Jewish Answers to Real-Life QuestionsAfter 71 years of serving Tupper Lake's dwindling Jewish community, Temple Beth Tefilah is closing its doors. But not before Michael Baskin, a rabbinical student, completes his spring semester field study there. His responsibilities include preparing Faith Blackman, the last student of Beth Tefilah, for her bat mitzvah. And this will be no easy feat for a "Rent-a- Rabbi, " as Faith sarcastically refers to him. But against the odds, Michael and Faith prove that Jewish continuity is possible -- even in Tupper Lake. Organized as a collection of Faith's diary entries, letters between Michael Baskin and a classmate, excerpts from the Tupper Lake Herald and other sources, the book invites readers into the minds of the characters themselves. Interspersed with these bits and pieces are AP newswire accounts of contemporary real life events dealing with issues of anti-Semitism, global unrest and morality. With this unique touch, Siegel highlights the important theme of "tikkun olam" -- both for Faith and for readers in their own lives. |
Contents
Introduction Acknowledgments | 6 |
Is Judaism a Nationality or a Faith? What Are the 613 Commandments? | 14 |
How Important Is Politics in Judaism? Why Are Moslems and Jews Fighting? | 21 |
Jews by Choice and Alternative Choices | 27 |
The Jewish Dating Game | 57 |
Appropriate Ways to Comfort a Jewish Stepmother Can I Be Jewish | 83 |
Is Judaism Sexist? Why Do Jewish Women Wear Wigs? Whats Niddah? | 89 |
Writing God or Gd Who Is Adonai? Does God Curse Us? Why Is | 123 |
What Is a Messianic Jew? Dealing with Messianic Jews in the Family | 140 |
Common terms and phrases
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