(Part 2) Top products from r/Judaism

As a person who converted through the Reform movement, I highly suggest that you take a holistic approach to your initial study of Judaism. Getting a better idea of where other movements are coming from will not only give you a better grounding in Judaism as a whole, but it will foster understanding between movements and also put you in a better position to decide which movement works best for you.

Personally, even though I converted Reform, I don't actually identify strongly as a Reform Jew, because it's a bit too free form for me (in particular, I became very frustrated when the response to any question I had about observance essentially boiled down to 'do whatever makes you feel good'). That said, like you, I don't identify completely with the theology or some of the practices of Orthodoxy (separation of men and women being one of them), so I wouldn't make a good Orthodox Jew even though I'm more observant than, oh, 90% of Reform Jews.

Take the advice of other people in this thread and try out several different synagogues and Jewish events in your area, if possible. And read a lot on Judaism from different perspectives. Even if you strongly identify with the Reform movement (which is totally fine--I am not knocking the movement, it just isn't 100% for me), it will still be helpful to understand other levels of observance.

Some books I suggest you check out:

• Basic Judaism by Milton Steinberg -- This book gives a brief and easy-to-read overview of the basics of both traditional (Orthodox) and liberal Judaism. VERY good place to start your studies.
  
• Choosing a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant is a good overview of the conversion process and some of the issues coverts face. Been a while since I read this, but it's definitely not from an Orthodox perspective--I think it strives to be more neutral as far as denomination goes.
  
• I also highly recommend To Pray as a Jew by Hayim Halevy Donin. This is an introduction to the synagogue service and its prayers. Very informative book. It is written from an Orthodox perspective, and will be easier to follow once you are further along in your studies, I think, but it's a wonderful resource.
  
  Particularly because you mentioned that you are a feminist, I thought you might also be interested in:
  
  
• How to run a Traditional Jewish Household by Blu Greenberg. This book is written from a Modern Orthodox perspective by a well-known Orthodox feminist. It gives a lot of background and information about Orthodox customs that aren't as well-known to more liberal Jews (like the concept of an eruv, for example). Though I don't identify as an Orthodox Jew myself, I found this book fascinating and it really helped me solidify my own practice and feelings about traditional Judaism.
  
• Life on the Fringes: A Feminist Journey Toward Traditional Rabbinic Ordination by Haviva Ner-David is an account of Ner-David's journey to becoming one of the first women granted the equivalent of Orthodox semicha (ordination) in Israel. I found it very eye-opening. It is definitely possible to be a feminist and be traditional. I don't agree with everything she says/does, but this is another great book to give you a perspective on how and why Orthodox Jews do things the way they do.
  
  Welcome to the path of Jewish study. If you ever have any other specific questions about converting Reform or need support in your studies or your journey, please feel free to PM me any time.

This is a tough one. I have to admit, I didn't think you would be so seriously interested (and it's a good thing) :) I don't know much about you, and because it's an important thing, I would hate to point you in a wrong direction (that could put you off or set you along an incorrect path). Of course, at the end of the day, you will have to decide for yourself what suits you.

I don't even live in the US, so a lot of this is guesswork and extrapolation, but you can take it as a framework and build around it.

First prize is finding someone both learned and understanding of you, who can guide you along the path that will be best for you. This combination is extremely difficult to find, and unless someone here knows of someone in your area, it's a quest you'll have to undertake yourself.

But it's somewhat easier to find less personalised programs. Many synagogues have free or nominal educational programs on a regular basis. If you can find a Chabad House, they probably have it (and in fact, they might well have introductory Kabbalah courses as well which I do not endorse at all, especially if they're not accompanied by other programs).

Other synagogues and organisations have similar programs. To be blunt, because the stakes are high, but I would limit this to Orthodox programs, because I believe that it's important to at least start with a traditional understanding, even if you want to move away from it later on. Also, it is best to start with earlier sources to begin with.

