What I’m Reading

To say that Jews are people of the book is an understatement.  Walk into any Jewish person’s home or sit in any rabbi’s office and you will see tons of books.  We are not just encouraged, but required to keep learning.  We read Torah every single year.  In fact on Simchat Torah we finish the last chapter and read the first in one night.  We’re always learning with the knowledge that the learning doesn’t ever stop.

I love that about Judaism.  I love to learn and I love that it will never end.  I’m juggling several books right now-all at the same time.

Jewish Wisdom by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin is on my Nookcolor and not even half way through it.  I can’t even tell you what I’ve read but my nook is full of notes, highlights and more notes.  Telushkin is thorough, which is why I continue to buy his books.  I feel like I’m given a wealth of knowledge AND ideas for more reading in his appendix.

One of the first rabbis I met assigned Jewish Literacyby Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.  She told me not to try to read it cover to cover and I did not heed that advice.   Reading this cover-to-cover is a HUGE undertaking and it is now being used as reference.

I Thank Therefore I am-Gateways to Gratefulnessby Rabbi Henry Glazer is the book I pick up when I need a bit of inspiration.  I’m half-way through the entire book but it’s a great refresher on a dreary spiritual day.

Essential Judaism by George Robinson, The Five Books of Miriam by Ellen Frankel and To Pray as a Jew by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin are all on my shelves as go-to  books for various needs but I’ve stopped reading them through.

Updated 10.13.11