ordinary users. Synthesizing field research conducted in three local Jewish scenes where ArtScroll books have had an impact--Toronto, London, and New York--along with close readings of key ArtScroll texts, promotional materials, and the Jewish blogosphere, he shows how the use of these books reflects a broader cultural shift in the authority and public influence of Orthodox Judaism. Playing with the concept of design, Stolow's study also outlines a fresh theoretical approach to print culture and illuminates how evolving technologies, material forms, and styles of mediated communication contribute to new patterns of religious identification, practice, and power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Major contribution
Jeremy Stolow's book is a major contribution. He explores innovative uses of print media in the service of modern Orthodoxy. Whether the book is "Kosher by Design," a highly successful kosher cookbook (the first in the Art Scroll cookbook series) or the prayerbook, Art Scroll has managed to package traditional texts and values in ways that appeal to the knowledgable and the novice alike. Just how Art Scroll has done this--not only how it has created such clear texts and attractive books, but also how it has positioned itself as an authority to be trusted--is the subject of his analysis, which extends to the much broader range of Art Scroll's product line.

This book is a model for how to study modern print culture, attending as it does to publisher and reader; text, graphic design, and binding; marketing and distribution; and much more. Stolow writes in a clear and engaging way, with wit and insight, about this fascinating and important subject. Read it for insight into modern Jewish life. Read it for insight more generally into the role of media in religious life.

Highly recommended.

an insightful book
This book is not just about Artscroll.Jeremy Stolow cleverly uses Artscroll as an example of Charediism and the movement to the right in English speaking Orthodox Judaism.He helps further the discussion as to why and how Orhodox Judaism changed and how Artscroll has provided amodel of "proper" Orthodox practice, reducing the role of and need forfamily and local congregations to model this behavior.As a curious layman, I found the book fascinating and helpful in further understanding the "slide to the right".
I would be interested in a more detailed explanation of Artscroll and its parent Mesorah Foundation from a financial point of view.
Thisis an important book for people trying to understand Orthodox Judaism's evolution since the Holocaust.

Important new insights into Jewish book culture
Jeremy Stolow's "Orthodox by Design" offers the first scholarly study of one of the most remarkable phenomena of contemporary religious publishing:ArtScroll, which has emerged at the turn of the millennium as the largest and most influential press catering to Orthodox Jewry in the United States and, increasingly, around the world.Stolow brings the thoughtful eye and ear of a sociologist of religion and of media to the task, offering readers a carefully nuanced and multifaceted analysis of the press, its various publications, and especially its readers.If you have ever used an ArtScroll prayer book, Bible, Talmud, or cookbook--or if you have ever argued over the impact of ArtScroll on Orthodox life and learning--this book is a must."Orthodox by Design" is also an important book for those who are interested in contemporary religious life, the translation and study of sacred texts, the role of English as a world language, books as material objects, or the changing profile of reading practices in the era of digital media.

Jeffrey Shandler
Author of "Jews, God, and Videotape:Religion and Media in America"

design and designated messages
Jeremy Stolow's book Orthodoxy By Design is not necessarily about Orthodoxy or haredism. Rather it is quite an amazing examination of the marketing expertise and design enterprise of ArtScroll. His scholarship in the field of communication studies adds a level of understanding to the meanings, messages and designs hidden to most of us when we explore such phenomenon. The book exposes the vast field of print medium and its evolutions/revolutions in human communications. That the case study points to Orthodoxy and haredism specifically adds a fascinating quality but does not delimit the usefulness or scope of the book. From prayer books, to bibles, to cookbooks, the publisher's design is revealed and we are enlightened.
Norma Baumel Joseph, PhD.

Falls far short of expectations
The rise of ArtScroll/Mesorah is a major phenomenon in contemporary American Judaism, engendering much conversation. Though the title was very intriguing, Jeremy Stolow's early effort disappointed me. The book just was not what I hoped it would be.

If you are willing to plunk down the change for a book with "Artscroll" in the title, I assume that you would already be familiar with these books and have an established opinion on the matter. But I could be wrong; this book presumes complete naivete. We are told that their liturgical and cook books are best-sellers but their fiction doesn't sell as well. Is that news to anyone considering this book? The prayer books give step by step instructions and the bible commentaries trend fundamentalist. Again, would you have needed to read this book to learn that?

There is a lot that could be said about Artscroll but this book concentrates on the obvious. Maybe the fault is my own: I just don't think a book can be a good read for telling me that people buy what they like; in this case ergonomically designed works with instructions and claims on authenticity. Wouldn't everyone agree that a much more interesting book by this title would examine WHY these features are popular?! A comparison to recent trends among Evangelical and Catholic publishers would have been welcome. Instead, this book just restated the obvious and provided minimal discussion of cause or effect.

Rustin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great detailed information
Rosenthals fairness and balance help explain the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements in a balance and truthful way.

a somewhat dated, but absolutely first-rate survey
Though in some respects dated, Rabbi Gilbert S. Rosenthal's "The Many Faces of Judaism" provides an excellent survey of American Judaism, focusing on the history, ideas, values, and practices of four major movements:Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform.

