Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World

by Roberta Rosenthal Kwall

This book offers a new vision for all Jews seeking a sense of belonging in a changing world, regardless of their current level of observance. Roberta Kwall sets out a process of selection, rejection, and modification of rituals that allow for a focus on Jewish tradition rather than on the technicalities of Jewish law. Her goal is not to sell her own religious practices to readers but, rather, to encourage them to find their own personal meaning in Judaism outside the dictates of Commandment, by broadening their understanding of how law, culture, and tradition fit together. She inspires readers to be intentional and mindful about the space they allocate for these elements in defining their individual Jewish journeys and identities. This Updated Edition includes a new preface addressing recently released findings, including the Pew Report on the American Jewish Community, exploring the challenges of practicing Judaism today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Judaism, Religion, Jewish

272 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2022

Reviews

[Arnie]

Great, in-depth exploration of how the Jewish tradition gives us the tools to reinvent our Jewish lives and practices.

[Marsha]

I can't rate this book is highly as many of the members of my book club did; perhaps that's partly because I've been living "remixed" Judaism my entire life:
My mother had barely heard of Judaism before she met my father (two weeks and right before she converted and they got married by an ultraconservative rabbi). MY husband converted about 10 years after he and I married. Throughout my childhood, I celebrated Christmas Eve with my mother's nieces and nephew (who were all Methodist) (my mother's father was a traveling minister in Nebraska. Both he and my other grandfather died years before I was even considered; my father's relatives were combination of ultra reform and Lubavitche. Of my four siblings, my baby sister converted to Lutheranism (I still can't get over it, but…); My next younger sister married a Catholic, but they raised their son Jewish [until my brother-in-law decided that he really needed to have my nephew baptized and raised Catholic… His priest (rightfully) arefused]; my older sister married a Mormon gentleman from (I forget which Latin American country in a Jewish ceremony,, he speaks primarily Spanish and his family really prefers that they all convert to Mormonism (my sister and her husband are having none of that). Rebeccah has no children and is too old to start (she's 61), but before she reached menopause, if she had gotten pregnant the plan was to raise children Jewish. My baby brother was the only one who married a Jew – she was also from some Latin American country and spoke Spanish well, but she's been in the US since childhood and has a Jewish background.
My husband and I have two sons. Before marriage, we decided that all offspring would be Jewish, but because he was not Jewish, the rabbi at the Hillel where I was a grad student refused to perform the ceremony. We were married by a Presbyterian minister whose first comments to us was that Kevin should convert.
My entire existence has been "remixing Judaism".
The book itself was good in many ways: it verified the ways that I (and my husband and I have been living our lives and justifying our decisions while presenting the religion to my sons. Both of my sons have been bar mitzvah, but more importantly they had official recognitions of becoming adults in the Jewish community.
The book had many introductions to halachah with which I was not totally familiar, and I appreciated that, but overall, it seems to spend too much time on individual examples of "remixing" Judaism, and it didn't put nearly enough emphasis on the importance of the fluidity of Judaism!
I really liked the chapter on grandparents (as did EVERYONE), and I like the emphasis on the importance of recognizing Jewish traditions, even for those who consider themselves less observant. Overall, it was worthwhile and a great tool for those who need to find a justification for their odd stretches and overall doing the best they can with the religion.

[Shelly Cerullo]

I had to sit with this for a bit, because I’m apparently NOT the target audience for this book, which is fine! I don’t need to be the target audience for everything! So it took a bit of untangling to figure out what parts of my reaction to this were because I wasn’t the target audience, and what parts were because it was genuinely disappointing to read.

So upfront, the ways in which I’m not the target audience for this book were LEGION - it’s aimed primarily at Jews by birth/heritage who want to pass Judaism along to their children. And. Well. A Jew by choice who doesn’t plan on ever having children doesn’t fit very well into that schema! But also, it just has a very surface view of what remix culture means and what it might mean to truly “remix” a tradition as long and varied as Judaism. Nothing really felt remixed or even transformed by her suggestions, it really was just “this is how you can connect to/pass along your Jewish heritage without needing to feel inauthentic or fully embracing Orthodoxy” WHICH ISN’T REMIXING ANYTHING, REALLY. It’s a cool and wonderful topic! But not at all about taking and reshaping and making things better because you’ve joined together thoughts or actions that previously hadn’t been joined, which is, to me, the heart of what any kind of remix culture is.

