Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life - Softcover

Edward Feinstein

Softcover

ISBN 10: 158023139X ISBN 13: 9781580231398

Publisher: Jewish Lights, 2003

Synopsis

What your rabbi probably has never told you, but could―if you'd only ask. Finalist, National Jewish Book Award "Every day I wonder if God is real, if the Torah is true. Every day I wonder why I’m a Jew. But that’s part of being Jewish. In the Torah, we’re called Yisrael―the ones who wrestle with God. Wrestling, asking, wondering, searching is just what God wants us to do! God loves good questions. Now tell me, what are your questions?" ―from chapter 1 In Judaism we’re allowed to ask questions. We are invited to ask them. But for young people, it often feels as if no one is willing to take tough questions about religion, ourselves, and the world seriously. Tough Questions Jews Ask turns that all around. With honesty, humor, and respect, Rabbi Edward Feinstein tackles topics as diverse as: Why does God let terrible things happen? What is God anyway? If I pray for something, will I get it? What’s the meaning of life? Is that a dumb question? Why does religion need so many rules? Why be Jewish? With insight and wisdom―and without pretending to have all the answers―Rabbi Feinstein encourages young people to make sense of the Jewish tradition by wrestling with what we don’t understand.

About this title

About the Author:

Rabbi Edward Feinstein is senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. He is an instructor in the Ziegler Rabbinical School of American Jewish University and the Wexner Heritage Program. He is the author of Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life (Jewish Lights) and Capturing the Moon; and the editor of Jews and Judaism in the 21st Century: Human Responsibilities, the Presence of God, and the Future of the Covenant (Jewish Lights). He contributed to May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism―Yizkor; Who by Fire, Who by Water―Un'taneh Tokef and We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism―Ashamnu and Al Chet (all Jewish Lights).

From Publishers Weekly:

Teenagers and questions go hand in hand, except perhaps when it comes to religion. Feinstein encourages young people to verbalize their doubts about God, faith and Jewish life, stating that he believes "God loves good questions." Structured as questions posed by different students in a classroom, the 18 chapters include discussions about God; Shabbat; intermarriage; prayer; bar mitzvah; Israel; Christianity; anti-Semitism; Jewish denominations; the meaning of life; good and evil; the concept of an afterlife; and the Messiah. While the format may be a bit contrived, it effectively expresses the questions young people have. Feinstein phrases his questions and answers in terms kids can readily understand: "Is Any of That Stuff in the Bible True?" or "No Cheeseburgers? No Going to the Mall on Saturday? Why Does Religion Need So Many Rules?" The rules, he suggests, are one way of requiring a commitment, like going to the gym on a continual basis: "If I really wanted results, I needed to be serious." He equates being religious with being aware of life's amazing gifts. "The opposite of being religious," he writes, "is being bored." Feeling close to God involves doing godly actions, he stresses. Theology comes alive through Feinstein's cogent analogies and non-dogmatic, down-to-earth style. This book should appeal to students and adults of all denominations who are wrestling with the age-old challenges of faith.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Jewish Lights
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 158023139X
• ISBN 13: 9781580231398
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160