The book is particularly sympathetic in its treatment of the Conservative and Reconstructionist movements - perhaps displaying a little bias on Rabbi Rosenthal's part.But Rosenthal knows his subject, and his treatment is generally evenhanded in its coverage of all four movements' history and values.In fact, Rosenthal's fairness and balance may help to explain why he was selected to be Executive Director of the National Council of Synagogues, representing the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements together on Jewish relations with other religious traditions.

Sadly missing is any discussion of American Judaism's fifth major movement, the Humanistic Judaism founded by the Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine.

Although the book is obviously written for classroom instruction of Jewish youth (the publisher offers a teacher's guide and student workbook), I find the text a first-rate introduction for non-Jewish adults.It is clear, informative, and engaging.

And the fact that it is dated in some respects may serve to underscore what it says about the relative alacrity with which the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements may adapt to social change - with the Conservatives perhaps lagging a bit behind Reform Jews and Reconstructionists on issues like the ordination of women rabbis.Each of these movements is in any event alive, dynamic, and engaging the modern world.

Eric Alan Isaacson

Very outdated
This may have been a good introduction to the differences between movements at one time, but it's now outdated and misleading. For example, it was written before the Conservative movement had female rabbis and counted women in the minyan. ... Read more

Product Description

Reconciling queerness with religion has always been an enormous challenge. When the religion is Orthodox Judaism, the task is even more daunting. This anthology takes on that challenge by giving voice to genderqueer Jewish women who were once silenced—and effectively rendered invisible—by their faith. Keep Your Wives Away from Them tells the story of those who have come out, who are still closeted, living double lives, or struggling to maintain an integrated "single life" in relationship to traditional Judaism—personal stories that are both enlightening and edifying. While a number of films and books have explored the lives of queer people in Orthodox and observant Judaism, only this one explores in depth what happens after the struggle, when the real work of building integrated lives begins. The candor of these insightful stories in Keep Your Wives Away from Them makes the book appealing to a general audience and students of women’s, gender, and LGBTQ studies, as well as for anyone struggling personally with the same issue. Contributors include musician and writer Temim Fruchter, Professor Joy Ladin, writer Leah Lax, nurse Tamar Prager, and the pseudonymous Ex-Yeshiva Girl.

Keep Your Wives Away from Them official website: http://www.keepyourwivesawayfromthem.com/

Customer Reviews (2)

Unexpected Inspiration
"Keep Your Wives From Away From Them" presents the stories of an exceedingly narrow demographic: "LGBT" observant Jewish women. Yet the authors poignantly and articulately sound universal themes about the challenges of being "different" in a world that fundamentally rejects such "differentness." To compound matters, most of the authors made the discovery of their differentness in their formative years. Compound again, by ensconcing them in a hermetic community that rejects such differentness as a violation of divine law.

How does one come to terms with family and community steeped in religious traditions that fundamentally reject such fundamental differentness, and value traditional marriage and having children as a central tenet of religious and community life? How does one live from day-to-day when even looking in the mirror is an existential struggle?

The group of contributors to "Keep Your Wives From Away From Them" lead you through their individual voyages of self-discovery, and the fears, terrors, joys and ultimate triumphs of coming to terms with family, community, and themselves in the struggle to live their lives in accordance with their true identities. For all, it is hard. For some, the journey is not complete. For some, there is much scar tissue. Others have been fortunate to reconcile with family and self, and even to an extent, the communities that rejected them. But what truly inspires is how the loss of community, family and self-identity beget the birth of new communities, corageously wrought by these pioneers out of the very pain and suffering they experienced. For me, as a "straight" person, reading about how the contributors overcame their fears, and the antagonism, prejudice and rejection of their peers and families, to build a community, and sub-communities, based on love and acceptance, was most inspiring of all. And the ultimate irony is that the very spirituality that is supposed to underlay the religious community that rejected their life choices is the underpinning for their new communities. Perhaps most inspiring of all is the refusal of these women to reject the very God they were told had rejected them, choosing instead to relate to that God, spiritually and intellectually, in a way that enables them to be who they are and still retain the traditional values that are still so central to them. In doing so, they have added in a meaningful way to the dialogue of religious law and theology.

In these struggles and triumphs there are untold numbers of universal lessons to be learned about self, courage, the overcoming of prejudice, and the acceptance of others. About how we might view the tenets of religion - reconcile - and have a relationship with the ultimate power on our own terms, as long as we retain our spirituality. Inspirational, even for an avowed atheist (like me). You can read many great novels about these subjects. You can also read "Keep Your Wives From Away From Them." And pick up a bissel Yiddish along the way. Highly, highly recommended.

Gay Jewish Women
Kabakov, Miryam. "Keep Your Wives Away from Them: Orthodox Women, Unorthodox Desires", North Atlantic Books, 2010.

