Creates a new view of chutzpah as Jewish self-empowerment to be God's partner and repair the world and reveals Judaism's ancient message, its deepest purpose and most precious treasures.

Judaism assigns a uniquely important role to the human being, the role of partner with God in creating a world of oneness. This theme, the singular message of Judaism, runs throughout the Jewish tradition, but it has been largely lost to our modern day's leaning toward Jewish ethnic identity and culture.

In this clarion call for a new way to "do Judaism," award-winning spiritual leader Rabbi Edward Feinstein urges us to recover this message of Jewish self-empowerment or chutzpah to reshape the world. Feinstein begins with the early chapters of Genesis. He then describes how the idea was encoded into the Jewish national narrative through biblical law, and how the Rabbis of Talmud embraced that conviction as the center of Judaism, demonstrating the Rabbis' sense of their own self-empowerment to reshape their religious tradition in response to the destruction of the Temple. Turning to the mystics of medieval Spain and the European Hasidic tradition, Feinstein shows how chutzpah found its expression in the traditions of Kabbalah. Finally, he explores the theme of empowerment in modernity, as the centerpiece of Zionism and post-Holocaust thought. Inspiring Jews of all denominations, Feinstein presents a bold reminder of the Jewish responsibility to repair the world and a new way to conceive of Jewish community life, Jewish education, prayer and religious activism."

What can we do to repair, rewind and reset Jewish time to
ensure a thriving existence in the future?

The generation of the late twentieth century experienced a rupture in Jewish time. As a result of our confrontation with Modernity, the integration of Jews into the American mainstream, the shattering tragedy of the Holocaust, and the miraculous rebirth of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, we can no longer look easily to the past for lessons of faith and models of Jewish meaning. No longer do we confidently project ourselves into the future. So much of what was taken for granted in earlier times is now open to question.

In this thought-provoking book, five celebrated leaders in Judaism, representing a broad spectrum of contemporary Jewish experience, reinterpret Jewish life, re-envision its institutions, and re-imagine its future in the shadow of the events of the twentieth century.

Reflecting on the unique events of this century, these eminent scholars assert a shared recognition of human responsibility as the quintessence of God s presence in the world. They imagine a new stage in the development of the ancient Covenant, a stage in which human beings take responsibility for shaping the Jewish historical experience. They explore how that new stage will find expression in the rhythms of Jewish personal and communal life its implications for "halachah, " prayer, spirituality, the synagogue, and our relations with the world.

What your rabbi probably has never told you, but could if you'd only ask.

"Every day I wonder if God is real, if the Torah is true. Every day I wonder why I m a Jew. But that s part of being Jewish. In the Torah, we re called Yisrael the ones who wrestle with God. Wrestling, asking, wondering, searching is just what God wants us to do God loves good questions. Now tell me, what are your questions?" from Chapter 1

In Judaism we re allowed to ask questions. We are invited to ask them. But for young people, it often feels as if no one is willing to take tough questions about religion, ourselves, and the world seriously.

This updated and expanded new edition of Tough Questions Jews Ask turns that all around. With honesty, humor and respect, Rabbi Edward Feinstein tackles topics as diverse as: Why Does God Let Terrible Things Happen?What Is God Anyway?If I Pray for Something, Will I get It?What s the meaning of life? Is that a dumb question?Why Does Religion Need So Many Rules?Why Be Jewish?

With insight and wisdom and without pretending to have all the answers Rabbi Feinstein encourages young people to make sense of the Jewish tradition by wrestling with what we don t understand."

Insights, ideas and activities for discussing with students the toughest questions of Jewish life. A step-by-step guide to creative use of the award-winning Tough Questions Jews Ask in the classroom. Each lesson includes: w A clearly stated goal w An opening hook to grab students' attention w Excerpts from the book followed by a series of engaging discussion questions w A selection of Jewish sources addressing these important issues. This comprehensive teaching tool will help you guide each student toward a more mature, carefully thought-out set of personal beliefs.