Reddit reviews Gateway to Judaism: The What, How, And Why of Jewish Life
We found 9 Reddit comments about Gateway to Judaism: The What, How, And Why of Jewish Life. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
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I was in a very similar situation as you! I found this book to be super helpful for filling in the gaps in my knowledge.
Simpletoremember.com is also amazing. Highly recommended speakers: Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb & Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen.
There are also retreats and such that help a lot with this stuff, but it can depend on where you're located. I can give you suggestions if you let me know where in the world you are. (Feel free to PM.)
As other commenters have already pointed out, if your mother is a Jew than you are a Jew as well (and, as you are a woman, so will be your children), regardless of your religious affiliation.
If you wish to embrace Judaism, your first priority has to be to educate yourself as much as possible about Judaism. Unfortunately, this is not all that easy to do. The bulk of the popular material available - both in print and online - is unreliable, superficial, or not really geared towards genuine newcomers.
There are a few good books available for beginners. (Most of the popular books that will come up on Amazon or that you will find on the Judaica shelf at your local Barnes & Noble are not reliable.) One popular book that I know to be reliable is Gateway to Judaism: The What, How, and Why of Jewish Life by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. I would also recommend a few of the books by the later Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, specifically the two volumes of the Aryeh Kaplan Anthology and the Aryeh Kaplan Reader. The Anthology is a collection of short works written specifically for beginning students, and the Reader contains a number of similar pamphlet type essays written for such an audience.
However, the most important part of educating yourself about Judaism is to get a knowledgeable personal mentor. You might want to check out these two organizations:
Torah Mates: www.torahmates.org
Partners in Torah: www.partnersintorah.org
Both of these organizations provide a free mentoring service. They will match you up with a knowledgeable personal teacher who will study with you over the phone at your convenience (usually people study for about half an hour each week). They will also provide you with whatever book you chose to study with your partner.
I currently volunteer for Torah Mates and I used to volunteer for Partners in Torah as well (several years ago) and I can vouch for the quality work these organizations do. If you would like any specific assistance in this area, please feel free to PM me.
> Any recommended reading or studying I could do before I go on with my decision??
http://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Judaism-What-Jewish-Life/dp/1422600300
This is a very good primer on the very basics of Judaism. It is an intro to all the major holidays, the basic Jewish beliefs, and some of the day to day laws that a Jew must be mindful of.
Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1422600300
On Amazon
I would recommend Gateway to Judaism by Mordechai Becher.
see Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. specifically made for people like you https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Judaism-What-Jewish-Life/dp/1422600300 a good foundation book is also "Duties of the Heart" by Rabeinu Bachya. there's an online translation for free.
Gateway to Judasim x10000000 - https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Judaism-What-Jewish-Life/dp/1422600300
I didn't like Jewish Literacy, I recommend 'Gateway to Judaism'. Much less to read, much more accessible and easier to understand actual jewish ritual and life cycle.