Reddit mentions: The best jewish life books

Just to start off, its shabbos in much of the world so you won't get so many responses for a bit.

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Lots and lots of people grew up with some Jewish identity, didn't do much, and later became religious. Seriously, its a whole movement. Of course everyone's situation is unique, but you aren't the first to struggle with this kinda thing. Thankfully, that has meant a ton of books and resources for people in your shoes, who want to learn more and do more but didn't grow up with it. Some of the biggest resources online are Aish and Chabad, I just found NJOP but it doesn't have as much on the site.

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Now, as you know, the first step is to find a synagogue. I'd recommend looking for a Chabad or a young adults organization like a Young Jewish Professionals type of thing. They will have lots of classes for people from all sorts of backgrounds and will be super happy to help you find good resources, to teach you, etc. Chabad especially is everywhere, the joke is that only Coca-Cola and Chabad are worldwide. Next weekend is actually The Shabbos Project, which brings together people from all sorts of background to do a shabbos in a community. Actually one of these helped me really finalize my decision to become religious. And there are people here from all over who can recommend places.

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So there are lots of basic books out there. One thing I would definitely recommend is to get a Chumash, I'd recommend the Stone Edition since its the most common but the Steinsaltz one also came out recently. A Chumash has the whole Torah and the Haftorot (the section from the Prophets read in synagogues every shabbos) with commentaries. Both the ones I linked have stuff from all sorts of commentators that help explain the text. One section of Torah is read every week on shabbos, so it makes for a great reading guide.

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A good beginner book is To Be a Jew by Rabbi Hayim HeLevy Dovin. That one is absolutely classic. He also has another one, To Pray as a Jew, that's also excellent. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin also has a great one, Jewish Literacy, that goes through everything from Bible stories and characters to Jewish historical figures and writings. R' Teluskhin has tons of good stuff, I also have his A Code of Jewish Ethics, Jewish Wisdom, and a daily study book The Book of Jewish Values, they are all great learning resources. I'd also recommend Exploring Jewish Tradition, it really gets to the basics of Jewish practices. The 'Jewish Book of Why' set is also good, there are two volumes. There's no need to dive full on into halacha (Jewish law) and like books on Talmud right away, take the basics and then explore what is interesting to you. People sometimes burn out if they try too much too quick, but others love to just jump in full on and learn a bunch really quick (I'm the second but know people in the first category, both are totally ok ways to be).

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If there is any specific thing you would like to read more about, I can recommend more stuff after shabbos. Its only been a year since I decided to become religious so I know the position you are in. And if you have any questions, there are lots of great resources online and lots of knowledgeable people here. Of course, as I'm sure your mother can attest, there are unhealthy Jewish communities. But I firmly believe for every bad one there are far more great ones. I'm pretty new to it but the couple places I have been are both very welcoming and I have made friends from most of the major areas. It does not have to be suffocating, and there's nothing wrong with learning and doing more at your own pace. If its ever too much, slow down and reassess before jumping in further. If you listen to what your neshama (soul) is saying it'll guide you right!

>I wouldn't have thought the Sufism of Rabbeinu Avraham Ben HaRambam would be a neat fit, but I haven't really studied his works at all

I think if you read the More Nevukhim with Hamadpiq le-Ovdei Hashem (The Guide to Serving God, by R. Abraham ben Harambam), there is a clear picture about the purpose of the mitzvoth, which is perfecting the self and society, and to encounter the divine in this world (i.e. "nevoua"). That ties in with both Shaddal's view that compassion is the divine trait the Torah means to instill and Benamozegh's universality in what he calls "Hebraism." I'm sure people would disagree with my take away.

>Benamozegh I've heard before but don't really know anything about

Israel and Humanity is the work that encapsulates his worldview.

>Sabato Morais not at all

He was the minister of Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, one of the founders of JTS (at the time, an Orthodox institution), the only Orthodox rabbi to support Abolition, and a major proponent of Sephardic religious Humanism. He was also Livornese, like Benamozegh.

>Shadal I feel I know something about, but perhaps not very much.