I think I have heard good things about both TorahMates and Partners In Torah, both of which will help you learn long-distance if you can not find an in-person teacher at a convenient time.

The simplest place to start is with /r/Judaism's Pirkei Avot learning session on Sunday evenings.

Hopefully people here can give other advice, and if you can tell us a bit about yourself, there might be some more specific advice.

While learning from books is not ideal, it is valuable if you also have a more personal learning time, and there are some resources in the sidebar to that end (I highly recommend Pirkei Avot/Ethics of the Fathers, for example). I would also recommend The Nineteen Letters for a really solid foundation in Jewish worldview and thought.

I hope we're not overwhelming you with information, cautions, or sources to look at. One very important piece of advice that must underlie all of this is that you need to pace yourself. Spiritual growth is like climbing a ladder, and sometimes there is a temptation (or an external pressure) to skip rungs and jump up, but that inevitably results in a painful slip.

So you have to take everything everyone here says, break it down into small parts, see what you can manage and what suits your personality, and start as quickly and completely with that as possible. But don't try to do it all if you aren't ready. Start with small, easy, enjoyable steps, and I assure you, you will feel much more in touch with your spiritual self (and ready for further steps) before you know it.

nice! welcome to your new life needing lots of space for books lol

1. How to Keep Kosher: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Jewish Dietary Laws (helps you appreciate and learn to take on keeping kosher- you can do it!)
   
2. How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household (this one is a MUST! esp. if you're a woman, but still amazing for men to read as well. despite the title, it's just a wonderful glimpse into traditional/orthodox jewish life and the writing itself is really fresh even though it was written in the 80s. i recently re-read it and it holds up! literally laughed and cried reading it, it's just a fun read that goes through all the major themes of jewish life like holidays, keeping shabbat, laws of family purity, tzniut, etc.)
   
3. The Garden of Emuna: A Practical Guide to Life (this book is about faith/spirituality from a breslov chassidic pov. it's very well-known amongst chassidic circles and is written by a brilliant rabbi i've come to follow since reading this book. it literally changed my life and every one of his books brings me closer to G-d, i tell everyone about this book now and i promise you won't regret it! remember while it's good to have the 101s of judaism down, without a strong foundation in your faith and personal relationship with G-d it's all kinda moot so be sure to include spirituality and personal growth in your studies as well.)

The following is a list of basic books that will help you get a good handle on traditional Judaism. All the books listed are broadly recognized as being reliable, and many are considered classics in their own right:

• A Maimonides Reader by Isadore Twersky. An excellent compilation of the writings of Maimonides covering almost all of the most basic concepts in Judaism.
  
  
• With Perfect Faith by Rabbi J. David Bleich. This is an excellent introduction to medieval Jewish philosophy, based on Maimonides' thirteen foundations. Includes extensive lengthy quotations from many major Jewish philosophers.
  
  
• Path of the Just by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. Classic description of the ideal spiritual Jewish life. The opening chapter is particularly important for understanding almost all of modern traditional Jewish thought.
  
  
• The Nineteen Letters by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. An classic overview of Jewish thought presented in the form of a correspondence between a young rabbi and a childhood companion who is questioning the purpose and validity of traditional Judaism.
  
  
• The Stone Chumash - A good one-volume translation of the Torah, with an extensive commentary based on traditional sources.
  
  
• Ethics from Sinai by Irving Bunim. An excellent, three-volume commentary on Pirkei Avos, the Talmudic tractate that deals with ethics.
  
  
• The World of Prayer by Rabbi Elie Munk. An excellent two-volume commentary on the Jewish prayers.

>I think Gordimer has been pretty on point throughout these back and forths...

Others have taken him to task for various incidents of hypocritical dishonesty and misrepresentation of the sources and quotes, but Cross-Currents's goal is to present a very right wing viewpoint for a right wing audience (preaching to the choir to make the choir feel better about itself), not honest discourse.

