Tough Questions Jews Ask 2/E: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life

by Edward Feinstein

Book Overview

With honesty, humor and respect-and without pretending to have all the answers-Rabbi Feinstein encourages young people to tackle their tough questions about the world and to make sense of the Jewish tradition by wrestling with what we don't understand.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580234542
• ISBN13: 9781580234542
• Release Date: January 2012
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 10 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 10

Customer Reviews

Simple, straightforward answers to common questions

In a thoughtful, youth-friendly encouraging fashion, Rabbi Feinstein answers a myriad of questions that people may have; old, young, Jew and non-Jew alike. As a prospective convert, I found this to be insightful as it answered questions that are often overlooked or dismissed by higher level sources.

A Wonderful Book

With his trademark wisdom, heart and humor, Rabbi Ed Feinstein tackles both simple and profound questions. This articulately written book is much more inspiring than its title might suggest, and is suitable for adults of all ages. It makes a great gift, but don't forget to buy one for yourself!

2003 Sydney Taylor Honor Book!

This book received a silver medal for the 2003 Sydney Taylor Book Awards! These awards are presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries to the best in Judaic children's literature. Find out more at www.jewishlibraries.org.

Particularly appropriate to teenage and young adult readers

Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult's Guide To Building A Jewish Life by Rabbi Edward Feinstein presents answers to difficult issues raised by Jewish young adults about the Jewish faith. Dealing with such fundamental and pervasive questions such as: "Why Does Religion Need So Many Rules" (such as dietary restrictions that forbid cheeseburgers and activity restrictions that forbid going to the mall on Saturday);"Why Is It So Important to Marry Someone Jewish?"; "What's the Meaning of Life? Is That a Dumb Question?"; and "Why Does God Let Terrible Things Happen?"; "Why Be Jewish?"; and more, Tough Questions Jews Ask pre-sents patient, discerning, illuminating answers which are particularly appropriate to teenage and young adult readers.

Wisdom and comedy

It is not a bad thing that our most accessible source of wisdom is from late night TV comics. Our country celebrates newness and individual innovation, and the cleverness of the late night comic and his guests is a welcome antidote to the tawdry news that precedes it. But we have thousands of years of insight to draw on, also created as a counterpoint to distracting times, the cumulative ideas of a great religion. In this book, Rabbi Edward Feinstein brings us both kinds of wisdom. A colorful and brisk survey of Jewish thought, the book conveys Jewish teachings through the lens of a very modern mind, to the sensibilities of a skeptical adolescent, through the humor and pathos that makes a great comic. I loved the book for myself, and giving out two to each Bar Mitzvah- one to the kid, and one to the parents!

A Guide for Building a Jewish Life...at Any Age

Rabbi Edward Feinstein is has a great mind and is a wonderful speaker and writer. In his book, Tough Questions Jews Ask, he responds to questions that have been asked by his students in the hope that his book will be a guide to young adults in building a Jewish life.Rabbi Feinstein suceeds beautifully by answering some of the toughest questions anyone--regardless of age--can ask, and providing his deep, wise and often unpredictable responses in a way that both young and old can appreciate and understand. Such questions as: What are we here for? Why do terrible things befall us? Why pray and what do we pray for? are explored.The book contains insightful questions and the Rabbi gives meaningful answers. Ultimately one lession of the book is that we grow by learning to ask the right questions, listening to the responses and then asking even deeper questions.This book is great for anyone interested in growing, learing and asking.