I suggest Compassionate Judaism, which is a study of Shaddal's thought.

>Lol, that's a fun mix of cultures, I like the idea of humans beating the boxes and labels. African ancestry, S&P minhagim but Teimani nusach (and it seems you draw from the rest of the spectrum of 'Sephardim' too) and now you're culturally yekke and a fan of Hirsch? If anyone still thinks they can put you in a simple box... (Aside from Jewish, which perhaps includes all these for each person.) Hope this isn't offensive in any way.

The Portiguese and Yemenite have to do with the history of Judaism in West Africa and the diaspora. I've spent a lot of time studying both African-American religious use of Judaism and historically documented communities.

The German thing is just due to my approach to services (mainly Shabbat and Yom Tov): begin on time, comport yourself with dignity, for the love of all that's holy, don't rush through prayers; I enjoy the ceremony of it all. And of course, TIDE. The Portuguese rite, like the German, is formal, even the hazzanut leans toward Baroque, Classical, and Romantic. Both Portuguese and German rites are very western, and when if you compare them to their respective eastern counterparts, I think you'd see why the Germans are the Portuguese Ashkenazim and the Portuguese the German Sephardim.

And no, I'm not offended at all.

Don't drive yourself too crazy about it. I went in full speed and spent many boring shabbos days by myself with nothing to do because I didn't live near a shul or other Jews. No reason to go in 100% at first, especially if you are a convert-to-be so there's no actual prohibition for you now. If you can go to a synagogue, do so! Don't stress about not knowing what is going on, just go and listen and absorb the atmosphere.

My recommendation is to focus on the spirit of Shabbat rather than the nitty-gritty, especially for the first time. Light your Shabbat candles at the right time, crack open a bottle of wine, have some bread, eat some dinner, and read read read. You are starting to observe Shabbat but aren't sure all of the details, so might I suggest a book about Shabbat observance? The Sabbath by Heschel is also a beautiful poetic book about Shabbat that may help you get into the spirit of it. To Be A Jew, To Pray as a Jew, and Becoming a Jew are all great beginner books, the last geared towards converts. They all explain various aspects and details of observance, including Shabbat observance. You say you've read all you can, but these books all include very detailed information on exactly the timeline of events.

Since I became observant with no synagogue nearby, I found my Shabbat mornings to be much more meaningful when I would go outside to pray (in whatever capacity I was able-- either in Hebrew or English or just from the heart). There is something lovely about the Californian sunshine in that regard, I guess! Shabbat days are really long and boring by yourself, and I'd have non-Jewish friends come visit me and we'd take walks or just hang out in the backyard. I wouldn't do anything I'm not allowed, and they would obviously do whatever. We just wouldn't pick our activities as anything electronic-based, money-based, etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about details like blessings unless you want to say them in English. I felt really awkward doing that at first, but maybe you won't. If you know something isn't allowed, try not to do it. If you know something isn't allowed but it's really a burden and taking away from the spirit of Shabbat this weekend (like you left your bedroom light on), deal with it, but acknowledge that when you are 100% shabbat observant you can't do that. No reason to be miserable your very first Shabbat, or maybe you'll get a bad impression :) It gets easier the more comfortable you are with it. Depending on how this week goes, next week, add one or two more observances.

To answer your question about specific dinners, well, my husband and I eat anything on Shabbat. We are not stringent to only eat meat or fish, so sometimes we eat dairy. To me, the food you have on Shabbat should be a delight, something you are excited to eat or something you don't eat often. We make very normal typical dinners, usually, and I never ever make cholent or most of the 'traditional' foods. This week (for just the 2 of us) I am making shredded chicken build-your-own tacos for dinner and a big pasta salad full of lots and lots of veggies and grilled chicken for lunch. When we have company, it would be more traditional a meat-starch-2 or 3 vegetable meal.

If you have any more specific questions, I'd be happy to answer as someone who has kind of been there and done that!

I understand some of your situation pretty well. I came from a background of no religion at all and a negative feeling of what I thought organized religion was about before becoming a Jew. Also my wife came from a very traditional Buddhist background before becoming a Jew and she also shared concerns about this "getting in the way of a normal life".

