40 Things You Can Do to Save the Jewish People [Hardcover]

Joel Lurie Grishaver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1995

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joel Lurie Grishaver is a teacher of Jewish texts to adults and teenagers, a writer, a cartoonist, and a storyteller. He has degrees from Boston University and the University of Chicago and has done extensive course work at the Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California. His more than fifty published books include Learning Torah, Shema is For Real, And You Shall Be a Blessing, and The Bonding of Isaac: Stories and Essays About Gender and Spirituality. Joel is the creative chairperson of both Torah Aura Productions and Alef Design Group, as well as the creator and co-editor of five weekly electronic journals: Learn Torah With...A Facsimile Dialogue on the Weekly Torah Portion, Bim Bam, C. Ha, Shabbas.doc, and The Torah Aura Bulletin Board. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Joel's Laws of Jewish Survival (abridged) Joel's First Law: Every year of Jewish education which takes place after bar or bar mitzvah is worth three or more years of anything which takes place earlier.

Joel's Second Law: The best way of making a child fulfill a Jewish obligations is by preempting the need to talk about it-to establish so clear an expectation that it isn't even worth bringing up.

Joel's Third Law: The she-he-heyanu brakhah is Judaism's way of saving the "Kodak moments" in our hearts. Every time you want a picture to save the moment, whether or not you snap the shutter, say this brakhah and add it to the album of your heart.

Joel's Fourth Law: Said in the name of Ira Smith: Even when you feel that you can't be shomer(et) mitzvot (Jewish actions), always be zokher (et) mitzvot, one who remembers (and teaches) that those mitzvot exist.Joel's Fifth Law: Do not let your Jewish rituals become Marrano customs. Make sure they are not hidden and make sure they have meaning.

Joel's Sixth Law: It is always better to know that you are compromising an important Jewish practice because at the moment you "need" to do something else, than to pretend that the Jewish tradition consists only of things that you want to do.

Joel's Seventh Law: Never do Jewish things for your children's sake. In the end, this will only serve to make Judaism childish and something all of you outgrow (years before dating and marriage come along). Rather, do Jewish things for yourself and then find a way to involve your kids.

Joel's Eighth Law: When you have to make choices, the Jewish tradition must never lose. It can compromise, but it must never lose.

Joel's Ninth Law: Give yourself permission to simplify your Jewish practice when you absolutely need to (trim "shell" not "spark"), but always try to make it taste authentic when you do.

Joel's Tenth Law: Always score the easy mitzvah points. Be smart-at least rack up your Jewish continuity points on all the Jewish stuff which is inherently fun to do. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.; 1st Jason Aronson Inc. ed edition (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568213891
• ISBN-13: 978-1568213897
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,617,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Metza Metza, January 19, 2009

By 

N. Bilmes "bookaholic" (Vernon, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 40 Things You Can Do to Save the Jewish People (Paperback)

This is basically a parenting book designed for Jewish parents who don't want to be too Jewish, but just want a little Judaism in their life and a way to pass on the spirit of the religion to their offspring. There are some good ideas, and some interesting thoughts, but the overall impression is not one of someone who knows what he is talking about. There's a good reason for that: the author himself is not a parent (or at least wasn't when the book was written), and uses his friends' ideas, many of which contradict each other. It is pretty common for a chapter to include advice like this: "You could try doing this...But if that doesn't work you should try doing it the opposite way and seeing if that works."

For a self-published parenting book written by someone who isn't a parent the book is well-done.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written&very meaningful, December 24, 1999

By 

Aaron (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 40 Things You Can Do to Save the Jewish People (Paperback)

This book is an excellent attempt to get people to return to Judiasm. Has many excellent step-by-step ideas. The book is well written&includes alot of interesting stories. Follow this book& you will find Judiasm VERY meaningful as do I.