>both this and maharat.... It is making me nuts to see the face of modern orthodoxy attempt to maintain such weak and secular based positions.

YCT is not actually Modern Orthodoxy. They have labeled themselves Open Orthodoxy and broken away from mainstream Modern Orthodoxy, but for our purposes let's consider it "left wing" Modern Orthodoxy while YU is the "right wing" of Modern Orthodoxy. I'm not such a fan of YCT overall in a number of things, but there are ways to defend much of what they do/believe.

>one is that it's ideal, superior to chareidi judaism for those who can handle it...

This is a considerable misunderstanding. I recommend reading Rabbi Lamm's Torah Umadda if you want to get a sense of where Modern Orthodoxy is really coming from.

>That it's for you if your character is strong enough...

This is true of any movement really. I can say the same for Reform and I can say the same for Lakewood guys. Anyone who thinks about the movement they belong to and doesn't just float around the community because that's what they're used to.

>The other is that it's for people who are inclined to be religious, but do not have the devotion to do it 'all the way' as the chareidim do. That they are less devoted and conflicted....

Doesn't sound like you've met the devoted of Modern Orthodoxy. They're quite devoted, religious and spiritual, but there is a greater openness to modernity and secular culture. That doesn't mean that it is held above Torah, but the belief in a synthesis is part of the movement.

The other side of things of course is that Modern Orthodoxy embraces the people who aren't observant in a way that more right wing movements can't and won't (with the exception of Chabad) so they stick around rather than disappearing or being hidden. In more right wing expressions there is simply no place for such people, so they fall off the map, rather than remain a part of the community.

>it seems like their agenda is set from the talking points of secular (and in most cases atheist) academia,

The fact that many scientists are atheist has very little relevance beyond ad hominem to discuss what their findings are worth and how they impact our views regarding religion.

>focusing primarily and feminist issues...

A movement where women play a more prominent role (for a host of reasons beyond feminism) will naturally have more of an interest in women's issues. The fact that this is presented as a negative alongside atheism and heresy is part of the problem.

>with some heresy tossed in...

Please point out anything inherently heretical in Modern Orthodoxy and what basis you have to call it such. There are many things that are interpreted as heretical by more right wing movements, but the fact is that their ideas of what constitute heresy are really just anything that is outside their own modern viewpoint, even if it comes from Torah itself.

It sounds comforting to say that Judaism is an immovable rock in the sea of time, and yes we have concrete proof that the text of the Torah is unchanged, but even that has some cracks (namely the case of the Three Scrolls) and the Torah itself is not the core of Jewish practice for anyone but groups like the Karaites. The Talmud, even in its unbroken sequence has proven to be a very organic, living document. That's both by design and necessity. Jews and Jewish practice has absolutely changed and adapted to a changing world. For example, prohibitions against providing aid non-Jews have been relaxed and allowances for things like polygamy and child marriage restricted. We can't pretend pre-digital laws perfectly fit into 2019 any more than we could expect to live as one did in Babylonia or Jerusalem during Talmudic times in the modern day. Judaism has evolved.

That's not to say halacha is flexible. It is absolutely rigid and unbending in a pure exercise of letter-of-the-law legalism. But the halachic process is far more organic than hardliners will admit. Rabbinic decision-making is not one of prophetic revelation or divine decree, it's made by humans in response to changing human conditions. But the core strength of the process does not lie in the verdict, as Loius Ironson points out in Angels in America, but the process of debate and investigation by which we get there that makes Judaism unique among religions. Many books have been written about the extrajudicial decisions made by rabbis over the centuries that deviate from the law based on the reality of a situation, and even some on the efforts to ignore or outright deny these halachic decisions. Herman Wouk talks about this in This Is My God, calling it the 'slow veto' of Judaism, whereby changes to modern living start with the decisions of old, but are adjusted by necessity as communities accept or reject where they must to survive.

