296. Books about Judaism

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Further Reading:

Samuel G. Freedman Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry, 2000.

Journalist Samuel Freedman explores the divisions in Jewish American life at the turn of this century. He predicts an inevitable permanent fracture in many communities.

Harold S. Kushner Overcoming Life’s Disappointments: Learning from Moses How to Cope with Frustration, 2006.

Boston Rabbi Harold Kushner uses the life of Moses to help readers deal with the problems we all must face. The spiritual wisdom shared in his book aims to bolster resilience and encourage wise choices.

Evan Moffic What Every Christian Needs to Know about Passover: What It Means and Why It Matters, 2015.

Popular speaker Rabbi Evan Moffic uses the Hebrew Bible to explain what the Passover observance performed by Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper commemorates. By explaining the true roots of their ceremonies, he helps Christians understand the wisdom of the Old Testament and gain a more complete understanding of their religious heritage.

Jonathan D. Sarna American Judaism: A History, 2004.

Jews have been living in America for over 350 years. Jonathan D. Sarna traces how they got here and how they adapted. American culture has had a massive impact on the Jews who settled here.

Harold M. Schulweis Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey, 2008.

Culture can dull our sense of right and wrong, lulling us into unthinking conformity. The results aren’t good for us, our families, and society. Harold M. Schulweis argues it’s time to dust off the idea of conscience and start applying it to every area of our lives.

Judy Seldin-Cohen Recharging Judaism: How Civic Engagement is Good for Synagogues, Jews, and America, 2000.

Jewish communities can benefit from working together to advocate for social justice. Judy Seldin-Cohen gives examples of the active participation of Jews across America and encourages others to follow their example.

Michal Smart and Barbara Ashkeas Kaddish: Women’s Voices, 2013.

Jews have used the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer for hundreds of years. This anthology includes the writings of 52 authors from around the world to demonstrate how Kaddish affects women’s relationships with God, those who have died, and those who are still living.

For more information on the Further Readings series, see “Further Reading: Start Here.”