Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism [Paperback]

Dennis Prager (Author), Joseph Telushkin (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Touchstone book | Publication Date: April 21, 1986

If you have ever wondered what being born Jewish should mean to you; if you want to find out more about the nature of Judaism, or explain it to a friend; if you are thinking about how Judaism can connect with the rest of your life -- this is the first book you should own. It poses, and thoughtfully addresses, questions like these:

Can one doubt God's existence and still be a good Jew?

Why do we need organized religion?

Why shouldn't I intermarry?

What is the reason for dietary laws?

How do I start practicing Judaism?

The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism was written for the educated, skeptical, searching Jew, and for the non-Jew who wants to understand the meaning of Judaism. It has become a classic and very widely read introduction to the oldest living religion. Concisely and engagingly, authors Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin present Judaism as the rational, moral alternative for contemporary man.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Herman Wouk The intelligent skeptic's guide to Judaism

Rabbi Wolfe Kelman (Conservative) Executive Vice President, the Rabbinical Assembly Compelling and persuasive. Its challenging ideas and direct and illuminating way permeate every page.

Rabbi Hayim Donin (Orthodox) author of To Be a Jew Stimulating...thought-provoking...excellent.

Rabbi Paul Kushner (Reform) in The Jewish Week I would suggest that on a single afternoon every rabbi, YMHA director, Jewish college instructor and anyone who has contact with young Jewish adults should set aside throe or four hours and read The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism. They could then spend the next few decades recommending and quoting hem this excellent book.

About the Author

Dennis Prager hosts a nightly talk show about values on KABC Radio in Los Angeles, lectures extensively, and writes and publishes a national newsletter, Ultimate Issues.

Joseph Telushkin, a rabbi and scholar of Jewish history, is currently a Jerusalem Fellow.

Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin are also coauthors of Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (April 21, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671622617
• ISBN-13: 978-0671622619
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,238 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Jewish Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nine Answers To Nine Questions, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism (Paperback)

I am happy to report that it offers nine concise but dense and provocative answers to the nine questions it poses. Certainly people ask more than nine questions about Judaism but the book is clearly most targeted at the assimilated, disillusioned or curious nonpracticing Jew. It is perfect and on target in its speculations of main issues that trouble and perplex nonpracticing Jews (ex. How do you explain the immoral religious Jews). What makes this worthwhile reading for the non Jew is that a large bulk of the material deals with theological and metaphysical issues thoughtfully. It's also a poised argument for the superiority of religious ethics over secular ethics. Interspersed throughout the chapters are many sharp and fascinating sound bites and quotes. The mainstream success of the authors both as writers and public speakers owes to their eloquent style which is persuasive but not absolutist. Their tone is one of sharing knowledge and belief, not forcing knowledge and belief. The authors do a wonderful job of providing a logical exposition on the soundness and consequence of ethical monotheism. This book will appeal to all Jews and to anyone who has an interest in spiritual reasoning.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offers satsfying answers, December 12, 2000

By 

David E. Levine (Peekskill , NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism (Paperback)

Another Amazon reviewer rated this book highly because it is not the typical "same old, same old" description of basic Judaism. I heartily second that opinion. The book, in a highly readible manner, offers some very satisfying answers on some basic and importnat questions. One of these is the most basic question of all religions ... the question of the existence of God. I liked the answer ... that when you look at all around us there has to be a God. But, you might ask, what is God? The very satisfying answer is that if you take a scientific view that everything was created by cause and effect, then God is the original uncaused cause. Excellent!! With analysis like this, this book is of great value to those interested in Judaism as well as those interested in timeless theological questions. This book answers other impoertant questions such as whether Jews can worship Jesus (the answer is no). Important questions are answered without equivocation. I recommend this book

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your run-of-the-mill "Intro to Judaism"!, May 15, 2000

By 

Jennifer M. Macleod "yiddishe supermama" (Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism (Paperback)

Sick of books that try to introduce you to Judaism through "same old, same old" descriptions of holidays, the Sabbath, and kosher food laws?

This book cuts right through all of that and says with gusto, "this is what Jews believe!"

Whether you're a Jew or not, this is one book you want to pick up if you want to understand the Jewish mind a little better. Did you go to Hebrew school as a kid but now you're not sure why you should care? This book will get you caring, whether you agree with Prager or not.

Even those who disagree with him cannot deny that his writing gets Judaism up off the page and brings it to life in a way that few other "Intro" books do.

Prager is an apologist in a religion that offers little by way of heartfelt apologetics, and an oasis of reason in a sea of religious hyperbole.