The rabbi we first met with insisted that if I was interested in the conversion process that even before starting I had to bring her to meet with him because so much of being a Jew is family oriented so if I wanted to do this, his condition was that we both had to learn. He happens to be Conservative but of the old school variety, closer to what we would now call Modern Orthodox. The thing was that I was very fortunate that my wife was at least willing to learn with me for the sake of learning what this thing I was interested in was about. Even more fortunately she came to her own conclusion that this was for her as well. I cant say if this will be the same for you and your partner or not, but if you two communicate well then perhaps they may be willing as my wife was to see what is what just because it is important to you. As it turns out we ended up affiliating with the local Orthodox community as time went on but thats another story.

The books LazarA mentioned are all great. All I might add would be:

• God, Jews & History by Max Dimont. This is not a religious text per se but gives a decent overview of our history as a people in context of where we have been. Being a Jew isnt just about religious practice, its about being part of a people with a complex history and that history has very much shaped our practice.
  
  
• To Be a Jew by Hayim H. Donin was a decent overview as I recall. It covered about the events of the Jewish calendar and lifecycle among other topics.
  
  If you live in an area with several types of Jewish communities, I'd say meet with several rabbis if possible. Even you think now that you might look at Conservative Judaism, there's a range within that as well as within Orthodoxy and I assume but dont know for myself about the other flavors as well.
  
  Feel free to ask us here any and I do mean any questions you may have as well. I'm also available to answer questions by PM as I'm sure are several other of the regulars here in case you feel you dont want to ask in public. You may get conflicting answers but that is perfectly normal. We have a saying to the effect of if you ask two Jews you will get three opinions.

So you're legally Jewish. Welcome to the tribe.


Shabbos is still on so you're going to get more answers in a short while. Don't feel weird, a few of us roam the chats on Shabbos.


>I am familiar with the Tanakh, since I read the Old Testament as a Christian.

So the Old Testament of the Christian bible is an entirely different beast from the Tanakh.

Some of the translations are corrupted in the Christian version and they are only using half of the actual document.

The Torah is comprised of two documents. The first half is the Written Torah which are the stories that most people are familiar with. The second half is the Oral Torah. This encompasses all of the Rabbinical commentaries and interpretations and guidelines which establish Jewish philosophy and practice.

The Christians are using half of a document so you actually have a lot of stuff you look into. You'll be fine though, it's reading and study and discussion with Jewish leaders. Nothing you can't handle.

Sefaria.org is a great online resource
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It contains a vast amount of Jewish religious texts which you can access online. It's great if you can't get your hands on a physical book to study.

I'm going to suggest a shortlist of books and some online materials which I think will really help you out in establishing a foundation of Jewish knowledge. I used this myself when I got into Judaism in college. They are really helpful.

1. Essential Judaism: Updated Edition: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs & Rituals - This is a great book for establishing basic knowledge of Jews ideas and concepts and creating a foundation to build off of.
   
   
2. Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice - This book is within the same theme as the first with a few different bits of information for study. Both are great options to read and build yourself up with. I own both, myself.
   
   
3. Hidabroot TV (YouTube Channel) is a Jewish online video resource for studying Jewish concepts and philosophies. These are great if you have 10 or 15 minutes to kill and want to use it to study a Jewish idea. They have great topics from respected and knowledgable Rabbis and leaders.
   
   This is a great way to just "wet your feet in the Mikvah" so to speak. It's all easily digestible and accessible information which you can access on your own at your own schedule.
   
   I would do the basic research yourself and allow this to buildup and digest for a month or so before you finally decide to visit the synagogue. The Rabbis can help you in correctly executing Jewish practice and taking on more advanced levels of knowledge.
   
   You shouldn't do that until you feel comfortable though. There's no need to rush it unless you feel totally ready and prepared. They're cool people and they'll be extremely pleased to see someone took an interest in their history.
   
   Also remember something
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   There are going to be a lot of people who try and drag you down their specific path of Judaism. Some of these will be Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or something in-between.
   
