Pathways: Jews Who Return »

In recent decades, there has been a significant movement among formerly secular and marginally religious Jews to embrace traditional Judaism. Known as baalei teshuvah, "those who return," they are reclaiming Judaism as an enriching and viable way of life. Pathways: Jews Who Return is a collection of first-person oral histories that illuminates their journey. Many of those interviewed came from secular American homes where Jewish identity was of the "lox-and-bagels" variety. Some had a more informed Jewish background, but found no substance in the knowledge. Some came to Judaism in response to a particular life cycle experience, such as the death of a parent or the birth of a child. Some learned about Torah through an organized outreach program or on a trip to Israel. Some had a revelatory experience, and some methodically explored the life enhancing possibilities that traditional Judaism might offer them. Whether they were actively searching for spiritual fulfillment or stumbled upon their Jewish heritage through an unexpected encounter or experience, these baalei teshuvah were all ultimately inspired to lead lives infused with Torah - lives that are more structured and more profound.

Publishers Weekly

Ever since the publication of Wade Clark Roof's Generation of Seekers, American culture has kept an eye on baby boomers and others who are returning to religion or otherwise seeking a sense of heritage, rootedness and meaning in life. This book looks at those who, though raised Jewish, left the practice of Judaism for some time and later returned to the faith as Orthodox Jews. The stories of these ba'alei teshuvah ("those who return") are chronicled here by Greenberg, a journalist who made his own return to Judaism through Orthodoxy. His own sympathies sometimes prevent him from asking hard questions of his subjects. Women, for instance, are asked about feminism and Orthodoxy, but men are never asked how they feel about the roles assigned to them by their religion. Nonetheless, the stories of the 31 people interviewed provide a fascinating portrait of the paths that led people into Orthodoxy, and the myriad ways they struggle in the process of learning to be observant Jews. (Feb.)