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Being Jewish (H) Ari L. Goldman
September 2000
Hardcover, 288 pp.
ISBN-10: 0-684-82389-6 / ISBN-13: 978-0-684-82389-8
Increasing numbers of Jews are returning to their
religious roots in a search for meaning, eager to
explore a heritage that is deeply embedded in
history and at the same time rapidly changing. But
what is Judaism today? And what does it mean --
culturally, spiritually, and ritually -- to be
Jewish in the twenty-first century?
In Being Jewish, Ari L. Goldman offers eloquent,
thoughtful answers to these questions through an
absorbing exploration of modern Judaism. A
bestselling author and widely respected chronicler
of Jewish life, Goldman vividly contrasts the
historical meaning of Judaism's heritage with the
astonishing and multiform character of the religion
today. The result will be a revelation for those
already involved with Judaism, and a fascinating
introduction for those whose interests are newly
minted or rekindled.
Taking the reader through the process of discovery
-- or rediscovery -- Being Jewish is divided into
three sections, each focusing on one of the cycles
of human life. Beginning with the traditions
associated with the life cycle -- birth, marriage,
death -- Goldman moves on to describe the rituals
that mark the course of the Jewish year, starting
with Rosh Hashanah. Finally, he reflects on the
character of the Jewish day, exploring the role of
prayer, dietary laws, and ethical behavior. All of
these moments, from a minute to a lifetime, take on
vibrant meaning in his thoughtful picture.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Being Jewish
is Goldman's discussion of the extraordinary
variations in how Jews live their Judaism today. He
finds a wide variety of practices, between Judaism's
branches and within them. For example, a family on
Long Island keeps a unique version of kosher: they
have three sets of dishes and utensils -- one for
meat, one for milk, and one for nonkosher Chinese
takeout. While traditional Judaism frowns on such
quirky modes of observance, Goldman elevates them.
Jews today, he concludes, are "reaching for the
holy" in unexpected and innovative ways.
 These dramatically different ideas about how a
Jewish life may be lived suggest how difficult it
can be for today's reader to find an objective
account of Judaism. And it is precisely Goldman's
reporter's eye that sets this book apart. Informed
by tradition without embracing any one ideology,
this award-winning journalist's probing book moves
across the boundaries of modern Judaism to
demonstrate how it is lived. While other efforts to
tackle these themes are written from the perspective
of a particular religious tradition, Being Jewish is
the work of a sophisticated observer who describes
rather than proscribes. By weaving a complex and
compelling commentary on Judaism, this inspiring
volume encourages us to find our own place within
the tradition and leads us into a deeper
understanding not just of the details of the
religion but, ultimately, of what it means to be
Jewish.
Ari L. Goldman is a
professor of journalism at the Columbia University
Graduate School of Journalism and the author of
three books, including the best-selling The Search
for God at Harvard.
Professor Goldman came to Columbia in 1993 after
spending 20 years at the New York Times, most of it
as a religion writer. At Columbia, Professor Goldman
is the director of the Scripps Howard Program in
Religion, Journalism and the Spiritual Life.
In addition to the New York Times, his articles have
appeared in the Washington Post, Columbia Journalism
Review, the Forward, the New York Jewish Week, the
Jerusalem Post and the New York Daily News. |