Gay Jewish Women

Amos Lassen

Orthodox Judaism and women are strange bedfellows. The female has little place in orthodoxy and reconciling sexuality with orthodoxy has always been something very difficult to do. Kabakov's new book takes a look at the challenges that face GLBT women in the Jewish religion who were once not allowed to say a word and who were invisible because of the rules and practices of Orthodox Judaism.
This, I believe, is the first book to deal with what happens to these women after they have struggled with their religion and then tried to find a place within it. We see here that it is not impossible to keep to Jewish tradition and maintaining gender identity at the same time. Those of us who are homosexuals and Jewish find ourselves wrestling with Judaism when the religion comes up against our sexual identities and our lives as those who are able to and want to share love. As modern citizens, we want a place in our religion and feel that Mosaic law provides such a place. However, it is the very religion that we love that tends to exclude us and for women this is so much more pronounced than for men.
This is a very, very important book which is sensitive, challenging, uplifting and very frustrating and it is a book like this that can prevent a great deal of heartache and it can even save lives. I am sure that some Orthodox rabbis will attempt to prevent it from being read.
The book is composed of some 16 essays, an introduction and foreword by Judith Plaskow as well as a glossary, a list of resources and information on thevarious contributors who touch on all aspects of the issue. Even as a man, I found each essay to challenge me about the nature of my own religious life and the aspects of gender of today's world. Having being raised as an Orthodox Jew, I found myself hurting as I read. The women who contribute to this anthologycarry the scars they have received yet as painful as it is to read what is written here, when I closed the covers, I felt a sense of triumph and respected greatly the power of these women.
This is not just a book for Orthodox Jews but for anyone who cares about religion, spirituality and sexuality.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pro mikva!
The monthly journey to the mikva was the only relevant thing I got out of this book.There was not any other substantive information except an emphasis
on monthly mikva attendance.I found the discussion with the book was dry. I would not pay to read on this subject again.

An insightful read
If you're interested in becoming an Orthodox Jewish woman, or are simply curious why young women have turned to the Jewish Orthodoxy, this book is for you.Also, if just you feel that you cannot fathom the highly-structured world of Orthodox Judaism, this book is a great starting place for you.The writer, inspired by her own sister's choice to (re)turn to Orthodox Judaism, wondered why women would want to subject themselves to a way of life that seems so patriarchal on the surface.In a time when many women were turning to women's liberation movements, the women who Debra Kaufman studied were becoming more religious.They weren't trying to gain the same kind of equality with men that other women wanted.The interviewees were seeking more defined spiritual and social roles that were different from men's roles, but equally important and meaningful.Above all, these women, like all other people have done, were looking for meaning in their lives.Kaufman compares and contrasts these women's views to those of other women who joined other religious and non-religious groups.I liked this book overall because it was sociologically-inspired, and not at all preachy. ... Read more

Product Description
The Outsider's Guide to Orthodox Judaism is a handbook that explains the basic beliefs and practices of Orthodox Judaism in a clear and concise way. It is geared to anyone who is not Orthodox (or non Jewish) interested in learning more about their Orthodox coworkers, friends, and neighbors. Brief and concise. Get the information you need quickly and easily.
Also included is a list of holidays and time-line of Jewish history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Must Have Book
This book is a real gem.It is quite possibly the clearest, most concise and definitive book on Orthodox Jewish practice.The author's style and tone is great and it is a very quick and enjoyable read.It is a perfect book for anyone who wants or needs to learn all about the religious practices within Judaism.

Helpful to have on hand, and Helpful to SHARE with others
Artfully written, this book is presented in such a way as to be very helpful.

I've found it very helpful to have on hand to be able to be able to provide the short answer to long questions about Judaism. People have asked me questions in the workplace about Judaism, for example they've asked me about the holiday I'm observing when I take off from work and such, and, well, I'm certainly no expert on anything, SO I've been able to use the book's short answers when pressed to provide an answer that's easy to understand.

BETTER STILL, I've bought several copies of the book and given them away, and that's been a really big hit!

I recommend this method - giving a copy of this book to a friend or colleague. That's really what has been the best about this book. And it's a little book, so it's the perfect size. (It's a tiny little paperback - perfect size to give to friends to read & carry in a bag)

The book answers so many questions and really is easy to read, easy to understand, and written well, with chapters presented neatly in short, bite-size nuggets of information.

Highly recommended
This book is informative, concise and brilliantly written.

As an orthodox Jew who worked for many years in a non-Jewish environment, I searched for a book that could explain my many different practices to my non-Jewish and non-observant colleagues in a clear and concise manner. This book does just that. It covers all the main elements of orthodox life from basic beliefs to practicessuch as the sabbath, Jewish holidays eating kosher to more sensitive issues such as etiquette between genders. I bought several copies for my colleagues and they found it fascinating and insightful.

A worthwhile read
I have been an practicing Jew all my life (Modern Orthodox) and although I know most of the information in this guide already, I can honestly say I have never seen such a concise, fluid, and quite comprehensive compilation of Orthodox Jewish life (beliefs, traditions, etc.) in one volume (in English).

Not only that, it is quite easy to read and follow (and the author even finds a way to sneak in some humor too).