I've come to think of the Torah less as 'the bible' and more as the Constitution. It's a framework document, the core of all the myriad of legal decisions and counter-decisions and counter-counter-decisions over the centuries. It in and of itself is not a working document for how to live life, but it's the core of the larger Jewish superstructure. We'll always be hated and viewed as backward by some and called bigots by others, and while the core is unchanging the greater Jewish lifestyle and understanding is able to adjust where it needs as it always has.

>What the Hatham Sofer wrote is straightforward enough. The Haredi velt has a long history of whitewashing history when it inconveniences the contemporarily accepted social narrative.

It is not disparagement, it is an acknowledged sociological fact that has been documented time and over again. For a lengthy study of the phenomenon see Dr. Marc Shapiro's "Changing the Immutable".

If in this specific context, you would like to understand how I believe it constitutes whitewashing, see this excerpt:

>Perhaps the posek most responsible for creating resistance to accepting the Hatam Sofer at face value was the Maharam Schick... There is certainly no one capable of denying the status of the Maharam Schick as a leading posek and communal leader of the second half of the 19th century, and as the Gadol who came closest to inheriting the mantle of leadership of his teacher, the Hatam Sofer. But... The Ḥatam Sofer certainly did not consult Rabbi Schick (who at that time was still engaged in private study in Halitsch) before composing his 1837 reply to another former student ― Rabbi Horowitz, Chief Rabbi of Vienna since 1829. Rabbi Schick certainly did not receive any direct information on this issue from his revered teacher, for if he had, he most certainly would have mentioned
it at some point in the two Responsa that he composed regarding MBP [mesisah b'peh].
.

As for a "rule one warning" - I have not been a "jerk" (though your suggesting I have been seems kind of jerky). If the moderators feel the need to now censor me after years (longer than you've had your account) of demonstrated civil participation on this forum, I will definitely have to reconsider my participation in /r/Judaism.

Not exactly, see below. The short answer is the ten commandments.

If you want a REALLY good primer on Jewish values, beliefs, and thoughts, take a look at the following:

Jewish Wisdom

Jewish Literacy

Jewish Values

A Code of Jewish Ethics

Chaim Halevi Donin's books

Between R. Telushkin and R. Donin you will get a very comprehensive intro to Judaism. I have personally read at least 6 of the 9 or so books posted here, and have found both to be exceptionally well written and informative. R. Telushkin is a personal favorite of mine, and I think he nails it every time, not only in terms of accuracy and quality of writing, but in making it actually enjoyable to read. Aka, when I sit down with one of his books, I will clear easily 600 to 800 pages a day.

Hope that helps!

Hey! I've been reading a bit about Rebbe Nachman. What is the general opinion on him? (sorry if this is ignorant)

Also, I want to pick up some books by him, they look really interesting!

https://www.amazon.com/Outpouring-Soul-Rabbi-Nachmans-Meditation/dp/0930213149

https://www.amazon.com/LIKUTEY-MOHARAN-Rebbe-Nachman-Breslov/dp/0930213920

Has anyone read either of these? (For context I'm a Modern Orthodox 19 yr old slowly becoming more observant again and I've been buying a decent amount of books, also feel free to recommend anything!) Thanks!!!

Edit: I absolutely love the fact that this subreddit exists. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to reply!

>It seems like a lot of people refer to themselves as Jews but really just have a Jewish last name and not much else aside from celebrating a few holidays.

Yes, sadly most jews are irreligious.

> I want to learn more about what it means to be a Jew.

Great I have some books for you to read to start you off.

Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God

Congratulations on observing kashrut!

Rice and veggies, wraps, so many options! I recommend looking through food blogs to get ideas, and then if the recipe needs it- make it kosher!

One great kosher food blog I love is Kosher in the Kitch

also, if you need any more information on the laws of Kashrut, or a good guide (as it can be confusing at times), here are two:
How to Keep Kosher

The Kosher Kitchen

> orthodoxy has always had the same beliefs and the same observances. The only changes are in regards to custom, and even then at a glacial pace.

