Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life By Edward Feinstein
Imagining himself the teacher of a restless class of Jewish adolescents, Rabbi Feinstein confronts his students' relentless questions head on
While his class of 'teacher slayers' is fictitious, the questions they ask are real and repeatedly pique not only Jewish youths but also many of their parents
His book unfolds around these questions, each chapter pivoting on an issue of Jewish theology or practice: 'Why should I believe in God?' 'What is God, anyway?' 'What happens to us after we die?'
Using stories from the Bible and the Talmud as well as his personal experiences to underscore his wise answers,
Feinstein writes conversationally and with clarity. He also engagingly addresses issues of custom and history:
'Why do people hate Jews? Why is Israel so important? What is a bar or bat mitzvah?'
While his thoughtful and satisfying answers are directed at Jewish youths, they offer a primer on Jewish principles for interested readers of other faiths.
Charged with energy and insight, this resource will prove valuable to public and school as well as religion collections
What your rabbi probably has never told you, but could―if you'd only ask.
"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.
This updated and expanded new edition of 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.