I would say that this is 'required' reading not only for anyone who wants to know more about Orthodox Judaism (regardless of their background#, but for all Jews too #of all levels of religiousity) to simply learn more about their own religious faith, heritage, history, and customs.

my colleagues loved it!
I bought this book for my (non-Jewish) clergy colleagues and they were thrilled. Great content. Good presentation. Original concept. I commend the author and look forward to his next work. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a history, an indictment, a lament, and an appeal, focusing on the messianic trend in Lubavitch hasidism. It demonstrates how hasidim who affirm the dead Rebbe's messiahship have abandoned one of Judaism's core beliefs in favour of adherence to the doctrine of a second coming. At the same time, it decries the remarkable equanimity with which the standard-bearers of Orthodoxy have granted legitimacy to this development by continuing to recognize such believers as Orthodox Jews in good standing. This dramatic abandonment of the age-old Jewish resistance to a quintessentially Christian belief is a development of striking importance for the history of religions, and it is an earthquake in the history of Judaism.David Berger chronicles the unfolding of this development from a personal viewpoint. He describes the growing concern that impelled him to undertake an anti-messianist campaign-publications, correspondence, and the sponsorship of a Rabbinical Council of America resolution excluding this belief from authentic Judaism.He argues that a large number, almost certainly a substantial majority, of Lubavitch hasidim believe in the Rebbe's messiahship; a significant segment, including educators in the central institutions of the movement, maintain a theology that goes beyond posthumous messianism to the affirmation that the Rebbe is pure divinity.While many Jews see Lubavitch as a marginal phenomenon, its influence is in fact growing at a remarkable rate-to the point where its representatives are poised to dominate Orthodox religious institutions not merely in isolated outposts but in several major countries throughout the world.This book analyses the boundaries of Judaism's messianic faith and its conception of God. It assesses the threat posed by the messianists of Lubavitch and points to the consequences, ranging from undermining a fundamental argument against the Christian mission to calling into question the kosher status of many foods and ritual objects prepared under Lubavitch supervision. Finally, it proposes a strategy to protect authentic Judaism from this assault. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (80)

Hateful Biased Propaganda
I dare not waste my time pointing out the numerous mistakes and personal driven hate saturated in this disgraceful work of literature. As someone who has seen the world of Lubavitch and benefited from the selfless Lubavitch activists I'm simply disgusted at Mr. Berger. Shame upon him!

Most Important Book of the Century
Despite a well-organized smear campaign by Lubavitch, who have directed their followers to post negative reviews on this site and elsewhere, this is the book of the century, a book that will not die until this false Messiah heresy is laid to rest.

Professor Berger shows boundless courage in the face of this intimidation. What he states is 100% accurate in every respect. He is a scholar of the highest magnitude and his reputation is impeccable. He has delivered a clarion call which must be heeded by all Jews, lest Judaism be destroyed from within by this cancer.

Read Professor Berger's book, buy copies to distribute to all your friends, for the false Messiah heresy is the single most important threat to Jewish survival.

Urgent and Vital in this Day and Age
The ruling by the RCA (90 Rabbi's of the Rabbinical Council of America) as to the need to distance oneself from those heretic believers (that the Rebbis is Messiah or loftier than that) in Judaism, should give all frum people pause. There is no need or advantage to being proclaimed the Messiah. Who cares. If he proves to be the Messiah, all well and good. If not, life goes on. It just causes those who believe in him to sin (by doing so). So wake up, Lubabs. Time for some serious reflection and introspection. Also, the Rebbi never clearly said that he wants to be praised, lauded and remembered as the Messiah. As such, a Meshichist is desecrating his name and soul, Rachmona Litzlan!!!

Poor academics
This book is a poor excuse for something coming from a supposed academic scholar. The author constantly refers to unnamed sources and the like as well as mind reading for his proof. Not at all scholarly, just a bunch of myths.

intelligent view
Rabbi Berger wrote a thoughtful analysis on a hype which has developed over the last 10 years. He also shows what is mostly kept underground and which is, nevertheless, of great importance for Jews elsewhere, especially in smaller communities, where Chabadniks are often the ones in charge. Although admittedly, I at first thought :"this can't be true"when reading the book for the first time, experience has shown and is still showing that it IS true. ... Read more

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To find more information on Rowman & Littlefield titles, please visit www.rlpgbooks.com. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish in Today's World
It is one of the most enlightening books I have read in a long time. It is full with intellectual knowledge about Judaism. Gives an abundance of wisdom. Well written. Great for those returning to or converting to Judaism. ... Read more

Product Description
In this first in-depth portrait of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel today, Samuel Heilman introduces a community that to many may seem to be the very embodiment of the Jewish past. To outsiders who stumble upon these neighborhoods and find bearded men in caftans, children with earlocks, and women in long dresses, black kerchiefs and stockings, it may appear that these people still hold fast to every tradition while turning their backs to the contemporary world. But rather than being a relic from the past, ultra-Orthodox Jews, or haredim, are very much part of the contemporary landscape and are playing an increasingly prominent role in the Jewish world and in Israeli politics. Defenders of the Faith takes us inside the world of this contemporary fundamentalist community, its lifestyle and mores, including education, religious practices and beliefs, sexual ethics, and marriage. Heilman explores the reasons why this group is more militant and extreme than its pre-Holocaust brethren, and provides insight into the worldview of this small but influential sector of modern Jewry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Gold-standard ethnography
Heilman is a student of Erving Goffman, and offers meticulous and insightful analyses of the haredi rituals he observes.He studies a category of Jews who insist upon their essential difference from the rest of humanity, and yet is able to communicate across these self-erected barriers.Marvelous, marvelous ethnography.

