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Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book for Understanding the Nuances of Judaism
Review: As a Conservative (though mostly non-practicing) Jew, I have been reading many books on the subject of G-d...actually, what the Jewish view of G-d really is. This book explains it, and much more. It helped me understand why we don't believe that Jesus is the son of G-d, and why we don't. This book is a great resource for the Gentile reader who is intrigued and curious about the Jewish religion. But it is especially useful to the Jew who either a)doesn't understand the role Jews played in History, or b)the Jew that has specific questions about the religion that were never really answered fully by any other book. This book answers questions regarding the many Jewish holidays, why we don't believe that Jesus is the son of G-d, why do bad things happen to good people (was G-d really there for us during the Holocaust?), and definitions and meanings of hundreds of Jewish items and customs that many of us use and follow, but never really understood the deeper meaning behind them. This is my all-time favorite resource for Jewish tradition and thought!
Rating:
Summary: Great for conversion.
Review: I am converting to Judaism, and my Rabbi recommended this book, among many others. I found the streamline narrative and thought provoking essays to be informative and inspiring.
This is a wonderful introduction to Judaism's beliefs and practices. It gives a detailed yet easy to read summary of what it means to be Jewish. But, you can find an easy to read summary of what it means to be Jewish in a lot of books, and on even more websites. What makes this book unique is the beautifully written essays ranging on issues ranging from prayer to the Holocaust.
The tone of the book is welcoming. This was important to me as I am converting to Judaism. Rabbi Dosick skillfully wrote this book to make: the Jew who is being drawn to the faith of their ancestors, the proselyte who has been drawn to Judaism through their own personal journey or through a maritial relationship, and the Christian who is interested in its mother faith feel welcome. This is no small accomplishment.
This is a textbook without the boring text. It is an instruction manual with easy to read directions. You can tell Rabbi Dosick loves his faith as it shines through every paragraph.
A wonderful book that should be included in every Jewish library.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best resources on Judaism.
Review: If you are searching for a book on the complete meaning and traditions of basic Judaism, look no further. This book is written in a straightforward, ever-so-slightly scholarly manner that is appropriate to the subject matter. Rather than just describing different events in the history and life cycle of the Jewish people, Rabbi Wayne Dosick tells stories that help to illuminate the subtle meanings behind the events. He includes definitions to all Hebrew words (along with their Hebrew spelling) that he introduces and has each chapter broken down into easy to understand sections representing a single theme. Chapters include: Jewish beliefs, The Jewish People, Jewish Literature, Jewish Days and Holidays, Jewish Worship, The Jewish Life Cycle, and the Jewish Land. This is a compendium of Jewish thought that encompasses everything you absolutely need to know. Another great book that is a wealth of Judaic information is "Essential Judaism" by George Robinson.
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Summary: Understanding and pride without preaching
Review: This book, with elegance and simplicity seeks to explains what it means to be Jewish; the beliefs, people, and sacred texts starting with the Torah. Despite wanderings and settlements from Spain, Eastern Europe, and Ethiopia, and Exiles and destructions of the Temple, they have remained "The Chosen People". This book helped me realize the uniqueness of this last century on the Jews, from the Holocaust to the importance of the creation of Israel. The essays that Rabbi Dosick sprinkled through the book, offer a glimpse of a way of thinking about ethics, justice, and law. He presents his personal views, for what they are, and recognizes other views. The description of Jewish Holiday and Worship, describe the rituals and worship that historically permeate the Jewish life. Growing up Christian, I felt some loss that we had discarded these remembrances of God from our daily life. His own essay on "Law and Spirit" recognizes some of the differences in spirit between Christianity and Judaism. It also helped me appreciate some of the Jewish observances, that as an outsider seem unusual.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding and pride without preaching
Review: This book, with elegance and simplicity seeks to explains what it means to be Jewish; the beliefs, people, and sacred texts starting with the Torah. Despite wanderings and settlements from Spain, Eastern Europe, and Ethiopia, and Exiles and destructions of the Temple, they have remained "The Chosen People". This book helped me realize the uniqueness of this last century on the Jews, from the Holocaust to the importance of the creation of Israel. The essays that Rabbi Dosick sprinkled through the book, offer a glimpse of a way of thinking about ethics, justice, and law. He presents his personal views, for what they are, and recognizes other views. The description of Jewish Holiday and Worship, describe the rituals and worship that historically permeate the Jewish life. Growing up Christian, I felt some loss that we had discarded these remembrances of God from our daily life. His own essay on "Law and Spirit" recognizes some of the differences in spirit between Christianity and Judaism. It also helped me appreciate some of the Jewish observances, that as an outsider seem unusual.
Rating:
Summary: Clear, informative, insightful
Review: This is a well-written introduction to Judaism, from my point of view as a non-Jew interested in becoming more religious. It presents a great deal of information in a straightforward fashion. It never annoys you with gimmicks like icons, cute headings, or a book-for-dummies writing style. Even so, it is clearly written, not at all dry. Living Judaism has become a valued reference since I first read it completely a year ago. As I learn more about Judaism from attending services and Torah study, I pick up Living Judaism almost every month for answers to specific questions. It has never failed me. The index is good too. I'm amazed at how good this book is and how much information it has in only 386 pages. I recommend this book above all others for an introduction to Judaism. I've read others. Some were far too big and encyclopedic (like Telushkin's Jewish Literacy). Others were so chockful of gimmicks that they were annoying to read.
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