Customer Reviews

It's a Mitzvah!: Step-By-Step to Jewish Living

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered this book while e-mailing the author, Rabbi Artson, regarding concerns of whether or not converting is for me. He told me to read this book. It has been a great help for me as a starting point for my Jewish journey. It helps reassure the reader that you don't have to follow all 613 or so commandments of Jewish living to be a good Jew. Take life one Mitzvah at a time, and always try to improve your Jewish Identity. It carries you through the mitzvahs of visiting the sick, dietary laws, seeking peace, and even compassion to animals. Although some instances of the book I don't agree with (but no fault to Artson, remember -- Two Jews, three opinions), overall, a very good read for the Jew-by-Choice and born Jews wanting to better their walk through life.

I can't stand it when reviewers quibble about minor points they don't like and then give 4 or 3 stars to a superb book like this one. Artson's book is organized beautifully. Furthermore, it's highly readable, intelligent, concrete, and thought-provoking. His book of Torah commentary (The Bedside Torah) is another wonderful book.

We are homeschoolers and use this book for our 7th-10th graders. However it would be a wonderful addition to a conversion class, good for anyone seeking to grow in their Jewish observance and Mitzvot, or as a family activity or project.

It is written from a very common sense and positive point of view. What a great addition to anyones library. The open concept of choosing a Mitzvot and working a step by step process through you growth is excellent. It allows for small steps and large ones at all levels.

Bradley Shavit Artson (born 1959) is an American rabbi, author, speaker, and the occupant of the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California, where he is Vice-President. He supervises the Louis and Judith Miller Introduction to Judaism Program and provides educational and religious oversight for Camp Ramah of California. He is also the author of books such as Making a Difference: Putting Jewish Spirituality into Action, One Mitzvah at a Time, Jewish Answers to Real-Life Questions, I Have Some Questions About God, Love Peace and Purse Peace: A Jewish Response to War and Nuclear Annihilation, etc.

He wrote in the "Acknowledgements" section of this 1995 book, "This book is for all who want to explore Jewish observance but are not willing (or able) to immerse themselves instantaneously. The book is unique in two ways: First, it explicitly advocates a gradual approach to Jewish life without abandoning the traditional goals of Judaism... The second innovation offered here is that ... I sought the advice of Jewish laypeople ... These congregants formed a reading group."

The book has chapters such as "What is Jewish Law? What Does It Mean?"; "Hospitality and Feeding the Hungry"; "Seeking Peace"; "Study and Learning"; "Compassion to Animals"; "Judaism as a Living System."

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"Mitzvot are the Jewish arena for knowing and experiencing God. Rather than relying on contemplation, Judaism has placed primary value on doing as the principal path for serving God. Mitzvot translate the lofty principles of the Torah into the tangible acts of caring individuals and righteous societies... Those sacred deeds embody the conviction that we best imitate God through sacred deeds of love." (Pg. 15)
"I marvel, too, at the Jewish people. With rare exception history records no other people who were separated from their land for most of their history ... who nonetheless retained a strong and continuous identity. There are no weekly meetings of Edomites in Brooklyn or of Hittites in Los Angeles. But every day the descendants of ancient Israel gather to participate in, and strengthen, their unbroken identity." (Pg. 17)
"For too long, Jews were reputed to be weak, passive, and incapable of productive work. Hidden inside dimly lit houses of study, Jewish pedants would supposedly mull over obscure and archaic books as the rest of the Jews lived in fear, poverty, and ignorance. Although that characterization is not an accurate reflection of Jewish history, it was shared by many Jews and non-Jews alike." (Pg. 39)

Generally, I really liked this book. It's a good counter-weight to all the Orthodox "baal t'shuvah" literature out there. For those who are wanting to become more observant without surrendering to an Orthodox worldview, this is great. It is traditional, yet answers modern questions intelligently and sincerely, firmly rooted in Jewish tradition.

Rabbi Shavit Artson discusses a whole host of mitzvot and beautifully interweaves them with a progressive yet Halachic outlook on the enviroment, social issues and human rights. The book provides a step-by-step method to go about taking up extra observances which I found very sensible.

I became observant without this book, but I noticed that my individually developed "methodology of t'shuvah" had many parallels to the very useful tips that the rabbi gives.

One point of criticism: rabbi Shavit Artson describes many powerful, traditional mitzvot in great detail, including shemirat ha lashon (guarding speech) and tallit katan (a small 4-cornered undergarment with tassles worn all day) which both receive emphasis in the Orthodox world. I am glad to see a Conservative rabbi reclaim these powerful tools of connection. However, he is COMPLETE SILENT on one of the 3 pillars of Jewish observance: Taharat haMishpacha - "Family Purity", the laws that regulate a couple's sexual life by requiring abstenance from sex when (and after) a woman is menstruating and her immersion in a kosher mikvah before resuming relations. Yes, it is a daunting mitzvah to explain to the "newly observant", but it is crucial and important and I was disappointed to see the book omit that.

When will Conservative Jews stop being ashamed of Halacha? Including those aspects, the "chukim" that might be embarrassing, weird or difficult at first glance? "Kedushah" is achieve by commitment and critical thinking, not by omission.

If the Conservative Movement wishes to (re)establish itself as a serious Halachic but progressive alternative to Orthodoxy, books like this should not be shy but confident in that our approach to Halacha is just as relevant and committed as anyone else's.

Otherwise, a great, accessible read!

Esther.

This book seems like a great idea -- jump into following more commandments, one at a time. So why don't I like it? Well, because there *are* connections between the various mitzvot, and this book ignores them.

A very wise rabbi once said to me, "There are only two correct answers to a question about whether you follow a particular mitzvah: 'yes" and 'not yet'." This book seems like it addresses this very issue: how does one begin? But the book focuses on each individual piece of halakhah as though it exists in isolation, which of course, none of it does. The book feels very scattered, distractingly so.

So if you are looking for a way to start practicing any particular mitzvah, this book may help you with suggestions for how to start at a walk, rather than running flat-out. But if you want a road map to a more observant life, you will find it lacking in a cohesive approach, or plan.

This is a beautiful book that gives tremendous insight into Jewish spirituality. It shows that Judaism, just like her spiritual daughter, Catholicism, is a religion that expresses her faith through action. It gives the common sense advice that those new to the tradition of mitzvot should go slowly, taking one mitzvah at a time, and gradually adding more to one's Jewish routine. Even non-Jews such as myself can only benefit from considering whether some of these mitzvot -- such as honoring parents, visiting the sick, learning more about Judaism -- might enrich our Christian spiritual commitment.

The only drawback to this book is that the good works it recommends appear to be selective. I don't mean that the book must be exhaustive, only that it does not consider good works that might arise from a differing world view, even among Jews.

For example, the book takes great pains to expound upon the Jewish commitment to compassion for animals, but does not mention the Jewish commitment to the dignity of all human life, from the womb to the tomb. Many Jews participate alongside their Christian brothers and sisters in the commitment toward ending abortion. Why is this not considered in the book as a mitzvah, but the book does consider the mitzvah of seriously modifying one's lifestyle out of compassion for animals? Rabbi Artson does make the crucial distinction that humans have a distinct difference in dignity than animals since human beings are persons who are made "in the image and likeness of God." So why is there no consideration of modifying one's world view and lifestyle out of love for unborn children?

Other than this complaint, I found this book to be beautiful and wonderfully helpful in appreciating Jewish spirituality.