The order in which the blessing vs lighting the candles changed in Hadlakat Nerot specifically because of the Esseans their are others but that is the one that I can think of offhand.

I have on my ever expanding reading list a book about changes in Orthadoxy called Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History by Marc Shapiro that I want to get to. The People's Prayerbook series (Hoffman) goes into some good history as well but they are easier used as a reference (IMO). Their is also a good article on the above book here.

The article points out some other items like the fact that men were not allowed to use mirrors, and one opinion in the Talmud was to allow fowl and milk to be cooked together. Orthodox Judaism does change they just do it in the Talmud, but that also allows for re-writing of things. *Rabbinic Judaism itself was only created after the destruction of the second Temple and takes a lot of it's practices from the Babylonian exile.

I always recommend Robert Alter's The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary. It is a beautiful translation that's meant for people interested in the Bible as literature, and he keeps very true to the original Hebrew.

For example:

>When God began to create heaven and earth, and the earth then was welter and waste and darkness over the deep and God’s breath hovering over the waters, God said, “Let there be light.”

>How is that possible?

Israeli beer. Kashrus info etc.

>go to synagogue coz you haven't been there for year" or what?

I'll tell you that.

>What to do?

Go to shul. Daven, do mitzvos, learn torah. Drink a peach snapple. I love Peach.

>Is it possible for Hashem to give us signs in modern times? Or only Prophets were able to see them? Like Salomon for example.

It all happened so you could post this on reddit, and become closer to Hashem.


Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God

There are two amazing resources available to help you.

TorahMates and Partners in Torah.

Do not hesitate to make use of them.

And stick around this awesome sub!

>I'm half-Jewish

No such thing. Either Jewish or not.

> my mother being secular but ethnically Jewish.

Jewishness is passed strictly along the maternal line. Was her mother Jewish also? If so you are 100% Jewish.

> I'm eager to find more of a connection with Judaism and Jewish history


Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God
>Would people raised with more of a connection to the community and the faith find it unusual or inappropriate that someone like me might take interest or identify with the Jewish community?

Nope, happens all the time.

Check out Torah Mates, and Partners in Torah.

Yes, I think Catholics have a lot of the same tradition sort of perspective vs Protestants so that's interesting. Honestly, there's a lot. If you ever go to a rabbi's office it's like a library. At least in my experience. My humble suggestion to dip a toe in would be read the weekly parasha. So, we divide the Torah into sections and every week at shabbat service one section is read. And that section is paired with a reading from the Prophets that somehow relates to the Torah portion. So, what you could do is, get a translation of the Torah you like (I use Etz Chaim: https://www.amazon.com/Etz-Hayim-Commentary-David-Lieber/dp/0827607121) and hopefully that will include footnotes with blurbs from commentaries and other literature like Talmud etc. Or, you could look here https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/guide-to-weekly-torah-commentaries-online/ and use those to read alongside the weekly portion as well. There's a bunch to choose from. I subscribe to Jonathan Sacks' mail list and also Mechon Hadar's and every week they send an e-mail with some explanation of the portion always citing from our other sources.

Have you read Jewish Literacy? Also, while this is written by an Orthodox Rabbi, Rabbi Aryeh Moshen's Gerus Guide may be helpful. This is my God is a popular suggestion. Here's a reading list suggested by Orthodox courts. Given your interest in Conservative Judaism, you may find Rabbinic Authority interesting, although it's a little advanced. I found Maimonides' introduction to the Talmud to be a great intro to the idea of the Oral Law.

Also, check out /r/Giyur if you need help/support.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394532589/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=7009917304&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1tj7s5fs3_b

The book above is by Claudia Roden. It's Amazing. It takes a much more anthropological view of Jewish food. It's equal parts cook book and cultural history. even from jews in china or india. amazing

https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Jewish-Recipes-Rabinowitz-Family/dp/0761135812/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494968407&sr=1-1&keywords=cooking+jewish

This one is collected from one family. it's great. much more practical as all these recipes are actually used by people in the family. Each one has a story about each dish.