Too academic for my liking
I couldn't wait to get this book since there aren't too many out there like it and the subject fascinates me, but I was very disappointed when I started reading it.

It reads like an academic paper.Heilman never fails to use 10 big, awkwardly put-together words when a few simple words would do. His word choice felt very thick and syrupy.This is fine for a school textbook or the like, but not really my prefernce for leisure reading.

A look into a different world
This book provides a very informative and insightful look into the world of the Hareidim, both from a personal perspective and from Mr. Heilman's trained perspective as a social anthropologist.He explains that he chose to study Israeli Hareidim as opposed to American Hareidim because, even though Hareidi communities in America do walk the walk and talk the talk, they're just too much a part of the modern world, such as in how they ride public transportation, work, and do business with people who aren't a part of their communities.In Israel, the Hareidim have much less contact with the modern secular world, and, on the surface at least, shun almost everything that has to do with it.However, as we come to discover, in spite of how they have clearly defined us vs. them boundaries and believe that there's no turning back if one, for example, goes to a university, with no happy middle existing between completely ultra-Orthodox and completely ultra-secular, they do benefit from the modern world.They rely on doctors to treat them, doctors who were trained in modern secular universities, sometimes have computers in their homes, even if it's just for the purposes of writing a religious newsletter, use specially-approved public buses to go on pilgrimages, the women sometimes wear modern clothes (within the dictates of modesty, of course), and they use modern smaller tefillin instead of the larger outdated impractical ones used by their forebears, feeling that the modern tefillin are superior and that anyone who would want the old kind made would have to be a fool, even in spite of how in many other matters they feel that the ways of previous generations are superior to anything the modern world has to offer.

I personally have very mixed feelings about the people described in these pages (except for the Lubavitchers, the most modern Hassidic group).On the one hand, we come to see these people, in all of their various groups (Belzers, Reb Arelach, Satmars, Neturei Karta, Sanzers, Breslovers, Lithuanians, etc.), as almost regular people in spite of the glaring differences, people who live decent upright lives even though they seem like people out of an 18th century shtetl, who are living the only way they know how to live, the only way they can imagine living, who have become so strict in response to what they feel is a corrupting of morals, Judaism, and the world in general, particularly after how their communities were all but decimated in the Shoah.However, as normal and sympathetic as the Hareidim come to seem during the course of this book, it is still unsettling to read the things they say about the modern world, such as how anyone who's not ultra-Orthodox isn't really religious, how a man who rushes to hug and kiss his wife after she's just had their baby is overcome by lust and can't wait to get back into bed with her instead of just being overcome by love and tenderness after such a powerful event, how a woman who doesn't dress the way a Hareidi woman does must be very lax in her morals, even if the clothes she's wearing are still rather modest by secular standards, how if someone comes out of a public university with his or her Judaism unaffected, s/he was never really observant to begin with, and how all goyim are adulterers, thieves, liars, and generally bad silly corrupt people.As lovely as these people are, it's dangerous to see the world in such black and white terms, to not want to venture outside for fear of contamination no matter how strong one's faith is, to group people into "self" and "other."Still, as a modern person, it's easy to judge them and be offended by some of the things they believe.For people who have lived and believed this way their entire lives, it's the most normal thing in the world.And they're so insulted in their communities that it doesn't seem like a problem that they receive no secular education or don't want to go outside of their neighborhoods.That's their world, and if it works for them, then great.

A lot of subjects are covered in this book, though they're grouped into three main sections--community life (such as the Belzer rebbe's son's bar mitzvah, the Belzer rebbe's Friday night tisch, the third ritual meal of Shabbos with the extreme sect the Reb Arelach, an offshoot of the Satmars, and a pilgrimage), education (going from gan [kindergarten] to the yeshiva attended by men in their twenties), and personal matters (funerals, weddings, matchmaking, sex).As has been already noted, Mr. Heilman had a special position as a partial insider.He's Modern Orthodox, so he was quite familiar with a lot of the rituals, prayers, and events; a non-Jew or someone of a more liberal denomination probably wouldn't have been allowed such wide-ranging access to all of these events and wouldn't have been allowed to observe schools or talk to couples about their sex lives.Although this stringent way of life isn't for me, I was left wanting more information about these communities, wanted more stories about them, wished there had been another chapter on their regular day-to-day lives as opposed to covering mainly ritual, education, and life passages.I also wished there had been more material on Hareidi women, outside of the chapters on matchmaking and sex.I understand that as a man, he couldn't really have access to women's lives the same way he was able to observe and talk with those of the male sex, but that did mean that a big part of what the Hareidi experience is all about wasn't covered as fully as it might have been.In spite of what the average modern person views as shortcomings or even offensive and highly outdated and inaccurate views and beliefs on the world, this is a fascinating society that has a rich warm vibrancy, and this book is a wonderful introduction to them.

