At the turn of the twenty-first century, the central question
confronting Jewish leaders in America is simple:
"Why be Jewish?"
Jonathan D. Sarna, acclaimed scholar of American Judaism,
believes that "Why be Jewish?" is the wrong question. Judaism, he
believes, is not so much a "why" as a "way"--a way of life, a way
of marking time, a way of relating to the environment, to human
beings, to family, and to God. Judaism is experienced through
"doing"--doing things Jewish, doing things for fellow Jews in need,
doing things as a Jew to improve the state of the world. The more
Judaism one "does," the more one comes to appreciate what Judaism
"is."
Using the Jewish calendar as his starting point, Sarna reflects
on the major themes of Jewish life as expressed in a full year of
holidays--from Passover in the spring to Purim eleven months later.
Passover, for instance, yields a discussion of freedom; Shavuot, a
discussion of Torah; Yom Kippur, the role of the individual within
the Jewish community; Chanukah, issues of assimilation and
anti-assimilation.
An essential brief introduction--or reintroduction--to the major
practices of Jewish life as well as the many complexities of the
American Jewish experience, this book will be essential reading for
American Jews and the perfect gift for the holiday season.
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