Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment As a Jew by Choice [Paperback]

Lena Romanoff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Unlike many religions, Judaism has always discouraged converts, and the obstacles facing a prospective convert are manifold. Romanoff, director of the Jewish Converts Network, is in a unique position to provide guidance and direction to those considering conversion. Drawing on her own experiences as a convert, as well as situations encountered through her counseling activities, she has written a book with an appealing immediacy. She explains how "being Jewish" is not only a matter of faith but of acceptance into a closely knit community that shares a historical and cultural heritage. Romanoff does not minimize the persistence potential converts need to attain their goal. She includes chapters on the emotional impact of conversion, integrating into a spouse's family, maintaining relations with the non-Jewish family, raising children, etc. This informative book is indispensable for anyone considering conversion to Judaism.
- Carol R. Glatt, Northeastern Hospital of Philadelphia
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Identity Plus; 2 edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893382001
• ISBN-13: 978-1893382008
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,253,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Positively Must Read For Those Considering Conversion, March 26, 2000

By 

Maria Shinn Bouck - See all my reviews

This review is from: Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment As a Jew by Choice (Paperback)

The pages simply turned by themselves, this book is so compelling. For those converting to Judaism and hungry for the personal stories of other converts, this book is for you. Romanoff begins with her own conversion story, and weaves Jewish philosophy, custom and law through the hundred or so narratives she relates; producing a tapestry of Jewish converts of every flavor while educating the reader. You will find yourself in her book, no doubt. She gently prods her reader to think of possible ramifications of conversion. To her credit, Romanoff doesn't just include the success stories, she sadly relates when conversion didn't work out for one reason or another. One salient undercurrent is her plea for Jews by birth and the Jewish community as a whole to embrace Ruth's legacy, support those who stand with them, set apart only by an accident of birth. The good, the bad and the beautiful of being Jewish by choice is laid out in exquisite detail. The end section contains real resources for anyone converting, or involved with a convert; reading recommendations, helping organizations and a brief Jewish glossary. This book is an open armed welcome and Shalom! to Jews by Choice.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!, April 15, 2003

By 

"jackkellmer" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment As a Jew by Choice (Paperback)

I wish I had found this book a few years earlier! It is a MUST HAVE for anyone considering conversion to Judaism. And it's great fun to read... I loved the stories!

4 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars publisher's comments misleading, December 17, 2001

By 

"whosthatgirl" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Your People, My People: Finding Acceptance and Fulfillment As a Jew by Choice (Paperback)

I would just like to comment that Carol R. Glatt's Editorial Review is grossly misleading. Judaism has not always discouraged converts.