The FIRST book Rabbi Bach suggests for any adult interested in becoming Jewish, or any Jewish adult who can't answer the question in the book's title with clarity.

---

Product Description

"All beginnings require that you unlock new doors."--Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav

In this short and inspiring text, Rabbi David J. Wolpe addresses all who seek to enlarge the spiritual side of their lives. For those considering a return to the faith of their forebears, for those drawn to conversion, Why Be Jewish? is a learned, graceful, and welcoming introduction beckoning readers into the heart of this venerable and enduring religion.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184286 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Clearly-at times beautifully-written, Why Be Jewish? does not claim to be a rigorous theological analysis or a detailed guide to Jewish practice. Instead it is "a personal portrait of faith for those who are searching," written for Jews who wish to know more about Judaism, for non-Jews who may be thinking of marrying a Jew or for those who are simply curious. Wolpe, who teaches at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, uses Judaism as a grounding point for a general spiritual quest. He emphasizes that Jews are bound together throughout history by their belief in one God, their resilience and their great gifts to culture. Judaism, he says, as "a religion of joy and affirmation in spite of the sufferings of the Jewish people," honors all features of being human, stresses the importance of deeds as a sign of faith and rejoices in the personal, deep involvement of God.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Judaism shares in the rebirth of interest in traditional religions and, as Wolpe presents it, welcomes that interest in order to both bring secular Jews back to the faith and make converts. In his clear and welcoming primer, Wolpe says a person chooses Judaism "To Grow in Soul," "To Join a People," and "To Seek God," as the titles of his three chapters state. Much of what Wolpe imparts--Judaism's joyousness, dedication to good works, love of learning, community solidarity, concern for justice--will be familiar; other aspects of the religion, particularly the open nature of the Jewish sense of being chosen by God, will pack the power of pleasant surprise for many. Some Christians, especially members of the peace churches (Mennonites, Quakers, Brethren), may think they have heard lots of this sermon before. They have: a great deal of it is bedrock Christianity. Ray Olson

Review
"A sensitive portrait of Judaism for those who wish to know more about faith, religion, and spirituality."--The Dallas Morning News

"A clear and welcoming primer."--Booklist

"David Wolpe has written a touching, loving tone poem about Judaism, capturing the melody of its central ideas, the feeling and the experience of living as a Jew, the ethical challenge of seeing the world Jewishly and acting it out in life."--Rabbi Irving Greenberg
-- Review

---

Customer Reviews

Short & Sweet; Eloquent & Profound
This little book is a beautiful read. He describes the essential ideas, attitudes, and perceptions of Judaism with eloquent, if not poetic, language that touches the heart. I am not religious or observant, but I am seeking to find my own spirituality within Judaism. This book goes straight to the heart of Juadaism. I highly recommend it.

Extremely rewarding & short too
I loved this book! In a very few pages, it gives you a sense of why the author, and by extension anyone else, would want to be a Jew. Moreover, the book is written in a beautifully lyric prose, which was beautiful & easy to read. I would love to mass produce this book & give it to every non-Orthodox Jew as well as anyone thinking of conversion. What a treat!

Small books sometime deliver grand messages. Beautiful!
I read this book a long time ago, but I remember how much I liked it. If you ever need to tell somebody why you enjoy being Jewish, you should tell them to read this little book.