New non-fiction: To life!
The last book we won is certainly not new, having been first published in 1993. Since then Harold S. Kushner‘s “To life!” went through numerous editions and prints. The reason it is so popular? Because it takes seriously the (first world of the) subtitle; it really is a “celebration of Jewish being and thinking.” It is easy to understand follow no matter how much (or little) you know about Judaism.
In the current political situation I think (and hope/pray for) a lot about Israel. For this mini-review I re-read the chapter “why we love in Israel.” Let me present you with a condensed quote of the answer. To get the full picture you may want to read the whole book or chapter yourself.
The attachment is emotional, not nostalgic, or theological. It cuts across all religious and social borders. Religious and nonreligious Jews, orthodox and liberal, rich and poor are more united by their love for Israel than by any other single subject on Jewish agenda… The attachment is not political…Neither is the attachment religious… Israel symbolizes for us the idea that we are a people, not only a belief systm. It has been one of the recurrent themes of this book that Judaism is rooted more in community than in theology… The term Israel is often used interchangeably for the land and for the people… The existence of the Jewish state of Israel is an expression of the world’s willingness to let the Jewish people live… It has changed our public image, the stereotype that many gentiles call to mind when Jews are mentioned.
I have seen this book in many Jewish households it became an oft given gift. I hope that just as many people actually read it. If not here is your chance. You will finish it quickly and will be greatly rewarded and elevated when you are done.
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