Customer Reviews

Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Written by a prominent journalist (Abigail Pogrebin), Stars of David interviews some of America's most visible successful Jews: actors (Dustin Hoffman, Gene Wilder, Richard Dreyfuss, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Shatner and Leonard Nemoy of "Star Trek" fame, Natalie Portman, Jason Alexander, Fran Drescher), directors (Steven Spielberg, Mike Nichols, Aaron Sorkin, Barry Levinson), CEOs, broadcasters (Mike Wallace, Morley Safer, Larry King, Aaron Brown), musicians, politicians (Ed Koch, Barney Frank), lawyers (Ruth Bader Ginsburg), doctors (Dr. Jerome Groopman), designers (Diane Von Furstenberg), and athletes to divine to what degree Judaism is "resonant, crucial, or incidental" for their lives and careers.

A common thread running through the sixty-two narratives is the clear and distinct separation between being Jewish culturally and Jewish in a religious sense. With few exceptions, nearly everyone mentioned letting Jewish ritual (davening, Shabbat, synagogue, keeping kosher) go by the wayside after bar/bat mitzvah (if they did indeed make it that far). All mentioned the inherent pride in being Jewish, the attraction to other Jewish friends and spouses, and embracing the Jewish fundamental ideals of tikkun olam (healing the world) and tzedakah (charity). Some mentioned the Jewish drive as an extra push for success, many mentioned disturbing incidents of anti-Semitism from their childhoods, and many, although they aren't particularly observant themselves or married non-Jewish spouses, want to make sure that their children grow up with the rituals, language, and culture of Judaism.

A fascinating glimpse at some of the most famous names and faces in the media today that yields unexpected moments of tenderness and laughter at the shared pride and cultural legacy of being Jewish, along with anger at all-too-present discrimination. The book is a quick read, in most part because each interview is only two or three pages, but I couldn't put the book down! The author notes in her epilogue that researching the book and conducting the interviews led her to an increased interest in the Torah, helped her to reconnect with her heritage and lead events such as seders, and in a way, I hope the book has the same power for its readers: to simultaneously uplift and to inspire. It certainly did for me.

This book in an incredible read. When it first came out, I hungrily read the book from cover to cover in just a matter of days. I wanted to know how these famous Jews felt about being Jewish. I wanted to know how Jewish they were. I wanted to know how they were raising their children if they had any.

I was surprised at how many prominent Jews felt disconnected from their Jewishness. Many had married non-Jews and even though many were raised religiously, they had abandoned the rituals. While reading this book, I saw that many of these people were merely a reflection of myself. I, too, was raised quite conservatively, attended Hebrew school from third grade until my Bat Mitzvah three days a week including Saturday school, learned to read and write in Hebrew, and observed all Holy Days. The minute I had my Bat Mitzvah, I left Judaism altogether for many years. I married a non-Jew. I did have a Jewish wedding, and had a baby girl, whom is identified as a Jew. However, after reading Leon Wieseltier, his mention of "slacker Jews" really shook me back into reality. He helped me noticed that I must be a slacker Jew because, although I do want my daughter to be accustomed to the Jewish laws and religion, it's my mother who takes her to services while I stay at home. It's my mother who invites us over for Shabbos dinner and says the prayers over bread and wine. I'm doing nothing.

This book has made me question my own Jewish identity; it made me think about how Jewish I want to be; it made me realized how alienated I have become within my own religion. I have decided to take a stance and be a part of my daughter's Jewish upbringing. I do not want to carry the regrets that many of these prominent Jews seem to carry when their own children don't identify themselves as Jews and are having non-Jewish grandchildren. In order to prevent Jewish population from dwindling, I must begin now with myself and pass it on to my daughter.

I believe this book will make many lost Jews question their beliefs and may possibly bring Judaism back into the Jewish community!

This book really is sacred. As opposed to preaching at readers it makes us think about the critical distinction between Judaism: the religion and Judaism: the culture.

The approach enabled a substantial book which is accessible to a wide swath of readers. Even without being particularly religious myself, I was unable to put the book down because it is very well-written. It becomes immediately obvious to readers that time was put into crafting all the very personal essays.

Editor Abigail Pogrebin has written for New York magazine. Her mother Letty Cottin Pogrebin was a founding editor of Ms. Magazine. Pogrebin clearly undertook this book project with the intent to produce something substantial.

