First came parents with the good sense to flee Europe in 1940 and the good fortune to reach the land of freedom. Their daughter, Ruth, grew up in the shadow of genocide—but in tandem with the birth of Israel, which remained her lodestar. She learned that although Jewishness is biologically transmitted, democracy is not, and both require intensive, intelligent transmission through education in each and every generation. They need adults with the confidence to teach their importance. Ruth tried to take on that challenge as dangers to freedom mounted and shifted sides on the political spectrum. At the high point of her teaching at Harvard University, she witnessed the unraveling of standards of honesty and truth until the academy she left was no longer the one she had entered.

Describes the special days celebrated by a Jew and the Jewish community.

How does a Norwegian Quaker from Montana end up at the Jewish Outreach Center carrying Torah scrolls? Shelley Kirilenko grew up outside of Missoula in a blue-collar neighborhood called Target Range. Her neighbors were truck drivers and loggers and cowboys, and her bedroom window looked out on a massive horse pasture. Her idea of diversity was seeing the name Olsen spelled with an -on instead of an -en. She had never met anyone who didn't celebrate Christmas and had only a vague notion of what Chanukah and Passover were. The only encounter she had with Judaism in her childhood was eating kosher pickles.Fast-forward twenty years: Shelley moves to Washington DC after her husband snags a job with the government. On a lark, she signs up for a free crash course in Hebrew at a place called the Jewish Outreach Center. Little did she know that she would end up being part of a world she never even knew existed. A world of lighting Shabbat candles and reciting the Shema and getting tipsy on Purim. A world of Torah study and joy and atonement. For one year she would study Hebrew and celebrate Jewish holidays. A cowgirl from Montana among pious Orthodox people. This book is the product of that year.

To Be a Jew deals with the question of the meaning and rationale that the writer Joseph Chayim Brenner attributes to Jewish existence. Many of Brenner's readers assumed that Brenner completely negated Jewish existence and sought to form a new way of life completely disconnected from the traditional Jewish existence. In contrast to this perception, Avi Sagi proves that not only did Brenner not reject the value of the Jewish existence, but the core of his creation was written out of a deep Jewish commitment. Brenner's greatest innovation is found in his new conception of Jewish existence. To be a Jew, according to Brenner, involves the willingness to discover solidarity with actual Jews, to participate in a society in which Jews can live a free life and to fashion their culture as they wish. Sagi presents the idea that Brenner's is not a Utopian, but a realistic, conception of Jewish existence. Thus this unique conception of Jewish existence is founded on an infrastructure of existential thought.

For Jews, Zen students, "JuBus," and other open-minded seekers--a guide to authentic Jewish and Zen practice and how they illuminate, challenge, and enrich each other. Books like the Jew in the Lotus have helped to define the intersection of Jewish and Zen experience and custom. Now, in the first guide to the practice of both Judaism and Zen, Dr. Brenda Shoshanna, a long-time practitioner and student of both, shares her insights with over one million people who identify as "JuBus," as well as Jews, Zen students, non-Jews, and everyone in the interfaith community who seeks understanding, meaning, and a life grounded in these authentic faiths. Each chapter of Jewish Dharma focuses on common issues that introduce disorder to our lives, using personal narrative, parables, quotations from both Jewish and Zen scriptures, anecdotes, and exercises. Specific guidelines and exercises help readers integrate both practices into their everyday lives--and thereby gain deeper understanding and happiness. A long term Zen student and practicing Jew (who cannot let go of either), Dr. Shoshanna explores the ways in which Zen and Judaism practice illuminate and enrich one another. Zen deepens Jewish experience and Jewish practice provides the warmth and relationships that can get lost in the Zen. Zen is based on radical freedom, individuality, being in the present and nonattachment. Judaism comes rooted in relationships, family, love, prayer to a Higher power and the instruction to always remember. A Jewish heart is warm, giving, human, and devoted to family and friends. A Zen eye is fresh, direct, spontaneous and planted in the present moment. Together they are like two wings of a bird, both are needed to be able to fly. The book includes stories, discussion, information and wonderful exercises. It has been highly endorsed by Rabbis, Zen teachers, and others. "I couldn't put it dwn. ...Dr Brenda Shoshanna guides us into the heart of Jewish and Zen practice which enrich one another in ways that enhance....A must read for anyone who wishes to explore Zen meditatin and Jewish life." --Rabbi Marcia Prager, author The Path of Blessng "Brenda Shoshanna's book tells a story of a woman's coming to terms with the deepest part of each tradition - she is creating a unique path. I highly recommend this book to anyone." --Rodger Kamenetz, author The Jew in The Lotus "Dr Shoshanna's vision embrances both traditions with fidelity and beauty." --Robert Kennedy, S.J. Roshi, author Zen Gifts for Christians "Her good heart and wisdom mind shine through in this delightful, interesting, psychologically astute and practical book. Anyone intersted in finding deeper understanding and meaningful puprose in life will be rewarded by reading any one of the pages." --Lama Surya Das, author Awakening the Buddha Within

"Ninety-two percent of American Jews have a sporadic relationship to Judaism at best. When attending synagogue (as infrequently as possible) they feel, as Michael Levin puts it, "bored, shnorred and ignored." What Every Jew Needs to Know About God is addressed to those people, and attempts to provide at least the beginnings of an answer to those questions which most American Jews feel have not been adequately treated by the organized religious Jewish community." "As Levin puts it, "my suspicion is that a lot of Jews wish they had a deeper understanding not of how to celebrate this holiday or how to observe this particular custom - I think a lot of Jews are curious about God." And so Levin in his exposition keeps God at the center of his attention, and, in particular, the individual's need for a relationship with his or her Creator from a Jewish perspective."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

David J. Rudolph raises new questions about Paul's view of the Torah and Jewish identity in this post-supersessionist interpretation of 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Paul's principle of accommodation is considered in light of the diversity of Second Temple Judaism and Jesus' example and rule of accommodation.