   You're part of this regardless of your observance level. Observance is important but it doesn't dictate your Jewish status. Once you're born of a Jewish mother, you're 100% Jewish regardless. No one can argue otherwise.
   
   I don't want you to allow someone else to dictate your Jewish experience. There are a lot of different Jews and they all have their own ideas and philosophies about proper observance. Do not allow anyone to drag you down a path you are uncomfortable with.
   
   I run Orthodox/Conservadox, myself, but you may not be Orthodox. You define your Jewish experience. No one else gets to do that beyond sharing their opinion with you.
   
   Blessings and enjoy the ride. It's a cool thing to be a part of.

As other commenters have already pointed out, if your mother is a Jew than you are a Jew as well (and, as you are a woman, so will be your children), regardless of your religious affiliation.

If you wish to embrace Judaism, your first priority has to be to educate yourself as much as possible about Judaism. Unfortunately, this is not all that easy to do. The bulk of the popular material available - both in print and online - is unreliable, superficial, or not really geared towards genuine newcomers.

There are a few good books available for beginners. (Most of the popular books that will come up on Amazon or that you will find on the Judaica shelf at your local Barnes & Noble are not reliable.) One popular book that I know to be reliable is Gateway to Judaism: The What, How, and Why of Jewish Life by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. I would also recommend a few of the books by the later Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, specifically the two volumes of the Aryeh Kaplan Anthology and the Aryeh Kaplan Reader. The Anthology is a collection of short works written specifically for beginning students, and the Reader contains a number of similar pamphlet type essays written for such an audience.

However, the most important part of educating yourself about Judaism is to get a knowledgeable personal mentor. You might want to check out these two organizations:

Torah Mates: www.torahmates.org

Partners in Torah: www.partnersintorah.org

Both of these organizations provide a free mentoring service. They will match you up with a knowledgeable personal teacher who will study with you over the phone at your convenience (usually people study for about half an hour each week). They will also provide you with whatever book you chose to study with your partner.

I currently volunteer for Torah Mates and I used to volunteer for Partners in Torah as well (several years ago) and I can vouch for the quality work these organizations do. If you would like any specific assistance in this area, please feel free to PM me.

Feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer those that I can, and Deuteronomy will answer the one's I can't. If you really want to get a really good grasp of Jewish ethics and thought, I would recommend Aryeh Kaplan's Handbook of Jewish Thought. For an intro into Jewish practice, I recommend Gateway to Judaism. Both are very accessible and are very good primers. The handbook in particular is a very good source for sources. It is very well cited and provides a very good jumping off point for deeper research.

> Why are customs the way they are?

It would depend on which specific custom you had in mind. Many practices are quite a bit more than "custom" actually, and are required as a matter of Halakha. The two major classes of Halakha are biblical (d'oraisa) and rabbinic (d'rabanan).

> How come people who leave Judaism do not talk about it?

There are people who unfortunately leave Judaism and are rather vocal about it... however if I wanted to generalize about those who refrain and/or evade discussion of Judaism, I'd say most likely they were stigmatized in some way and that the same reasons they sought to abandon Judaism in the first place is the same reasons they seek to avoid discussing it in the present. It probably brings up memories and emotions that they find too painful to confront within themselves.

> I want to know the deeper meaning behind everything... Just anything and everything.

A proselyte once asked Rabbi Hillel (c.110 BCE) to teach him the entire Torah whilst standing on one foot... God-willing with patience and time you will come to understand quite a bit in greater depth :)

> Why do some families keep kosher and some do not.

With the advent of the Haskalah (the Jewish Enlightenment) in the 18th/19th c. many Jews for the first time had the doors of Western society open to their integration. Many Jews seeking acceptance simply abandoned Judaism altogether, others sought to reform Judaism in order to facilitate greater acceptance within modern society without given up everything (this is where the origins of most of the liberal denominations can be traced back to). Accordingly during this period many Jews stepped away from Judaism's traditional practices, including the dietary laws. This in addition to the eventual deep and profound trauma of the Holocaust which has contributed to the face of modern Jewry largely not reflect the practices of their ancestors.

