Being Jewish [Hardcover]

Ari L. Goldman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

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.

Taking the reader through the process of discovery -- or rediscovery -- Being Jewish is divided into three sections, each focusing on one of the cycles of human life. Beginning with the traditions associated with the life cycle -- birth, marriage, death -- Goldman moves on to describe the rituals that mark the course of the Jewish year, starting with Rosh Hashanah. Finally, he reflects on the character of the Jewish day, exploring the role of prayer, dietary laws, and ethical behavior. All of these moments, from a minute to a lifetime, take on vibrant meaning in his thoughtful picture.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Being Jewish is Goldman's discussion of the extraordinary variations in how Jews live their Judaism today. He finds a wide variety of practices, between Judaism's branches and within them. For example, a family on Long Island keeps a unique version of kosher: they have three sets of dishes and utensils -- one for meat, one for milk, and one for nonkosher Chinese takeout. While traditional Judaism frowns on such quirky modes of observance, Goldman elevates them. Jews today, he concludes, are "reaching for the holy" in unexpected and innovative ways.

These dramatically different ideas about how a Jewish life may be lived suggest how difficult it can be for today's reader to find an objective account of Judaism. And it is precisely Goldman's reporter's eye that sets this book apart. Informed by tradition without embracing any one ideology, this award-winning journalist's probing book moves across the boundaries of modern Judaism to demonstrate how it is lived. While other efforts to tackle these themes are written from the perspective of a particular religious tradition, Being Jewish is the work of a sophisticated observer who describes rather than proscribes. By weaving a complex and compelling commentary on Judaism, 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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Being Jewish: The Spiritual and Cultural Practice of Judaism Today begins with a legend. "In the months before a Jewish child is born, it is visited in the womb by the Angel Gabriel. There, in the warmth and silence of the mother's body, the angel teaches the baby all of Jewish learning--the Torah, the rituals, the holidays, the deepest truths of Jewish wisdom. The baby absorbs it all, just as it takes nourishment from its mother. But suddenly, as the baby is about to be thrust into the world to eat and breathe on its own, the angel presents it with a similar intellectual challenge. Right before birth, Gabriel strikes the child on the upper lip, and all the teachings are instantly forgotten." Being Jewish, by the former New York Times religion reporter Ari L. Goldman, takes up where the legend of "Gabriel and the Infants" leaves off. The book presumes, as the legend suggests, that "Jewish knowledge is not external, removed from life, but something inside: the very stuff of life that must be reckoned and recovered." Incorporating elements of memoir, history, theology, and cultural criticism, Goldman's book is a guide for the rediscovery of Judaism's essential traditions, organized in three sections that correspond to cycles of Jewish life ("The Jewish Life," "The Jewish Year," and "The Jewish Day"). This is a beautifully written distillation of the learning and wisdom of one of the best religion journalists of our time. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers Weekly

HYet another book about being Jewish? This entry stands out because of Goldman's unusual perspective as an "Orthodox pluralist" who asserts up front that "there is no single way to be Jewish in America today." Goldman, a former New York Times reporter who wrote The Search for God at Harvard, claims that being Jewish can be about "feeling good" as well as observing ritual, and suggests that a little idiosyncrasy in religious practice is beneficial. The book is divided into three sections: life cycle events from birth to death, the Jewish calendar and holidays, and the rhythm of the Jewish day, including prayer and keeping kosher. It explains what tradition demands, but doesn't shy away from describing the quirky ways people really observe Judaism. For instance, there's the man who recognizes it's Passover by discarding the bun from his nonkosher hotdog and eating the meat on matzoh. Goldman focuses on ritual because, he says, it is both a simple, accessible way to strengthen Jewish identity and a powerful tool to transform the mundane into the sacred. Each chapter includes basic information, biblical and rabbinic sources, historical background, conversations with rabbis of various denominations, personal recollections, anecdotes and a glossary. Goldman explores his subject with sincerity and sensitivity, accomplishing an impressive task without overwhelming the reader. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684823896
• ISBN-13: 978-0684823898
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,368,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Jews practice Judaism in America today, September 19, 2000

By 

Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Being Jewish (Hardcover)

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.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good place to start, January 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Being Jewish (Hardcover)

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.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, January 10, 2001

By 

"stargirl104" (Wayne, Pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Being Jewish (Hardcover)

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.