Ordained to Be a Jew: A Catholic Priest's Conversion to Judaism (Hardcover)

by John David Scalamonti (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Scalamonti, a lecturer and writer, offers an account of his spiritual odyssey as a young American Catholic priest who, having lost faith in his birth religion, becomes an Orthodox Jew. Scalamonti candidly describes his seminary training, eventual ordination, and growing disillusionment with the theology, teachings, and practices of his church. This ultimately leads to a loss of faith and a departure from the priesthood. Once out in the secular world, he is introduced to Orthodox Judaism through an Orthodox Jewish woman and her family, and he converts after much soul-searching. While definitely not a diatribe against Catholicism, this is a revealing memoir of an individual who finds spiritual truth not in his ancestral religion but in the parent faith from which it sprang. This moving ac count will interest Jew and gentile alike.
- Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Ktav Publishing House (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881254126
• ISBN-13: 978-0881254129
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #701,630 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book of The Highest Order, January 21, 2000

By	Aaron (USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent book. Scalamonti goes through a complete transformation from a very religious Catholic who wants (and succeeds) in becoming a Catholic Priest to his questioning of everything in the priesthood, to his conversion and immersion into Judaism. I hear alot of people talking about how glad they are to be "Jewish" but they do not really fulfill what being Jewish entails. Scalamonti describes in beautiful detail REAL Judaism. Not about hearts and stomachs, he describes many of the wonderful rituals behind Judaism. I think that he describes his dissasistifaction with Christianity in a respectable way (and after all, he DID get the FULL experience). This book is a very excellent read&is widely recommended not only to people interested in converting to Judaism, but Jews who want to have more meaning out of their life as well.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of interest to those thinking of converting to Judaism, October 12, 1998

By A Customer

John Scalamonti tells of his journey from training to be a Catholic priest to becoming an Othodox Jew.The book is divided equally between his training to become a priest and his eventual departure from the priesthood at which time he loses all support from the church and starts working in restaurants. It is here that he meets the woman who eventually becomes his wife. She is an observant, Orthodox Jew.

John Scalamonti converts to Orthodox Judaism and relates how difficult it is as well as how fulfilling it is. He is in many cases not accepted by Jews or Christians. He mentions how a new Christian would be welcomed with open arms by other Christians while his conversion to Judaism was a quiet affair, not attended by others.

I believe that Jews and those interested in converting to Judaism would be interested in this book because of the Jewish teachings it presents, and the encouragement given to born Jews to become more involved in their Jewish faith which John loves so much. Christians might not be as interested in the book,because after all, John did convert to Judaism.

In a review by John Scalamonti above, he mentions that he is available for talks, but no e-mail address is given. Perhaps he could add that for folks who might like to contact him.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Before making a decision to convert, I read this book, May 26, 2001

By	Rebecca P. Martin (Vail area Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book through a Jewish website on conversion. I ordered it from Amazon, and read it in a day! I was amazed at how similar our spiritual journeys were, even though I was not Catholic. His courage to follow his own spiritual path inspired me to step out in faith and to convert. His book details the conflict with his family which usually (and inevitably) follows conversion.

John David Scalamonte is truly an inspiration and a pioneer to those of us searching for meaning and truth in a world of man-made religions. His experiences will inspire anyone seeking to follow his own spiritual path.