> Wikipedia has not been helpful at all.

Unless you have a very specific topic in mind, wikipedia can indeed be too daunting a source to get any kind of real comprehensive view. A general introductions to Judaism can be found in Hayim Halevi Donin's book "To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life." I've heard that it is very good and very accessible (an easy read). I see that you can find used copies on Amazon for as little as a penny! A work like this or something of a similar nature would probably be the best place for you to start. If you read something you don't understand there, or would like to understand in greater depth, feel free to let us know :)

> I've only been a handful of times but if I could go ever Shabbat I would!


That’s an awesome attitude. You absolutely should contact him then , I can’t imagine the Rabbi would say no.

Thank G-d for Artscroll! There is a book you might be interested in https://www.amazon.com/Pray-As-Jew-Synagogue-Service/dp/0465086330 which explains what’s going on during a service. I read it early on in BTing and it certainly made me more comfortable in the synagogue.

>It seems like a lot of people refer to themselves as Jews but really just have a Jewish last name and not much else aside from celebrating a few holidays.

Yes, sadly most jews are irreligious.

> I want to learn more about what it means to be a Jew.

Great I have some books for you to read to start you off.

Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God

This book might be helpful, especially if you aren't ready to discuss this with your rabbi yet.

It also depends on your family's attitude towards your being observant. I have heard many unfortunate, negative stories, and am grateful that my siblings are also observant, and my parents accepted our respective decisions (though they don't always agree with them). That's not to say that there aren't differences in our (my siblings and my) approaches to observance; there's always a spectrum, and sometimes that makes it even more difficult when one says something is not ok and the other says it is fine and that the first sibling is holding by a chumra.

All families have challenges. It's great that you want to be able to hold your values while not tossing away your family. However, unless you know your rabbi to be harsh/incredibly strict, most (many?) have dealt with these types of situations and can give you personal guidance in, hopefully, a compassionate manner. Good luck.

Welcome to the Tribe!

One of the first things you might like to read is

To Life! , a very accessible book with a lovely feeling through it all. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Celebration-Jewish-Being-Thinking/dp/0446670022/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=to+life&qid=1562354401&s=gateway&sr=8-4


Also, even though you are not a convert and are legitimately and wholly Jewish right now, you might enjoy some books written with a convert in mind, as this is coming from the perspective of introducing people without the life history of it to the ins and outs of Judaism.

Choosing a Jewish Life is one, but a lot of the beginning is specific to converts (though still a good read). And it may have things like choosing a Hebrew name or understanding other rituals that you might still like to do. The fifth section, about building your Jewish life and identity and finding your community, would be most applicable. https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Jewish-Life-Revised-Updated-ebook/dp/B000UMZMQ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=choosing+a+jewish+life+by+anita+diamant&qid=1562354710&s=gateway&sprefix=choosing+a+&sr=8-1

>How is that possible?

Israeli beer. Kashrus info etc.

>go to synagogue coz you haven't been there for year" or what?

I'll tell you that.

>What to do?

Go to shul. Daven, do mitzvos, learn torah. Drink a peach snapple. I love Peach.

>Is it possible for Hashem to give us signs in modern times? Or only Prophets were able to see them? Like Salomon for example.

It all happened so you could post this on reddit, and become closer to Hashem.


Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God

There are two amazing resources available to help you.

TorahMates and Partners in Torah.

Do not hesitate to make use of them.

And stick around this awesome sub!

>I'm half-Jewish

No such thing. Either Jewish or not.

> my mother being secular but ethnically Jewish.

Jewishness is passed strictly along the maternal line. Was her mother Jewish also? If so you are 100% Jewish.

> I'm eager to find more of a connection with Judaism and Jewish history


Recommended Reading:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life

On Judaism: Conversations on Being Jewish

Judaism for the Rite Reasons

Becoming a Jew

This Is My God
>Would people raised with more of a connection to the community and the faith find it unusual or inappropriate that someone like me might take interest or identify with the Jewish community?

Nope, happens all the time.

