An increasing number of people regard being Jewish as a lifestyle choice rather than an unchangeable fact.Jewish identity no longer survives automatically. To stay Jewish today, each of us needs to find our own reasons why our heritage is important, inspirational, and relevant to our lives. Bestselling author Doron Kornbluth travels to over 50 cities a year to speak about Jewish identity. "Why Be Jewish" is touching, thought provoking, meaningful and funny. See which perspectives appeal most to you, and gain clarity and confidence in why you're Jewish.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Doron Kornbluth offers his readers twenty easy to read, sometimes humorous short chapters, including fiction, which show some good aspects of Judaism. Jews of all denominations will appreciate the book, which can be read and enjoyed by teens as well as older folk. In his first tale, "Sundays with Joey," for example, he tells about a Church-going non-Jew who advises a young Jewish boy: "Religion is like a garden. It needs tending. If you tend your garden, put time and care into it, it will be there for you. It will give you beautiful plants and flowers. You'll feel good about it and be proud of it, as you should be."
In "Chain of Tradition," he gives the traditional chain of tradition of the Torah from Moses to his father to him. In "The Dalai Lama," he tells the tale of an irreligious Jew who is searching for meaning, spends four years in India, including two in the camp of the Dalai Lama. He approaches the Dalai Lama only at the end of the four years with a question. The answer he receives makes him into a better Jew. "May God Bless You, Eric Jones," is a heart-warming story of a boy whose family treated his Christian friend properly and how his friend and his friend's family treated him during a family Christmas meal. "Love, Jewish Style" is a tale of a religious male who marries a non-observant woman and the affect Judaism had on the wife. "Dear Dairy," to cite a final example, is about the difficulties that a non-observant mother had in explaining to her son why Jews do not observe Christian holidays and believe in the divinity of Jesus.
Kornbluth includes a chapter containing Jewish jokes. He concludes his book with three appendices. One points out that while Jews currently make up only 0.21 percent of the world's population, their contribution to the world is "an incredible achievement and without any historic parallel." For example, there were 49 Jews out of 189 Nobel Prize Winners in medicine, 27 out of 150 in chemistry, 23 out of 61 in economics, 44 out of 176 in physics, 12 out of 104 in literature, and 9 out of 95 in world peace.
In "Chain of Tradition," he gives the traditional chain of tradition of the Torah from Moses to his father to him. In "The Dalai Lama," he tells the tale of an irreligious Jew who is searching for meaning, spends four years in India, including two in the camp of the Dalai Lama. He approaches the Dalai Lama only at the end of the four years with a question. The answer he receives makes him into a better Jew. "May God Bless You, Eric Jones," is a heart-warming story of a boy whose family treated his Christian friend properly and how his friend and his friend's family treated him during a family Christmas meal. "Love, Jewish Style" is a tale of a religious male who marries a non-observant woman and the affect Judaism had on the wife. "Dear Dairy," to cite a final example, is about the difficulties that a non-observant mother had in explaining to her son why Jews do not observe Christian holidays and believe in the divinity of Jesus.
Kornbluth includes a chapter containing Jewish jokes. He concludes his book with three appendices. One points out that while Jews currently make up only 0.21 percent of the world's population, their contribution to the world is "an incredible achievement and without any historic parallel." For example, there were 49 Jews out of 189 Nobel Prize Winners in medicine, 27 out of 150 in chemistry, 23 out of 61 in economics, 44 out of 176 in physics, 12 out of 104 in literature, and 9 out of 95 in world peace.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I heard him speak to a federation youth group and he was amazing. the book is even better. over twenty separate pieces from all different perspectives. There is talk of what being Jewish gives different people in different times of their lives. He writes about visiting Mandela's prison cell and hearing MLK Jr - and what Jews can learn from them. He writes about Tolstoy's view of being Jewish, and the Dalai Lama's. He has a chapter on God. And Nobel prizes. Book is personal, inspirational, deep, and a few of the piece are hilarious. highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is well- intentioned. The author wishes to inspire young Jews to remain Jewish, and in fact deepen in their Jewish committment. He speaks on this subject frequently and has done much work on it. His method in this book is telling stories from different perspectives each of which is aimed to illuminate an aspect of being Jewish. The first story which tells of a teenage Jewish boy's friendship with the Christian garage-owner who guides him not only professionally but in being a decent human being is the best one in the book. Many of the stories relate to the theme of Jews learning from others such as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Leo Tolstoy how to become better Jews. There is also a moving confession in which the author says despite all the reasons his deepest reason and real reason for remaining Jewish is somehow mysterious to him.
I especially enjoyed passages quoted from Martin Luther King, Whitman, Tolstoy to illustrate various aspects of what it is to be a good Jew and a decent human being.Nonetheless the book is in my feeling not focused enough. And it ignores many sides of Jewishness which I believe are important.
I especially enjoyed passages quoted from Martin Luther King, Whitman, Tolstoy to illustrate various aspects of what it is to be a good Jew and a decent human being.Nonetheless the book is in my feeling not focused enough. And it ignores many sides of Jewishness which I believe are important.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Inspiring Chicken Soup for the Soul
Touching and inspiring. I thought the book was going to be a heavier read, and I had pushed off reading it. When I decided to start reading I was hooked! Read more
Published 6 months ago by chaya
Fantastic Book!
Why Be Jewish? by Doron Kornbluth is a fantastic, enlightening book. I read the entire thing in one day and was extremely inspired. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rayzel
A Must Read For Jews of All Backgrounds
I found Doron's newest book (as well as Doron himself) inspirational. It will undoubtedly help many answer that all important question, Why do I want to be Jewish? Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mike Wiesner
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