Conference taveng::bagels

    "Berlin Diary" is the best: he wrote it before he knew how the
    war was going to end.
    
    					-John Bishop

    A book that I have just about finished reading is;
    
    "Jews, God, and History", by Max Dimont. Available in paperback.
    
    This book is the most interesting history of the Jews I have ever
    read. The author starts with Abraham, and goes through the present
    times. He writes in an extremely clear and lucid style. He uses
    interpretaions, historical findings, and common sense, to write
    a history of the Jews that is easy to follow and read. He is not
    a religious writer, so his history tends to flow along the lines
    of a biography. Nevertheless, he does touch on how the Jewish,
    Christian and Moslem religions were formed and change history, and
    how they interacted with each other. His chapter on Jesus and the
    start of Christianity are the most facinating I have ever read.
    He also has a very interesting historical comment on the roots and
    origins of anti-Semitism.
    
    I recommend this book highly to those who want a better understanding
    of the role of Jews in history, and why things have turned out the
    way they have.
    
    Jack

    I was raised in an Orthodox household and observed and went
    to shul because I "had to".  I'm well versed in tradition
    and even taught Hebrew School for a while but I don't know
    the "why's"... the story behind the story.  When my husband's
    family asks me why we do the things we do, I would like to answer
    with authority.  Can anyone recommend some books on law or
    the Bible (I've read the original version).  I've also read
    "Jews, God, and History" and found it very enlightening.
    				
    					Todah Rabah,
    				
    						Charlotte

    Try the Jewish Book of Why. Also, The Jewish Catalog (3 Volumes)
    is excellent. There are numerous others, such as the Jewish Woman
    and Her Home (I think), and many books on celebrating the holidays.
    If you would like more titles, or authors, etc., let me know.
    
    Jack

    Thanks, Jack,
    
    I'll try and find the Jewish Book of Why.  I have the first two
    volumes of the Jewish Catalog.  More titles would be welcome.
    
    Charlotte

    _This_Is_My_G-d_ (Herman Wouk) is supposed to be a winner.
    I haven't gotten around to reading it.  Anyone out there in 
    Ethernet Land seen it?

    I read it many years ago, and ran across it again just a few
    months back.  I can recommend it.  Also, I would suggest
    browsing through the appropriate section of your public
    library, looking at tables of contents and reading introductions.
    
    						Ann B.

Note 129.9 contains a list of books that might interest people who want to
learn about Judaism.

    OK, you forced me to go through my bookshelf. Here is my list.
    
    
    Good Introductions to Judaism
    
    	Basic Judaism, by Milton Steinberg
   
    	What the Jews Believe, by Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein
   
     	(Both of these are in paperback, and are fairly small books.
    	I do not know if the Bernstein book is still in print. I have had
    	it for 15 years or so, but it is excellent)
    
	Step by Step in the Jewish Religion, by Isidore Epstein
 
       	(Also in paperback. Recent. I bought it a month ago. Geared
    	toward explaining the whys of Jewish religious observance.)
    
General Knowledge
    
    	The Jewish Book of Why, by Alfred Kolatch
    		(Hardcover book, but only about 8-10 dollars. I bought
    		it at Caldors, for those of you who live in New England)
    
	Encyclopedia of Jewish Concepts, by Philip Birnbaum
    
    	The Jewish Almanac, by Richard Siegel and Carl Rheins
    
    	(Above two books are in paperback, and are each about 2-3  inches
        thick, and oversized)

	Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, by Dr. Ben Isaacson    
		(Small, old Dell (I think) paperback)
    
    Homemaking subjects
    
    	Guide for the Jewish Homemaker, by Shonie B. Levy and Sylvia
    	Kaplan (Paperback)

    	The Jewish Wife, by Schwartz and Wyden
    		(Older, pocket sized paperback)
    
    	The Jewish Woman and Her Home, by Hyman E. Goldin
    		(Hardcover)
    
    
    More...
    
    Living Jewish, by Michael Asheri 
    
    (Hardcover) Excellent Halachic based descriptions of the laws of
    Judaism, broken into many chapters. Each chapter based on certain
    subject, such as birth, marriage, etc. Very clearly and well written.
    Highly Recommended. 
    