Check out Torah Mates, and Partners in Torah.

The WP intro article is good and it'll give you links to things you'll prob want to look at. You'll want to look at:

• The Siddur
  
• Davening on Shabbos (as you will prob go on Shabbos)
  
• Kaddish
  
• Torah Reading
  
  If you are looking for good books about Tefillah in general, I'd advise you look at some of these books:
  
  
• A Guide to Jewish Prayer - An excellent overview of the history and varying customs.
  
• There is a whole series of books called "My People's Prayer Book" which has some good commentary. It may or may not be your style, so check it out before you blow money on it.
  
• Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship Service - Another popular introductory book
  
  I am not too familiar with Tehillat Hashem but I know that's a Chabad product. You will most likely not want to use that.
  
  When davening at a new place, I make a point to use the siddurim provided there the first time (maybe first few times) while I get to know that community's customs. Different shuls will have different approaches depending on various factors. This can be as obvious as Sephardi/Asheknazi or it can be as subtle as followers of the Vilna Gaon (Lithuanian) verses more traditionally-Polish Jews.
  
  Most Conservative Congregations in the US are Ashkenazi so if you're Ashkenazi, there's prob won't be many surprises.
  
  If you're interested in the differences between different rites, you'll want to look at the relevant sections in the first book I mentioned as well as reading the WP article on Nusakh.

No problem, if you want some starter books here are some that I enjoyed reading.

Tefillin by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Judaism and Christianity: A contrast by Rabbi Stuart Federow

Kashrut, Tefillin, Tzitzit by Stephen Bailey

Basic Judaism by Rabbi Milton Steinberg

These are some pretty good books to read giving you a little bit of an insight to some basic Jewish practices.

Aish.com is a good website for info and you can ask the Rabbi a question too.

Chabad.org is similar to Aish and you can, again, ask the Rabbi a question.

You should still go to a Rabbi and talk to him about your reasons for your desire to convert as well as the process.

Yes, yes, and more yes! I was going to write something with the same thrust, but you put it better than I could have. Authenticity in Judaism, in my experience and understanding, comes from figuring out how to do your Judaism your way. Being able to explain to others why you are doing what you are doing will go much farther for a sense of personal identity and connection to Judaism then erring on the side of Orthopraxis and doing it just because "it's how it's done." For anyone looking to form a stronger personal connection to Judaism, I always recommend Jewish With Feeling by Rav Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (z'l).

I thought that orthodox accept conservative conversions, but not reform. I'm familiar with the conversion process. Two book that I would recommend, which might be helpful in your journey, are To Life! and To Be A Jew. Hope this helps!

see Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. specifically made for people like you https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Judaism-What-Jewish-Life/dp/1422600300 a good foundation book is also "Duties of the Heart" by Rabeinu Bachya. there's an online translation for free.

I was in a very similar situation as you! I found this book to be super helpful for filling in the gaps in my knowledge.

Simpletoremember.com is also amazing. Highly recommended speakers: Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb & Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen.

There are also retreats and such that help a lot with this stuff, but it can depend on where you're located. I can give you suggestions if you let me know where in the world you are. (Feel free to PM.)

>However, several people have told me that I would never "truly" be accepted as a jew due to my not having been raised in the culture.

This is not true.


> Also where are good places to get further information on conversion

The side bar FAQ


This reading list is pretty good but overwhelming


>but would like more practical info

To be a Jew is a good place to start and you can get a copy for four dollars after shipping from Amazon (not to mention it's probably in your local library)

>He rejects the afterlife as a basis for behavior:

Just because there is no afterlife doesn't meant we don't have to follow HaShem that is applying Christian logic to it.

Besides there is a concept of an afterlife in Pslams which is some of the oldest writing we have, based on academic sources. For a ~500pg discussion of this see Jewish Views of the Afterlife by Simcha Paull Raphael.

> He says that you should be good because that is what you are meant to be.

Nope. Read the last 2 lines, which is the summary:

"The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind: that God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad. The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind."

The entire point of the story is that all the things that people pursue are "vain" and "empty" the only thing that can be truly trusted is happiness coming from HaShem.

