Being Jewish: The Spiritual and Cultural Practice of Judaism Today

(Paperback)

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Description

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 modern Judaism. A bestselling author and widely respected chronicler of Jewish life, Goldman vividly contrasts the historical meaning of Judaism's heritage with the astonishing and multiform character of the religion today. The result will be a revelation for those already involved with Judaism and a fascinating introduction for those whose interests are newly minted or rekindled.
This inspiring volume encourages us to find our own place within the tradition and leads us into a deeper understanding not just of the details of the religion but, ultimately, of what it means to be Jewish.

Reviews

"To those who wish to learn more about Jewishness, tradition and modernity, let them read Ari Goldman's superb and stimulating volume." -- Elie Wiesel
"Ari Goldman gives us a marvelous guide to being Jewish, emphasizing the joy rather than the 'oy.' Goldman speaks to the heart as well as the mind and provides an eclectic road map through the diversity of Jewish life." -- Alan M. Dershowitz

Author Bio

ARI L. GOLDMAN, one of the nation's leading religion journalists, was a reporter for The New York Times for twenty years. He left the Times in 1993 to teach journalism at Columbia University, where he has trained a new generation of religion writers. Professor Goldman was educated at Yeshiva University, Columbia, and Harvard. He is the author of the bestselling memoir The Search for God at Harvard and the widely acclaimed Living a Year of Kaddish. Goldman has been a Fulbright Professor in Israel and a Skirball Fellow at Oxford University in England. He lives in New York with his wife and their three children.