Being Jewish

by Ari Goldman

Book Overview

Increasing numbers of Jews are returning to their religious roots in a search for meaning, eager to explore a heritage that is deeply embedded in history and at the same time rapidly changing. But what is Judaism today? And what does it mean -- culturally, spiritually, and ritually -- to be Jewish in the twenty-first century? In Being Jewish, Ari L. Goldman offers eloquent, thoughtful answers to these questions through an absorbing exploration of...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684823896
• ISBN13: 9780684823898
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

The basics of Judaism carefully and succinctly written; A worthwhile read

The fact that this was written by an Orthodox pluralist (a contradiction in terms if there ever was one) makes it worth picking up alone. Given the traditional antagonism that Orthodox have for any Jew that is not Orthodox, this author's ability to strike a balanced tone was an achievement in and of itself. This book was very carefully written. While the author's knowledge of Judaism was obviously very great, one could clearly sense that he chose what he thought was essential and left the more esoteric details for the reader to consult with a rabbi about. One example is when the author described the differences between the branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, etc...). Rather than get into a technical discussion of the position of each on Jewish law, he simply made (what may have been an inappropriate) analogy between the Divine and the Jewish people to different types of relationships that are common amongst between real people (Father, Mother, etc....). As one who aspires to pass a rabbinical court someday, I do actually know some of the technical terms/ arguments that he left out. But when I pretend to be someone who has never opened any book on Judaism, his explanations were adequate (yet not overwrought with detail). I never knew that there was SO MUCH Jewish ritual. No wonder nearly everyone in the United States is secular! If you followed the entire Jewish law to the letter, there would be time for nothing else in life. That also explains why the Haredim live such restricted, closely circumscribed lives. And why they live in communities. If there weren't a lot of people around you doing the same elaborate rituals, it would be all but impossible to explain their value to a child! The section on the varieties of Judaism flowed very smoothly from the sections on rituals. After all, taking all the total number of permutations of the 613 mitzvot there are actually more possible types of Judaism than there are extant Jews at any given moment. One thing that might have improved what was already a very good book: A bit more detailed discussion about the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim as pertains to customs. For example, he mentioned antagonism between Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but didn't give us any reasons for the bad feelings-- or describe to us at which level it might have existed. It's well worth the second hand purchase price.

A good place to start

I bought this book after a few years of not being interested in being a Jew or following any Jewish traditions. However I did maintain a group of orthodox friends throughout that time but I was simply turned off by Judaism all together. After a trip to Israel this past summer, I became very interested in my religion and felt a need to get myself involved again ...but I had forgotten so much about various traditions and laws that I didn't know where to start. A good friend of mine recommended this book to me and after reading it I feel I understand more about various Jewish practices and feel comfortable in allowing Judaism into my life again. Goldman himself claims to be a "Orthodox pluralist" where he believes that the "right answer for me is not the right answer for everyone" and describes how each person can choose/accept different aspects of Judaism that fit them. Its important to remember that when reading the book...this book is a good introduction to being Jewish but understand that actions and participating in Judaism is important but being Jewish really begins with what is in your heart. And that is something Goldman left unsaid in this book.

Very Informative

I'm newly interested in Judaism, and I found this book to be very helpful in straightening out all the different pratices in Judaism today. Goldman writes in a way where he doesn't come across as thinking one way of doing something is better than another way, and I really appriciate that.

A FASCINATING READ FOR JEW AND NON-JEW ALIKE

Shows with specific examples how Jews from a wide variety of life and intellectual perspectives search for G-d in their everyday activities.

How Jews practice Judaism in America today

Now that Lieberman is running for Vice President, everyone, including American Jews, are curious about Jewish religious practice. Goldman, a former reporter at The New York Times, a graduate of Harvard Divinity, an Orthodox pluralist, and a journalism Professor at Columbia, writes on the current state of American Jewry - a state that is definitely not homogenous. It is a must read. It will be to the year 2000 what The Jewish Catalog was to the 1970's. Goldman began writing the book during a sabbatical in Jerusalem in 1997, where he met not only great teachers and had access to great libraries, but he met pulpit rabbis on their individual sabbaticals. They gave him great insight into current Jewish practice and the lives of average American Jews. It is segmented into three sections: life, year, and day; or Jewish life cycle events; the Jewish calendar/holidays; and the Jewish day from morning prayers (or lack thereof) to bedtime. In each section he congently explains jewish rituals and practices. Each sub section ends with "The Basics", which provides a nice summary on each topic. What makes this book stand above all the clutter is the addition of Goldman's personal stories, like that of his placement of his ill mother in a hospice run by the Catholic diocese, and his sections titled "Variation on a Theme." These "Variations" include the anecdotal yet insightful stories of the person who buys a pork filled hot dog on Passover, but doesn't eat the leavened hot dog bun; the NJ orthodontist who wears tzitzis even though he is not observant of other Jewish laws; the family that avoids shellfish on Shabbat; the community leader who drives on Shabbat, but avoids freeways, restricting himself to the local roads; and the journalist who observes Shabbat on Monday evenings and Tuesdays since he must work on weekends. Are they hypocrites? No, they are merely reaching for the divine, and that is what Being Jewish is all about.