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I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl
I Am Jewish Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl Author:Judea Pearl, Ruth Pearl WINNER OF THE 2004 NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FOR ANTHOLOGIES! — Being Jewish. What does it mean?today?and for the future? Listen in as Jews of all backgrounds reflect, argue, and imagine. — When Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was brutally murdered in Pakistan, many Jews were particularly touched by his last words affirming his Jewish i... more »dentity. Many were moved to reflect on or analyze their feelings toward their lives as Jews.
The saying "two Jews, three opinions" well reflects the Jewish community?s broad range of views on any topic. I Am Jewish captures this richness of interpretation and inspires Jewish people of all backgrounds to reflect upon and take pride in their identity. Contributions, ranging from major essays to a paragraph or a sentence, come from adults as well as young people in the form of personal feelings, statements of theology, life stories, and historical reflections. Despite the diversity, common denominators shine through clearly and distinctly.
This inspiring collection presents answers from Jewish people around the world?artists, entertainers, government leaders, authors, media personalities, scientists, community organizers, scholars, rabbis, and others?covering the religious, professional, and political spectrum. They explore:
? Identity?Our relationship to ourselves, how we define who we are in the most fundamental way.
? Heritage?Our relationship to family, community, culture, tradition, and our collective history.
? Covenant, Chosenness, and Faith?Our relationship to God, our understanding of the relationship between God and the Jewish people, and our understanding of Judaism as a religion.
? Humanity and Ethnicity?Our relationship to others who are not part of the Jewish people. How does a sense of particularism relate to the universal themes and teachings of Judaism?
? Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and Justice?Our relationship to the larger world, and what "I am Jewish" means for what we do with our lives as we address our responsibilities in the world.
In this critical time in our history, I Am Jewish will motivate people throughout the Jewish community to think about their lives as Jews, and have a profound effect on the way younger Jews shape their identity in years to come. It will help people of all faiths and backgrounds to better understand Jewish people and Judaism.