It helps to have more specific questions, but of course, having specific questions usually requires some basic level of knowledge.

jewfaq.org is pretty good. we have some decentish resources in our wiki. there's a judaism stackexchange, but like stackexchange as a whole it tends a bit towards elitist, high-level, and unfriendly to beginners.

The standard book recommendations when this situation comes up is To Be a Jew and Jewish Literacy.

Also possibly relevant, depending on your tastes, This is My God by Herman Wouk. Was reminded of this book by this Ask the Rabbi, which also recommends Partners in Torah -- possibly relevant, depending on your level of investment in learning more (sets you up with a weekly study partner)

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did a quick google, this looks relevant: https://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/found-out-jewish-ancestry-in-20s

So does the book Suddenly Jewish, which I found via this article

oh and there's this post from a day ago: judaism for beginners

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also, for your perusal, the search results for "found out jewish" on this sub

Hi there, one of the books I had to read before enrolling in the conversion process was one called "Becoming a Jew" from a rabbi called Maurice Lamm. It's available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Jew-Maurice-Lamm/dp/0824603508

Other than that there are many videos on YouTube that may clarify some of the points in your journey. The Rabbi John Carrier who happens to have a YouTube channel is a great resource of knowledge plus he has live streams during the week where one can ask him questions and look for guidance. Best wishes!

Show this gift some love. A book on hosting pagan celebrations!

It's ten bucks right now and I'm about to move into my new place. This would be SO PERFECT for that.

/u/casabolg, generally the outlook toward other religions in Kabbala is the same as it is in most of Judaism. However, there is also a strain of Kabbalistic thought on this question, unique to it as a Jewish genre which is distinctly universalistic in its approach to other religions. If you're interested in it: check out the work of R. Elie Benamozegh, specifically his Israel and Humanity. In it, he puts forward an understanding of certain Kabbalistic ideas that leads to seeing all religions as having shared truths and that all are manifesting the same underlying reality in different ways.

In contemporary Jewish thought, R. Adin Steinsaltz has picked up on a lot of R. Benamozegh's ideas and integrated them into his own theological discussions, such as The Thirteen Petalled Rose

First year of marriage is a great book

Dear son and Dear daughter is another set (one for the boy and one for the girl). This one is also fantastic, especially to review from time to time.

I'm with you. I used to go camping all the time as a kid, but I've never tried shabbos camping since I've been frum.

I know you build your own eruv, since it's certainly not a rishus harabbim. I have a rough idea of how this works, but I need to read up more.

That's pretty standard when tent camping. I put my tent up first thing when I get there and taking it down is the last thing before I leave.

I'm mostly uncertain how to approach the cooking, especially if one wants to make sure they have hot food shabbos day.

Here's a book I've been meaning to pick up on the subject.

To Pray as a Jew, by Hayim Donin. Concentrates on synagogue prayer/ritual, but very rich with information. I continually return to it.

I would start with Artscroll Stone edition, which someone linked to above. The Hirsch chumash also comes in an (out of print but probably still available somewhere online) translation in one volume. I love it. Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Pentateuch-Translation-Commnentary-Haftoroth-Megilloth/dp/0910818665/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=hirsch+chumash&qid=1558623314&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Yes, depending on what you want to learn (though picking up an older used copy is fine and cheaper https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0465086322/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=).

Jews will, however read texts over and over. So you will certainly get something out of reading Tanakh, particularly with commentary.

I was just offering another option since they really are very similar.

But there's a tons of things to read in Judaism.

I'll recommend the following book To be a Jew by Hayim Donin It's really fantastic for explaining everything that Jews do year round and in life cycle events.

As for why some do and some don't keep a given thing like Kosher, that's going more into the sociology behind people's religiosity (most Jews in America just aren't brought up to be especially observant and some denominations reject those observances as mandatory). I would say it's similar to how there are many Catholics that don't consider themselves particularly religious either while there are others that strongly affiliate themselves.

And no, you wouldn't need any conversion as you can't convert out of Judaism. Once a Jew always a Jew, and your mother is also Jewish as far as we're concerned.