I'm not sure if it addresses the formatting requirements you laid out, in fact I think it's laid out by course, but Spice and Spirit is excellent, and deserves the love it gets.

According to the schmaltz cookbook I have (which I totally recommend if you're interested in a making schmaltz from scratch), it will keep a week in the fridge, but may pick up flavors from other things in the fridge. If I want to keep it longer, I put it in a quart ziplock bag and freeze it. It will keep for quite a while frozen.

You can fry or sauté anything in it - it's especially good with mushrooms and onions. We've used it to make a roux before making a sauce as well. You can bake with it (instead of butter) and you could fry latkes in it if you had enough.

"Etz Chaim Chumash" has the official JPS '85 translation considered the gold standard in academia. It's a real, straightforward translation (no allegories) and this printing has outstanding commentaries and summaries of the best meforshim. It comes with Haftarah as well and some other goodies (I think it might come with handy maps of Ancient Israel and the like).

Comes in hardcover and the significantly cheaper/lighter paperback.

If you don't need a translation into English, I'd advise the Koren series.

My favorite is still the first Jewish cookbook I ever bought: The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia Roden. Roden's family was from Egypt, and the book is nicely divided between Ashkenazi and Sephardic recipes, with solid, simple recipes for all. However, it does have the regular format divided up by food type, and a lot of simple traditional dishes, so it may not be what you are looking for.

A couple that I like with menus include Kosher by Design (which has a bunch of sequels, including a Passover one with various seder menus) and The Seasonal Jewish Kitchen. Both of these have modern recipes, with the Design books more fussy and Seasonal more rustic. Seasonal only has a few formal menus, but its organization by holiday/season makes it easy to pick a section and stick to a managable list of appropriate recipes without being forced to flip around too much.

> There are some negative personality traits which I daily fall prey to that I want to eliminate

This is where I figured you were heading. You are certainly not alone, everyone probably has some trait that they could do without. It's a wonderful thing that you are so conscious of them and determined to change them - that's half the battle. To quote one of many rabbis: "For a person is alive only in order to break a [negative] character trait that he has not broken until now. Therefore one should always strengthen one’s self; for if he does not strengthen himself, why is he alive?” You're not likely to reach a point of "perfection" - but struggling in that direction is to really live.

There is a topic in Judaism called "mussar" - essentially self-improvement and character traits. There is an author Alan Morinis who has written a few books about mussar in a way that's accessible for non-Jews.

One thing that I keep in mind for myself is that one day I'll have children and I don't want to pass on my negative traits to them. God willing one day you'll have your own family, and you have the opportunity to build yourself up into the best possible husband and father. Figure out who you want to be, stay focused on it, and you can achieve it.

In my opinion, Paul Johnson's "A History of the Jews" is the best book for this: http://www.amazon.com/A-History-Jews-Paul-Johnson/dp/0060915331.

Simon Schama's five-part documentary, "The Story of the Jews," is also excellent: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/story-jews/

The classic is probably The Book of Jewish Food. Almost every Jewish kitchen I've come across has a copy, since it has recipes for all the well-known dishes (challah, gefilte fish, honey cake, bagels, etc), as well as hundreds more that aren't so common. If you only want one book, this will provide almost everything you need. If you want more of a library I agree that the Kosher by Design books are a good investment.

I have been practicing Mussar for 6ish years and it has changed my life.

"The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions: Finding Balance Through the Soul Traits of Mussar" is the most recent and accessible Mussar book. "Everyday Holiness" came out about ten years ago, and helped spark the current Mussar revival. "Changing the World from the Inside Out" brings together Mussar with social activism.

In terms of resources, American Mussar, The Mussar Institute, and the Center for Contemporary Mussar are good websites to look at.