Very good!
This book presented a suprisingly well-balanced view into the world of Israel's Haredim.Written from an outsider perspective, you'd expect the text to be overly critical and harsh.However, I was pleased to find that it wasn't.

The author does a good job at portraying the life of the Haredim in a curious yet understanding way, while still being critical at appropriate times.Heilman does not rain down flattery but also does not shy away from asking difficult questions.While keeping an intellectually honest front, Heilman brings out thought-provoking discussions and presents perspectives that the rest of us outsides may not ever agree with, but can -- at the very least -- understand where the Haredim are coming from.

There are not a great deal of books on the so-called "ultra" Orthodox Jews available, and many that are are horribly biased against the way of life that seems so extreme to many of us.Heilman's text is definitely one I'd recommend because it keeps middle ground, explores deeply but still manages to be respectful to his subjects.

Surprising
I found this book surprisingly engaging.Here is a group of people I was not very sympathetic towards, but once I followed them with heilman's guidance, I discovered they were surprisingly human and fascinating.This book does what all good anthropology should: it takes the reader to a place he or she might not go alone and lets them sit on the anthropologist's shoulder and see the foreign so that it becomes familiar.A great read from an academic. ... Read more

Product Description
In the past two decades, formal denominational relationships organizationally in Jewish life have declined and yet the interaction between Orthodox Jews and non-Orthodox Jews on personal and family levels and in the work place has never been greater.

While there is no dramatic statistical increase in Orthodox affiliation, there is documented evidence that Orthodoxy today is a growing movement with a young, knowledgeable and observant constituency. A critical question for Orthodoxy today is whether it will see itself as a sectarian movement or one that eagerly embraces concerns facing the Jewish people as a whole.

Despite an increase in the rate of intermarriage among American Jews, there is a current trend towards increased Jewish identification as expressed in the religious, cultural and political arenas within the framework of the Jewish community. It is for this reason that The Orthodox Forum has chosen to analyze these notable changes taking place in both the Orthodox and non-Orthodox community.

As the phenomenon of engagement Jewishly by the non-Orthodox has been welcomed in most circles, it has created a special challenge for the Orthodox community. How is the Orthodox community to maintain its strict commitment to the ritual and theological foundations of Judaism while at the same time recognizing the actions of these groups and individuals who, while rejecting many religious norms, have chosen to join the Jewish community in serious and substantive ways?

This volume offers a wide range of historical, theological, Halakhic, educational and communal perspectives on the challenges and considerations faced by those who endeavor to build bridges with believing and non-believing Jews in our community, while steadfastly maintaining their sacred commitments. ... Read more

Product Description
Gateway to Judaism delivers an engaging insider look at the mindset, values, and practices of contemporary traditional Judaism. Rabbi Becher demonstrates that Judaism today is anything but anachronistic rites and disjointed rituals. Rather, his book opens a portal to a vibrant lifestyle that brings joy and meaning to Jewish living. Based on years of answering thousands of challenging inquiries, Becher's work blends elements of Jewish philosophy and law with an intensely practical explanation of how Jews actually live. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

My favorite "intro" to Judaism
I loved reading this book ... it tugged at my emotions and gave me new perspectives on God, life, and everything in between.Judaism is so beautiful, but books rendering it are often tedious; not this one.Of all the books I've read on Judaism (I've started 6, but finished only 4), this is by far my favorite.Every time I re-read a section, I learn something new.The explanations are often brief, precise, but well-stated and thorough.

The beginning starts differently than any other book on Judaism - with marriage TWO BECOME ONE - just like in the beginning there was Adam and Eve.He explains how we are incomplete until we find our other half.

The first section of the book renders the "cycle of life" and the holidays (the yearly cycle).The next section is about the Torah and the Land.The third section is about the Jewish persona (modesty in dress and material things), eating for health, physically and spiritually, and character (behavior).The next section is on Thought, the next Speech, and recommended further reading.

So he makes the book about you, not about Judaism as a learning subject ... his rendition really enabled me as a reader to feel Jewish.

Excellent, well organized and clearly written guide to Judaism.
This guide to Judaism is very well organized and clearly written. I bought a copy for each of our three adult children. It is a great reference for them and our grandchildren.

Very insightful
After having read Judaism for Dummies [[ASIN:0764552996 Judaism for Dummies] the next logical step was to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Gateway to Judaism provides just that. Whether read on it's on, or after Judaism for Dummies, it provides a wealth of important information about Jewish customs and living a Jewish lifestyle. The practical examples of how the Levi family operates and the selected laws for each festival are really helpful.

I highly recommended this book, especially if you're Jewish and want to regain some knowledge that may have faded. It's a good read.

Gateway
The book arrived very quickly and in excellent order. It is very informative to any one wishing to learn more about the Jewish faith or Jewish Race. It will help you to understand their ways and customs and make you appreciate their lifestyle more. It has helped myself as an American Jew to better understand why I am the way I am at times. Very informative reading andjoy.

