Ask the Rabbi: The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Being Jewish »

Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Ed.D., is the rabbi of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and codirector of its Hebrew High School. An adjunct lecturer at the Jewish Theological Seminary, he is the author of more than eighty books. Rabbi Ron Isaacs can be reached directly through his Ask the Rabbi website at rabbiron.com.

Does God really have a chosen people? Do Jews believe in an afterlife? Why do all Jewish holidays begin at night? When is it okay to tell a lie? What does Judaism say about being gay?
From the mundane to the perplexing, Rabbi Ron Isaacs answers all your questions about the Jewish faith in a manner that is warm, wise, and witty. Isaacs brings his many years of experience as a rabbi and scholar to create a family-friendly resource that you and your children can use again and again to answer questions as they arise in your day-to-day lives— such as questions about: worship services, blessings, famous people in the Bible, miracles, fast days, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, the Seder, circumcision, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage, keeping kosher, sex, death and dying, medical ethics, Jewish beliefs, Hasidim, Jewish denominations, rabbis and cantors, black Jews, Jewish professions, what others think of the Jews, Israel, ritual garments, the Torah, the mezuzah, Anti-Semitic documents and statements, Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews, language, Jews and cults, kabbalah, and classic Jewish books.

Publishers Weekly

The eager student who enjoys the give-and-take of questions and answers will find this book a sheer delight. Since 1975, Isaacs has been rabbi of a New Jersey congregation and co-director of its Hebrew high school. He encourages his congregants and students to ask questions, even installing an "Ask the Rabbi" in-box. From the hundreds of questions put to him through the years, he has selected the most interesting ones for this primer on Judaism. Written in a simple, amusing, personal style, the book's 32 chapters offer straightforward responses to many complex issues. While the approach will appeal mainly to young people, others will find this a useful manual. The topics range widely from serious concerns such as the nature of God, prayer, and death to more frothy fare, such as, "why are so many comedians Jewish?" and "why do Jews like Chinese food?" A particularly useful chapter describes 10 "classic Jewish books" such as the Talmud, siddur, Zohar, megillah, etc. Jewish parents who are often challenged by their children's questions will find this book a helpful resource, but as a basic, accessible introduction to Judaism, it is also a handy guide for all readers. (Oct. 10) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Foreword by Dr. Jonathan Woocher.
Introduction.
Chapter 1. God.
Theology.
Experiencing God.
Chapter 2. Prayer.
Reasons to Pray.
Worship Services.
Communal Versus Private Prayer.
Enhancing the Prayer Services.
Blessings.
Prayer Movements.
Ten Commandments.
Prayer Responses.
Chapter 3. Bible.
Authorship.
Famous Bible People.
Biblical Miracles.
Biblical Disappearances.
Chapter 4. Jewish Holidays.
Time and the Calendar.
Shabbat.
Fast Days.
High Holy Days.
Sukkot.
Hanukkah.
Purim.
Passover.
The Seder.
Chapter 5. Circumcision.
Chapter 6. Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.
Chapter 7. Marriage.
Chapter 8. Keeping Kosher.
Chapter 9. Women's Issues.
Chapter 10. Sex.
Chapter 11. Death and Dying.
Chapter 12. Medical Ethics.
Chapter 13. Jewish Belief.
Chapter 14. Hasidim.
Chapter 15. Jewish Denominations.
Reform Jews.
Conseervative Jews.
Orthodox Jews.
Reconstructionist Jews.
Chapter 16. Rabbis and Cantors.
Chapter 17. Origins.
Chapter 18. Black Jews.
Chapter 19. Jewish Professions.
Chapter 20. What Others Think of the Jews.
Chapter 21. Jews and Christians.
Chapter 22. Jews and Ritual.
Chapter 23. Israel.
Chapter 24. Ritual Garments.
Chapter 25. Holy Objects.
Chapter 26. Anti-Semitic Documents and Statements.
Chapter 27. Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews.
Chapter 28. Language.
Chapter 29. Jews and Cults.
Chapter 30. Kabbalah.
Chapter 31. Classic Jewish Books.
Chapter 32. Jewish Renewal.
Resources.
The Author.
Index.