Choosing Judaism

by Lydia Kukoff

Book Overview

In print for over 20 years, Choosing Judaism has become a classic guide for individuals considering conversion. By sharing her own story, Lydia Kukoff creates a remarkable work about what it means to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807401501
• ISBN13: 9780807401507
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Urj Press
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

A good conversion companion

Of the handful of other Jewish conversion books that I've read, Choosing Judaism tackles the subjects of interfaith families, giving up Christian holidays and gatherings, and approaching your family about your choice to convert, something that I have rarely seen prior to reading it. Through personal anecdotes and snippets of others' stories, you learn how to deal with the difficult aspects of converting outside of the actual religion.

Choosing Judaism is for everyone!

This was a very fast reading book. I enjoyed the writes style. I found several things very interesting. I was shocked to see the writing indicating that it was 'okay to celebrate xtain holidays"... From my stand point, I've come out of the church and I do not want others sinning in the false belief factors. It is very hard to tell family that you can no longer partake in their holidays. The writer did indicate that 'your not partaking', but I have to beg to differ and say, if you eating, you partaking. There are many other days to get together with family, I.E. Thanksgiving. And for children to see both Jewish and church holidays is very confusing. We then wonder "where did assimilation come from?" The book was good, I have already recommended it to friends.

Absolutely wonderful

My boyfriend is going to start classes and begin his conversion in September. I bought two copies of this wonderful book so that we could read it together. It gave me insight into what the conversion process would be like for me and how I could support his journey. It also discussed the role of our families. In addition to being an easy read, the book was informative.

Thinking about conversion

This is an easy read, a how-to with some of the author's own story and a lot of quotes of others. I like it because it captures problems in talking to families about a big step that affects their feelings too. For all the books on conversion, there aren't many that talk about forming a community for yourself. That's important. It was worth buying, especially on sale.

Not a Jew, just Reading...

I read this book because I have a friend who just converted. Anyway, this book helped me understand where she is coming from. This book has a lot of quotes by other converted Jews [not just the author] who either had it real hard by having to tell others and make other understand why they chose Judaism, or why they can't do Christmas anymore. It was about how relationships changed from a Jewish man and his non-Jewish girlfriend to his now completely Jewish relationship with his totally convert Jewish girlfriend. The relationships changed in that converts tend to be more "Jewish" than born-Jews. Born Jews take their lifestyle for granted living the life we live in America, yet converted Jews are all into eating Kosher, talking about Judaism, knowing the history, teaching what they just learned etcetera. It was about how Jewish in-laws would get annoyed because the converted daughter-in-law knew more than the mother-in-law, etc. So, this book is a bunch of people telling tidbits of memories they have while converting to Judaism.