    The Jewish Family Book, by Sharon Strassfeld (Co-author of the Jewish
    Catalog) and Kathy Green
    	(large sized paperback)
    
    The Jewish Kids Catalog by Chaya Burstein
    	A Jewish Catalog for kids. Paperback. Also bought at Caldors.
    
    The Jewish Holidays, by Michael Strassfield (Co-author of the Jewish
    Catalog)
    	Large format Paperback, same size as Jewish Catalog. Just bought
    	it so I haven't read it yet.
    
    Jewish Family Celebrations, by Arlene Cardozo
    	(Paperback, new) Describes way of family celebration, based
    on a narrative of this family's experiences, for each Jewish Holiday.
    
    
    
    Some of the above books are old, having been on my bookshelf for
    a number of years. Others are more recent. I have tried to indicate
    which is which. Many of the older books may still be available at
    a good Jewish book store. 
    
    Happy Reading,
    Jack        
        

    Does anyone know of a good book store in Central Mass where I could
    buy some of the books referenced in this file. I realize, for the
    "heavy" books I'll have to go to Boston.
    
    			Fred
     

    I'll bet the Worcester Public Library has alot of what you want.
    
    Sorry, I don't know of any bookstores, though.
    

    Unfortunately, the selection of book stores in Central Mass. carrying
    books of Jewish interest is limited. The best I know of is the Tatnuck
    Booksellers at Tatnuck square. They seem to carry more books of
    Jewish interest than most. I have also been able to find a
    few books of interest at Walden books, but not the real heavy stuff.
    If you have a specific title in mind, most of the book stores will
    order it for you. Also, the gift shops at most of the Synagogues
    in town can get books for you through their suppliers.

    If you don't mind traveling, I ran across a real good book store
    in Cupertino, CA on a recent trip. They had an excellent selection
    of Jewish titles, and I ended up spending about $65 (I have a weakness
    for bookstores). It was called A Clean Well-Lighted Place For Books.
    
    There is also a source that I recommend, called Publishers Clearing
    House. This is a big operation that puts out a catalog about once
    a month. They deal in books which the publisher wishes to get rid
    of. The books are mostly hardcover, and are heavily discounted,
    but in excellent condition.
    
    They basically sell the hardcover book for the price of a softcover
    version. The selection and quantities are limited, but form time
    to time I have gotten some excellent buys on books of Jewish interest,
    and other interests as well. You have to watch the catalogs as
    they are issued, and not wait too long to order. As an example,
    I recently ordered the paperback version of the Jewish Directory
    and Almanac from them. The retail price is $11.95. They were selling
    them for $1.98. The reason is that a newer version just came out,
    and the publisher dumped these on the clearing house. This is just
    one example. They have Jewish music from time to time as well. 
    
    The catalogs are free, and once you are on their mailing list, the
    catalogs never stop. If anyone is interested, I can dig up the address.
    
    Jack

Published here in Israel:

  "A heretic despite himself" by Yehoshua bar-Yosef

After you omit some of the sex paragraphs, I think it's a very good book.
I wonder if it has any English transalation.

Nitsan.

    
    
    	I heard this morning that Thomas Freidman's 'From Beirut to 
        Jerusalem' has  won a Pulizter prize. Great book!
    
    
    David

Excerpted from the epilogue of "World of Our Fathers" 
by Irving Howe:

Brushing past questions of what was "normal" or "abnormal," the 
immigrant Jews created a life that was necessarily marked by both.
They found a way, for a time, of linking the high moral fervor 
they had brought with them and the hope for social betterment 
America aroused in them.  Perhaps the union of the two was the 
closest to "a normal life" that Jews could reach.

We need not overvalue the immigrant Jewish experience in order to
feel a lasting gratitude for having been part of it.  A sense of
natural piety toward one's origins can live side by side with a 
spirit of critical detachment.  We take pleasure in having been 
related to those self-educated workers, those sustaining women, 
those almost-forgotten writers and speakers devoted to excitements 
of controversy and thought.

The story of the immigrant Jews is all but done.  Like all stories
of human striving, it ought to be complete, with its beginning and 
its end, at rest in fulfillment and at ease with failure.  A story
is the essential unit of our life, offering the magical imperatives 
of "so it began" and "so it came to an end."  A story encompasses
us, justifies our stay, prepares our leaving.  Here, in these pages,
is the story of the Jews, bedraggled and inspired, who came from 
eastern Europe.  Let us now praise obscure men.