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Title: Choosing a Jewish Life : A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends by Anita Diamant ISBN: 0-8052-1095-4 Publisher: Schocken Books Pub. Date: 24 February, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.59 (32 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A user-friendly guide for Jews-by-Choice
Comment: I am currently in the process of conversion, after being married to a Jewish man for many years. I found this book to have a particularly welcoming tone, and it covers the different steps one goes through, privately as well as publicly, in choosing Judaism. Diamant gives good advice on finding a rabbi to work with, courses of study, as well as questions that might be asked by the Bet Din (a council that interviews you and decides whether you are ready to convert.) These questions themselves formed the basis of discussions with my husband, and a lot of journal writing as I thought about the issues she raised.
She gives a good description of the visit to the mikvah which does not diminish the mystery of what goes on spiritually, but does take away any anxiety I might have felt about what going to the mikvah entails.
Diamant also gives some historical perspective on conversion during different time periods, discusses issues regarding family, holidays, and becoming part of the Jewish community.
I read the book through once quickly, and had a good feeling from it. Then, after I met with the rabbi, I found myself re-reading sections pertinent to where I am in the process. I have a feeling I will be turning to the book many times as I go through this important change in my life.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Great Book to Answer Your Questions!
Comment: I have had a building interest in Judaism for more than 5 years now and have been contemplating conversion for more than a year. I agree with one reviewer (she encountered certain individuals that "discouraged her" and therefore she decided to study Orthodoxy) in that many religious or Orthodox Jews still do not acknowledge converts nor do they encourage conversion but as the book mentions, the first Jews, Abraham and Sarah were converts.
To convert because you happen to be engaged to a Jew is not a reason to convert and I think because that situation is becoming more and more common the book discusses conversion within a relationship or family as well as a single person converting for their own reasons.
As a single woman contemplating conversion I found myself questioning a lot of different things and I didn't know who or what to turn to. I met with a Conservative Rabbi that was not necessarily encouraging but was open to helping me the best way that he could. I don't know if it was because he was an Assistant Rabbi or because he wasn't the right Rabbi for me but I chose to discontinue meeting with him and continued my search for "my" Rabbi as the book mentions. I think the Rabbi you choose makes a huge difference in that he/she will be your guide and teacher on your journey through the conversion process.
This book has answered so many of my questions that I thought no one could answer. I thought I was the only one that was concerned with whether Israel would ever feel like a "homeland" to me or why some Jews I spoke with were so open and welcoming while others were close-minded and discouraging. This book has been a huge help to me and if you are contemplating Judaism, this is a great start. It's important to know that while the book won't answer all of a convert's questions (some questions will only be answered by you and your own feelings) it will answer many and be a great start.
Rating: 4
Summary: Diamant's Guide for the Curious and Perplexed Jewish Convert
Comment: For some people, to change one's religious faith is not an easy task. For others, their decision is based on pragmatic reasons or from a strong internal conviction and hence their choice is clearer - less cluttered with doubts and fears. In her book, "Choosing A Jewish Life", Anita Diamant addresses the issues involved in conversion and she writes her book to guide both the perplexed and those who have already made their decision.
Diamant's intention on writing this book was to provide an approachable and practical guide to those who are in the process of converting to the Jewish faith. At the beginning of each section, there is a list of questions which resemble the FAQ's (frequently asked questions) found in so many web sites. She then proceeds to answer these questions and her compassion and love of the religion shines in her answers. Diamant rarely has one answer for each question. Rather she formulates a reply with the consideration of individuals who have different needs and philosophies. For instance, in the chapter about informing one's parents about converting, she writes, "Every family is different. In some households, intimate conversations are completely taboo and there may be little or no discussion of your decision. There are families where conversion becomes the focus of unrelated and long-standing family issues. And sometimes converts confront the painful fact that members of their immediate family harbor anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews and Judaism."
Many rabbis and advanced Jewish scholars would undoubtedly be annoyed with the brief coverage of some of the Jewish rituals and mitzvoth in this book. They many even have an issue with the proselyting tone coming from Diamant's gentle encouragement. Clearly "Choosing A Jewish Life" was written for the uninitiated and "beginners" of the Jewish faith and should not be taken as the all encompassing text for learning about Jewish life. It does however cover certain conversion issues in detail such as the pain of leaving Christian festivities, what happens during the conversion rituals of bet din and the mikvah, the conversion of children, and several concrete descriptions of how people celebrated their conversion with the temple community or just family and friends. The covenant of circumcision (B'rit Milah) is also covered in depth from a historical view point to the Hatafat Dam B'rit, the religious ritual for converts who are not circumcised.
On a personal note, I found "Choosing A Jewish Life" to be an easy read but lacking in the comprehensive discussion of the halakhah and contemporary reform Jewish practices found in the other books recommended by our rabbi. This book is a good place to start for the curious and those beginning on the path to conversion but should not be taken as the exclusive handbook for Jewish conversion. As to acknowledge this point, in the appendices Diamant provides a practical resource guide to the different Jewish movements and a short bibliography for converts and the process of conversion.
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Title: Living a Jewish Life : Jewish Traditions, Customs and Values for Today's Families by Anita Diamant ISBN: 0062734431 Publisher: HarperResource Pub. Date: 03 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History by Joseph Telushkin ISBN: 0688085067 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 26 April, 1991 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Conversion to Judaism: A Guidebook by Lawrence J. Epstein ISBN: 1568211287 Publisher: Jason Aronson Pub. Date: July, 1994 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Embracing the Covenant: Converts to Judaism Talk About Why & How by Allan L. Berkowitz, Patti Moskovitz ISBN: 1879045508 Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub Pub. Date: July, 1996 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Embracing Judaism by Simcha Kling, Carl M. Perkins, Rachel Cowan ISBN: 0916219151 Publisher: The Rabbinical Assembly Pub. Date: 30 December, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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