Skimmed it for historical information (i.e. when and who wrote the Mishnah, the different Talmuds, etc.) But didn't read all the way through. Felt mor...moreSkimmed it for historical information (i.e. when and who wrote the Mishnah, the different Talmuds, etc.) But didn't read all the way through. Felt more like a very detailed conversation Neusner was having with himself in his head than a book aimed at helping lay people understanding what he was talking about.(less)
This book struck me as a kinder, gentler version of Kushkoff's "Nothing Sacred." Whereas Kushkoff calls for a completely humanistic Judaism (but refus...moreThis book struck me as a kinder, gentler version of Kushkoff's "Nothing Sacred." Whereas Kushkoff calls for a completely humanistic Judaism (but refuses to call himself a Reconstructionist Jew), Schulweis allows an eternal/constant God to stay remain in Judaism. He covers similar ground to Kushkoff, including reframing prayer, ritual, miracles, conscience, the nature of God, and the revelation of the Torah in a manner understandable to skeptical modern sensibilities.
The big difference--and the one that made this book resonate far more for me, is that Kushkoff's discussion of Judaism centered on an all-or-nothing approach. In order to "modernize" Judaism, he called for jettisoning everything of an unprovable nature. Schulweis, however, sees Judaism--and modern Jews--as perfectly capable of living with contradiction and allowing modernity and the sense of the ephemeral to co-exist and inform each other. This middle approach seemed a lot more thoughtful to me, and a lot less angry, too. The book makes sense in the way that "God Was Not in the Fire" makes sense and I think it's a good companion read.(less)
I am of two minds about this book. It's a very Jewish work--it questions and struggles with Judaism, God, and everything related in order to find mean...moreI am of two minds about this book. It's a very Jewish work--it questions and struggles with Judaism, God, and everything related in order to find meaning, which is at heart of Jewish scholarship. But it's also not about what it purports to be. Rushkoff calls the book "The Truth About Judaism." What it really amounts to is a thinly veiled call to turn Judaism into humanism.
Rushkoff's main idea is that the irreligious, largely humanist "lapsed" Jews of the 21st Century are really the most "Jewish" Jews, and that organized Judaism in all its movements has lost sight of Judaism's central tenets of monotheism, iconoclasm, and social justice. This is in diametrical opposition to works like "The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism," and "God Was Not in the Fire," which point out the dangers of not having a universal ethics (which humanism cannot provide) and the value of ritual and myth as promoting a sense of community.
At variuos points, Rushkoff expresses derision at observant Jews (in fact, he scorns all Jewry that isn't part of the highly humanist Reconstructionist movement), says that the concept of God is irrelevant, and announces that the end justifies the means as if it is an accepted tenet (ignoring that it was this very tenet that allowed every dictator in history to commit mass murder).
Rushkoff want Judaism repackaged as humanism, with God relegated to humansim's "quiet inner voice" that whispers right from wrong and derides everything else. He thinks that doing so leads directly from the Torah being a myth-laden document. He completely ignores that anyone could ever come to believe in God on their own, or that the "inner voice" of which he writes could be a subjective sense of God. If it isn't scientifically proveable, it's not part of Rushkoff's world view. He also contradicts himself many times (are the Jews a people or aren't they? It depends on the point Rushkoff is trying to make), and draws sweeping, occasionally ludicrous conclusions from tenuous "evidence" and then reports those conclusions as incotroverible fact.
To subtitle this book "The Truth About Judaism" took a lot of chutzpah. That is not what this book is about. This book is nothing more than one long rant from a lapsed Jew who can no longer conceive that others might actually believe--or have a right to believe--in God. There are spiritual homes which share his worldview. But mainstream Judaism doesn't have to throw God out with the mikvah water just because Rushkoff is disappointed that the Bible isn't factual.(less)
The question-and-answer nature of this book seemed to cover all the bases (and intuit all of my questions) about Jewish holidays and the Jewish life c...moreThe question-and-answer nature of this book seemed to cover all the bases (and intuit all of my questions) about Jewish holidays and the Jewish life cycle. Definitely a reference book I want on my Jewish bookshelf.(less)
This book really lays out the details of becoming a Jew-By-Choice, from why others have made the decision, to what to expect from your rabbi and your...moreThis book really lays out the details of becoming a Jew-By-Choice, from why others have made the decision, to what to expect from your rabbi and your learning experience during your months of study, to the actual rituals of conversion, post-conversion celebrations, and your first year as a new Jew. Written from a liberal (Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist) perspective, the book is written for both prospective converts through marriage and those considering Judaism for personal reasons. It also discusses the disagreement with Orthodoxy over conversion (they, of course, won't recognize liberal conversions.) But unless you intend to marry in Israel or make aliyah (more there), who cares? Let Orthodoxy keep its prejudices, this book serves the American liberal Jewish convert very well.(less)
This book really helped me place Judaism in context with other major religious and philosophical schools of thought, and unexpectedly brought me to th...moreThis book really helped me place Judaism in context with other major religious and philosophical schools of thought, and unexpectedly brought me to the point of understanding Judaism as a better viewpoint (in terms of morality and social justice) than all others. It was pretty breathtaking in doing so. It is, however, written from a distinctly conservative perspective. I don't agree with the take on intermarriage or (Dennis Prager's) near-mindless Zionism, but it was an informative book nonetheless.(less)
Kind of answers the question of Why Judaism? The answer is pretty much Why Not? The book demonstrates the importance of ritual and Jewish action as co...moreKind of answers the question of Why Judaism? The answer is pretty much Why Not? The book demonstrates the importance of ritual and Jewish action as community-building and comforting elements of Jewish religious practice--whether or not you accept "stories" about God or reject the religious aspects of your Jewish upbringing. (less)
Breathtaking. A love story about Shabbat, written in the most amazingly respectful and reverent language that easily communicates the hallowed feeling...moreBreathtaking. A love story about Shabbat, written in the most amazingly respectful and reverent language that easily communicates the hallowed feeling of the day, and why you might want to keep Shabbat, too.(less)
The first book I read on my conversion journey, this very short discussion of Judaism told me things about it I never, ever knew and in a few short Ch...moreThe first book I read on my conversion journey, this very short discussion of Judaism told me things about it I never, ever knew and in a few short Chicago 'L' rides reading it, pretty much changed my worldview. When I finished this book, I knew inside I was beginning to answer the question why I wanted to be a Jew, myself. For anyone looking for a brief introduction to Judaism or beginning to consider becoming a Jew-By-Choice, I can't recommend this book highly enough.(less)
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