Looks like the perfect illustration for the famed Jewish SF short story On Venus, have we got a rabbi! by William Tenn. Cover mentions Jack Dann famed SF/fantasy/horror writer who was the editor of the Wandering Stars collection of Jewish SF including the above mentioned story.

GutsAndGlory2 do you actually have this issue of Asimov's?

The sidebar which I'm linking here is a really great place to start. If you want to read the Torah, I suggest picking up a chumash, which is the Torah + commentary (don't read it without commentary). The one I use regularly is Etz Hayim.

I think converts should read works from all across the Jewish perspective. Especially the "very different sort."

How else is anyone supposed to know what they believe if they don't know or understand what they don't? It's not an informed decision if you're not informed.

On that note...

Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Persepctive.

Choosing a Jewish Life (liberal, leaning Reform)

To Pray as a Jew (Orthodox)

OP: Go wild. Read across the spectrum. Read things you agree with and things you don't. Read stuff you don't understand yet. Ask questions about what you read. Read, read, read!

Modern orthodoxy is mostly based on Tum

Torah U'madda- founded by R' Nochum Lamm read his book describing it.


You might also like Torah Im Derech Eretz- founded Rav Shampson Rafael Hirsch, I recommend his Nineteen letters.

I would contact Chabad in Richmond

also if you're interested in basically the basics You can't go wrong with Jewish Literacy by Telushkin (and there are copies for five dollars!)

Go with the JPS or Artscroll if you want a more classical translation, or go with Alter which is a really nice edition.

Although, I do highly recommend The Yiddish Policemen's Union.

It's The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon, and we're discussing it on February 21st.

I really enjoyed the book and finished it earlier today. It's not something I would have chosen for myself but I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to discuss it!

Spice and Spirit: It's not fancy but it had a tremendous breadth of Jewish (mostly Ashkenazi) recipes. Recipes are generally straight forward and very few haven't worked out

If you don't have a copy of Spice and Spirit, you don't have a Jewish kitchen.

http://www.amazon.com/Spice-Spirit-Complete-Cookbook-classic/dp/082660238X

It's expensive because it's out of print - ask around your local bookstores if they can get it for you any cheaper.

Maimonides' Introduction to the Talmud
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1880582287/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1-kMAbSZ4RGZJ

This book outlines the rambam's legal method and definitions. It's basically why I consider myself a rambamist.

I think you want this.

https://www.amazon.com/Frumspeak-Dictionary-Yeshivish-Chaim-Weiser/dp/1568216149

Just buy this book

The Yiddish Policemen's Union: http://www.amazon.com/The-Yiddish-Policemens-Union-Novel/dp/0007149832

Same guy: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj1CxvkSStlsf9VxKmb23E6mO2kKO365O

Also this: https://www.amazon.com/History-Jews-Paul-Johnson/dp/0060915331

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Schmaltz-Love-Song-Forgotten/dp/0316254088

Islamic anti-Semitism has a long history even before the modern era.

https://www.amazon.com/Wandering-Stars-Anthology-Fantasy-Science/dp/1580230059

You need to read Breslov Khosidus. Rebbe Nachman addresses your situation specifically.

• https://www.amazon.com/Outpouring-Soul-Rabbi-Nachmans-Meditation/dp/0930213149
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Restore-My-Soul-Meshivat-Nefesh/dp/1928822959

Gentlemen of the Road

Yiddish Policemen's Union

The Book of Esther (Though this one got a little weird at the end)

I just saw below that you said you are converting reform. In that case, you might like Choosing a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant. It's more geared towards Reform, but I do warn whenever I recommend it that it kind of disparages the other movements of Judaism a little bit. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're 100% totally set on reform conversion. Otherwise, I think Becoming a Jew is more balanced (although talks a lot about observances that are most common in Orthodox and Conservative Judaism) in that regard.

I tried once, but I didnt do a very good job of it. I'm willing to give it another shot at some point. I followed the directions in this book but I think I was too impatient.