Strongly strongly recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-Mean-Cant-Home/dp/080524221X

I think converts should read works from all across the Jewish perspective. Especially the "very different sort."

How else is anyone supposed to know what they believe if they don't know or understand what they don't? It's not an informed decision if you're not informed.

On that note...

Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Persepctive.

Choosing a Jewish Life (liberal, leaning Reform)

To Pray as a Jew (Orthodox)

OP: Go wild. Read across the spectrum. Read things you agree with and things you don't. Read stuff you don't understand yet. Ask questions about what you read. Read, read, read!

If you're interested in this issue, but can't stomach the idea that God would command you to do something for reasons that you can't comprehend, I recommend that you study some of the other approaches listed (but heretofore ignored by you) in this thread. Read To Be a Jew, Horeb, or R' Hirsch's commentary on Leviticus.

If you can't stomach the idea that God could come up with something that you can't comprehend, then I think your quarrel with Judaism is much larger than just the purpose of dietary laws.

To be a Jew and maybe Chabad.org are good starting points besides jewfaq.org as SF2K01 said.

Then again there are many different kinds of minhogim etc.

I highly recommend the book Camping on Shabbat by Rabbi Ben Tanny. Covers basically every topic you need to know about camping over Shabbos.

Do I look like a Rabbi to you?

https://www.amazon.com/Chumash-ArtScroll-Haftaros-Commentary-Anthologized/dp/0899060145

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Jew-Jewish-Observance-Contemporary/dp/0465086322

https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Book-Second-volumes-slipcase/dp/0824603141

I would recommend Gateway to Judaism by Mordechai Becher.

I apologize if anyone is coming off as rude. The mention of kabbalah just touches a lot of nerves around here. Here are a few books that I think most of us here would agree are good places to start:

• http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Our-Heritage-Eliyahu/dp/0873067630
  
• http://www.amazon.com/To-Be-Jew-Observance-Contemporary/dp/0465086322/ref=pd_sim_b_2
  
• http://www.amazon.com/This-Is-God-Herman-Wouk/dp/0316955140/ref=pd_sim_b_3
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Literacy-Revised-Ed-Important/dp/0061374989/ref=pd_sim_b_6

For a very thorough (and Orthodox) perspective on everything to do with prayer try Donin, To Pray as a Jew. It helped me out back in the day and I think it will answer your questions.

Just did it two weeks ago, over Shabbat+Shavuot. The Traveling Rabbi published a short book you can get on Amazon with a lot of useful tips.

A racoon broke in to the tent and ate my Eruv Tavshilin bread, so you might want to be careful with that.

Edit: Light source - in my case it was a solar panel with string of LEDs that turns on automatically at sunset, available here.

Gateway to Judasim x10000000 - https://www.amazon.com/Gateway-Judaism-What-Jewish-Life/dp/1422600300

https://www.amazon.com/Pray-As-Jew-Synagogue-Service/dp/0465086330

Check out this book: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Jew-Jewish-Observance-Contemporary/dp/0465086322

I found this on Amazon. It's called "Camping on Shabbat: How to: Build an Eruv, Bake Bread, go to the Toilet, and More"

To be a Jew by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin:

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465086322/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BXb6CbRCT04QN

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465086322/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UyAACb6FYNFXB

Documentary on Hasidic Jews - https://www.amazon.com/What-Judaism-Tevya-Heller/dp/B01LYYRLXW/ref=sr_1_2?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1498927976&sr=1-2&keywords=judaism

Documentary on kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuSPtXG5dg&t=1289s

Documentary of the history of Judaism - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW9x-Z3u2Lo

English Tanakh (Holy scripture) -https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060621796/ref=crt_ewc_title_oth_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

English Talmud (Jewish law) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465082734/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

On Amazon

Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1422600300

I remember reading in To Be a Jew that taking care of one's health is a mitzvah, but I don't see how a state of being could be a sin. I think it would be like pregnancy outside of marriage: the act of having sex is a sin, but the state of being pregnant is not.