A 'fluff piece' approach theoretically could have been undertaken considering her general thesis of exploring the dimensions of a religion-culture. Therefore, I am roundly impressed that Pogrebin instead selected contributors ranging from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Laura Schlessinger and Leonard Nimoy. It undoubtedly produced more work, but also produced the awesome book I have read.

The best anthologies have essays reflecting the book theme---rather than echo the editor's own particular perspective of approaching a theme. This gives anthologies the critical depth needed to avoid being a personal indulgence and instead impact society. While it is easier for the editor to publish their 'friends', readers get bored by an anthology whose essays are clones.

I highly recommend this book for all audiences.

An absorbing, engaging read -- especially if you're in the mood to read in small chunks over time (say, before going to sleep each night!). The individual essays are distinct enough so you could read several without them getting repetitive, but the essays could also stand alone to hold your interest. They provide great insight into some fascinating people -- would make a great gift for folks interested in Jewish identity.

I very much like the approach of the interviewer Avigail Pogrebin. She has a modesty, a real curiosity about people, a willingness to listen and to learn. I found her conclusion about her understanding the importance of deepening her Jewish learning as in a sense, justifying the whole exploration. She was much impressed in her interview with Leon Wieselter( One of the few intellectual heavyweights of the book) who spoke about 'slacker Jews' about those who are so ignorant of their tradition, and will make no effort to learn.
One of the major distinctions which goes through this work is between being Jewish culturally and being Jewish religiously. Most of these people have small connection with Jewish religious practice yet have various cultural and identity connections with Jewishness. Each one has a story of their own in this way.
I found the book a mirror of what is going on with the great share of the American Jewish community, many of whom are proud and confused about their Jewishness, and who have no real Jewish knowledge.

First off I love this book. Anyone who is Jewish or those that want a look into our lives, thoughts and the various troubles we go through will love this book. Some of our brethren we can be proud of, and there are those that are so lapsed or forgetfull of the past, that they feed into the thought process of those that hate us. But, these are their words and thoughts, and its delightful to read the inner most ideas and workings . I highly recommend this highly digestible, entertaining book, you will hate to put it down!

This book of interviews and profiles has a kind of guilty pleasure in it, especially for Jewish readers. Don't we all secretly want to know how various celebrities feel about being Jewish?

What's great about Abigail Pogrebin's book is that she asks the right set of questions to each person. She's kind to her interviewees, but really captures their particular personalities, and so it is a book full of interesting characters. Perhaps because they're talking about such deep personal questions, the interviews feel much more intimate and gemutlich than the usual celebrity interview. Gene Wilder, for example, comes across in an incredibly moving way. Leonard Nimoy, Dr. Spock, seems so real. You see a haimish side to the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg I had never heard of before. Others like the diplomat Richard Holbrooke come off as pretty phony.

But the characters are so different that the book always stays interesting and the questions range all over -- the role of women in Judiasm, the future of Israel, Jewish paranoia, can Judiasm survive as a cultural rather than religious phenomenon, anti-semitism, the legacy of the Holocaust, the emotional particularities of Jewish families, the anti-semitic Jew, the converted Jew, the leading role of Jews in the media and entertainment industries -- a thousand interesting questions, and the answers make you laugh and think and, over and over, nod your head in recognition.

I could not put down this collection of interviews and revelations, and found myself skipping around, hungrily searching for the next poignant, funny, touching story. I am not Jewish, but this hilarious and lovely book is for everyone who wants to look at family and religion, and how (and if) we pass things on to our children. It made me think that these traditions - holidays, rituals, however big or small - are more important than I was aware. Pogrebin is clearly a journalist, and a skilled writer at that, but she lets her subjects - some of the biggest names in showbiz and media - tell their own stories, some of them with startling honesty and humility. This book affected me for a long time.

This book is a pleasure to read. It is well written and the author did a superb job of asking poignant questions which kept all of the subjects very much to the point; offering very interesting and meaningful information about themselves and views of their religion.

This is a fascinating overview of Jewish people of prominance. They speak about their background and their attitudes towards their connection to the Jewish faith. Not all prominant Jews are included, and some of those included are only part Jewish. However, this is a great read and a great reference.