[Linda Levine]

As a member of two Conservative congregations, I found this book and this approach to Judaism a breath of fresh air. With so many interfaith families and mixed marriages today, this book lays out an approach as to how today's Judaism can be observed and understood without shoving all of the prohibitions and out-of-date rulings (i.e., not driving to synagogue when you live a distance from it, allowing people to eat in restaurants that are not certified kosher if no meat is being served in those restaurants) in our faces. It allows for common sense and adaptations that make Judaism viable in today's world and does it in a way that is easily understood and doesn't require a roomful of Talmudic scholars to explain it. It is inclusive and familial and gives reason and sense to every aspect of observance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who asks "Why do we (still) do things this way how can we adapt our methods of observance without giving anything of our past up?" It just makes sense!

[Gwen]

I thought this book was just ok in terms of the topic. I wanted to know what I could be doing differently and just didn't glean anything new. I kept thinking did she write this book to feel more comfortable about Jews who aren't as observant as she is? I didn't like being referred to as a liberal Jew or non-Orthodox. I am a Reform Jew and would be liked to referred to as such.

Also, I felt she didn't even touch upon any of the Jewish holidays outside of Shabbat. I would have liked to have heard about different ways to celebrate our numerous holidays. But maybe she didn't because Abigail Pogrebin wrote a book on that already.

I am ok with her keeping Kosher, I have a good friend that does, but that chapter was a bit preachy.

I will say the book is well written and Ms. Kwall's research was thorough.

[Alan Brown]

Excellent information and description of the issue of Jewish identity among non halachic ( not Orthodox) people. Remix is a great way to describe authentic Jewish customs, ideas and practice which do not require believe in behavior commanded by God.

Focus on "traditional" practice "remix" and synagogue examples is a deeply held belief of author. Also Shabbat and kosher as "solutions" to the perceived need for religious practice.

Could have emphasized more the excellent observations about the values of meaning, ways of being and living, belonging and Jewish values and the authenticity of cultural Jewish practice and identity.

[Emily Feldman]

maybe 3.25 - the author makes good points and provides helpful perspective. however, she is a bit self-righteous. especially evident in the way she discusses her relationship with her daughters. she is a conservative jew who keeps kosher and is grilling her daughter's jewishness over not having a kosher thanksgiving. like ...?

[Abby Landa]

This book taught me so much and really opened by eyes to how I want to live Jewishly, now and in the future. I would recommend this for anyone who is questioning the legitimacy and level of their own Jewish practice and those wanting to live as close to halakhah as they can. I owe a debt to this book for the lessons I’ve learned.

[Lynnley]

This is an important book for those who are thinking about what building a Jewish home means to them and how to adapt ancient traditions in a modern world. I really enjoyed the author’s use of personal stories to demonstrate her concepts.

[Kendall]

This was a great book, and a must read for Jews looking to marry modernity to their Judaism. The format made it great to read in one go or plug in to the specific topics pertinent to you in the moment.

[R. Mark]

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall has written an “aspirational” work - just what the Jewish community needs in this moment of challenge and opportunity. On every page you’ll find insights from Jewish professionals and regular folks who are seeking and creating moments and structures of authenticity and meaning. (Full disclosure: I make a brief appearance in the book.) In “Remix Judaism,” Kwall encourages us to think confidently and creatively, to sample and remix a new future out of the Jewish past. In the words of the old Hebrew pop song: lu y'hi, may it be! – Rabbi Mark Sameth

[Ionia]

I thought this was a very interesting book. The author is open to new interpretations of ancient (and more modern) customs. Unlike a lot of books about the various practices within Judaism, this book didn't feel as restrictive. I enjoyed the ideas that were introduced here and found some of the stories the author told fascinating.

One thing that made me like this book, was the way the author gave her own history and talked about people she knew directly. It made the book feel more personal. If you have ever struggled to figure out where you fit into the spectrum of Jewish life, this is a book that might really help you. The author does not tell anyone that they are "doing it wrong," like so many other books on these topics tend to imply. There was not a lot of personal bias here and that made it far easier and more enjoyable to read.

A non-judgmental. creative approach to doing you, the Jewish way. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different approach whilst still retaining their love for tradition. Excellent book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Steve]

Good look at Jewish tradition in an increasingly secular setting

I enjoyed this book. What the book did extremely well is provide gentle guidance on how to add more Jewish tradition to daily life. There were no instances of bashing of the less observant. The other strong point of the book was its review of applicable Jewish law and relevant biblical quotes. I found the book well-written and not overly academic but I would not call the writing conversational. There was some survey data but most of the book was made up of anecdotes. I thought at times that there were too many anecdotes; too many parts of the book that discussed the author’s friends and what they do. I recommend this book for anyone looking to incorporate more tradition in their daily lives.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.