A well written and in-depth analysis of the contemporary lifestyles and practices of the Jewish people
Gateway To Judaism: The What, How, And Why Of Jewish Life by Rabbi Mordechai Becher is an informed and informative introduction offering the reader a well written and in-depth analysis of the contemporary lifestyles and practices of the Jewish people. As a superbly organized and presented study of the many varying intricacies of the Jewish life, Gateway To Judaism focuses upon the modern Jewry, relating him to the jews of ancient or earlier times, and cogently investigates the acceptable new traits, practices etc, as well as defines the line to be drawn when exploring your own practices. Gateway To Judaism is a very strongly recommended read for the traditional practitioner of the Judaic faith, especially those more subversive or explorative.
... Read more

Product Description
An analysis of contemporary American Judaism within the broader scope of American religious life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An outstanding study
Jack Wertheimer has been for years one of the most thoughtful and concerned writers about the condition of American Jewry. His understanding of the polarization in the community, and the damage done to by assimilation is based on his strong adherence to Jewish religious tradition. The fact however that one diagnoses correctly a certain problem does not mean that one can provide a solution. Wertheimer has at times suggested that instead of worrying about those Jews who show little concern about the tradition, the community direct its resources to strengthening those that do.
In any case reading this work will provide a true understanding of the basic sociological identity of the American Jewish community.

Excellent Discussion of Current State of American Judaism
Though currently JEW V. JEW is receiving all the attention in the press, Jack Wertheimer's A PEOPLE DIVIDED is probably a better account of the state of American Jewry today.

While JEW V. JEW imitates midrash in its telling of divisions among American Jews, A PEOPLE DIVIDED gives a more straightforward account and the historical perspective needed to make sense of the battles American Jews are now fighting among themselves.I read this over the summer of 2000, when I was relatively new to Judaism, and it proved an immeasurable help in understanding why the Jewish community is the way it is.

The only reason I don't give this book four stars is that Wertheimer occasionally lapses into his own (rather obvious) Conservative bias.Somehow, he seems to believe that the current wars have started because both Orthodoxy and Reform have branched off from the "true Judaism" represented by the Conservative Movement.Wertheimer also could have paid more attention to Reconstructionism, a branch of Judaism that, though it has some similarities to Reform, has its own internal philosophical battles.

All in all, though, A PEOPLE DIVIDED is an excellent introduction to its subject matter and a book I highly recommend.

A great history book;ignore the hatchet Kirkus review
In all respects, this is a wonderful study of American Jews.I urge people to study this volume carefully - and to ignore the hatchet book review from Kirkus.That review falsely claims that his study is "anchored in the 40's and 50's--boom years for the Conservative movement--there's a strong tilt toward his own denomination."This is wrong, and one wonders if they actually read the book. They also claim that "he fails to credit theReform for initiating a Judaism for nonpracticing American Jews", which is the opposite of what Prof. Wertheimer writes.The biased Krikus review falsely claims that "he should have made the point that traditional Judaism is unchanged since the days of the Pharisees."This is nothing less than religious fundamentalism and propaganda, more suited to right wing Jewish or Christian fundamentalist tracts.Orthodox Judaism has changed a great deal since Pharasaic times, and indeed has changed very much since the 1600s, when halakhic change nearly came to an end after the publication of the Shulkhan Aruhkh.I urge any interested reader to obtain unbiased historical studies of the development of Judaism and Jewish law, such as works by Mendell Lewittes and Menachem Elon, who are respected in all quarters.Although they are Orthodox Jews, they are also objective historians.The rest of the Kirkus review on Prof. Wertheimer's fine book follows in the same angry (and factually wrong) tone, which betrays either a fanatic mindset or total ignorance of history."A People Divided" is not a book for those who wish to deny history or objective facts, but rather is an objective study of the great challenges facing the American Jewish community today;As such it is directed towards those of any religious (or secular) background who have an open mind as well as a basic education. ... Read more

Product Description

If you have ever wondered what being born Jewish should mean to you; if you want to find out more about the nature of Judaism, or explain it to a friend; if you are thinking about how Judaism can connect with the rest of your life -- this is the first book you should own. It poses, and thoughtfully addresses, questions like these:

Can one doubt God's existence and still be a good Jew?
Why do we need organized religion?
Why shouldn't I intermarry?
What is the reason for dietary laws?
How do I start practicing Judaism?

The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism was written for the educated, skeptical, searching Jew, and for the non-Jew who wants to understand the meaning of Judaism. It has become a classic and very widely read introduction to the oldest living religion. Concisely and engagingly, authors Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin present Judaism as the rational, moral alternative for contemporary man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Intro to Jewish thought overview and somespecific critique
Overview:
To understand what this book is one first needs to understand what it isn't it isn't a piece of argumentation designed to convince non-Jews to become Jews. Though the book does present arguments, arguments are not its main point. The main point of the book is to introduce non-practicing Jews and non-Jews to ideas of Jewish ethics and religion. The book is primarily addressed to non-practicing Jews. The arguments presented are merely brief explanations of the Jewish worldview not fully formed pieces of argumenation designed to change the mind of committed non-believers. To the authors' credit they do not claim that this book is a thorough guide to Judaism and offer a guide to other books which are presumably more in depth. The arguments presented are not simplistic as narrow minded reviewers have claimed just basic.

Also, while one can quarrel with the answers, the questions presented, I am convinced as a practicing Christian, are with the exception of the ones about Jewish statehood, the universal questions that all religions deal with: 1. Doubt 2. Religious hypocrisy 3. Differences between faiths and how to deal with them 4. Intermarriage 5. The disappointment of childern who fall away from the faith 6. The relevance of communal faith and 7.How does one actively practice their faith.

Anyone, who is interested in these questions and the Jewish answers to them should find this book interesting. It stands to note though that as a non-Jew the last chapter did not have any real appeal to me. Also, the contents of the second chapter were covered much more effectively in Prager's Think a Second Time, which might be a more accesible guide for non-Jews wishing to introduce themself to Jewish ideas.

Comments and critique:
I must preface this by saying that I am a Christian and as such I was more interested in the comments about Christianity than the average non-Christian reviewer probably is.

Christianity:
While Prager and Tuleshkin are right that Christianity emphasizes faith more than Judaism. Faith does not operate to justify entirely independtly of repentance as the authors seem to suggest. In fact the Christian Bible is clear that faith without ethical behavior is null. Also, the idea that Christians merely misunderstand Judaism and have no real disagreements with the traditional Jewish interpretations of the prophets and Old Testament seemed conceited. Finally the deduction that the emphasis on faith over ethics will always lead to fantacism seems patently wrong to me because it is not the traditions that have emphasized faith most heavily such as the Baptists that have been the cause of the worst Christian fanaticism but the traditions that have emphasized academic reason and ritual more such as Catholicism and Calvinism.

Movements founded by Jews What has changed:
One of the peculiar features of the book is the emphasis on Communism and secular utopianism movements that have essentially died since the writing of this book. They still are relevant though but perhaps in a later addition they should be talked about less and libertarianism which was becoming a key intellectual player at the time of the book (founded by another product of a Jewish family Ayn Rand) should be talked about to some extent instead. In particular I would like to see discussion about the Randyan secularist idea of mans ultimate worth in productive potential not moral goodness that has manifested itself in extreme careerism and social isolation in the US.

Title is misleading, premise is flawed
This book should really be titled "The Nine Questions Practicing Jews Want Non-Practicing Jews To Ask About Judaism".Instead, the title gives one the impression that this is a basic guide to Judaism for non-Jews.The authors cleverly draw you in with various commentaries before revealing their true goal: to bring non-practicing Jews back to religious practice.Everything they say to try and persuade "strayed" Jews to become religious hinges on the belief that the Torah is the Holy Word of God.If you believe that the Torah was written by humans and is historical fiction, these arguments won't sway you at all.And if you are not Jewish, this book won't really answer many of the questions you may have about Judaism.

great for the skeptic
Awesome book, I recommend for everyone to read especially the Intellectual Skeptic's. It's a great guide for Jews even if you Question the existence of G-d.

For inquiring minds....
These two authors make a good team for giving responses to questions, responses that aren't too lengthy, yet are in-depth. That takes good writing, especially for a topic that some may find tough to get into. They make it not just palatable, but interesting.

A book for Jews who question the value of Judaism.
This is a great book that squarely confronts the tough questions that Jewish people ask when they consider whether to devote any of their time to the faith of their fathers. ... Read more

Product Description
The last in a series of three volumes edited by Marc Lee Raphael surveying some of the major rabbinic and lay personalities who have shaped Judaism in America for the past two centuries, this work focuses on Orthodox Judaism. Along with a basic description of the achievements of some of the most notable leaders, a bibliography of their writings and sources for further study is included as well as an essay on Orthodox rabbinic organizations and a survey of American Orthodox periodicals. Of interest to scholars, students, and lay persons alike, this volume will inform readers about the earliest communities of Jews who settled in America as they developed the institutions of Orthodox Jewish life and set a public standard of compliance with Jewish law. ... Read more

Product Description
To learn more about Rowman & Littlefield titles please visit us at www.rowmanlittlefield.com. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Jewish religious obligation to improve the world
Rabbi Shubert Spero teaches that one characteristic element of Jewish morality is the 'urgency' which Jews feel at learning of some injustice. This symposium is on the subject of 'Tikkun Olam' the ' correction of the world' addresses this central urge of Judaism. It is to ' right the wrongs of the world' and be ' partners with G-d' in the world's creation for good.
The eleven essays here address various aspects of this ideal goal.
Along with the volume's editor Gerald Bildstein essays are contributed among others by Barry Freundel, Meir Tamari, Aaron Levine.
Among the topics considered are 'Tikkun Olam' in relation to Capitalism,to teaching the Seven Noahide Mitzvot,to Public Morality, to health, to a variety of economic, social and political concerns.
Rabbi Joseph Dov Baer Soloveitchik is invoked as teaching that the Jewish confrontation with the world must involve not only transforming the Jewish world for good, but also in transforming the general society of mankind for the better. ... Read more