CONVERSIONS

1. BOOKS

  • Ariel, David S. What Do Jews Believe(“Excellent resource, from the perspective of all denominations!”)
  • Aaron, David. His books in general.
  • Alpert, Rebecca; Jacob, Staub. Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach.
  • Blech, Rabbi Benjamin. Idiot’s Guidebooks and Understanding Judaism: the Basics of Deed and Creed.(Teacher of Intro to Judaism at Yeshiva University)
  • Cohen, Martin Ed.; Michael Katz Ed. The Observant Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews
  • Cooper, Rabbi DavidGod is a Verb and other books.
  • Falcon, Rabbi Ted; David BlatnerJudaism for Dummies
  • Gillman, NeilConservative Judaism: The New Century
  • Green, Rabbi Arthur. Ehyeh (Great intro to Kabbalah from a spiritual perspective. Green’s teaching combines intellectual rigor with spiritual awareness.)
  • Heschel, Abraham Joshua. His books in general.
  • Holtz, BarryBack to the Sources (Anthology)
  • Jacobson, Rabbi SimonA Meaningful Life.
  • Klein, IsaacA Guide to Jewish Practice
  • Kushner, LawrenceGod Was In This Place and I, i Did Not Know It. (Good intro to Jewish spirituality through text study).
  • Marcus, Ivan. The Jewish Life Cycle: Rites of Passage from Biblical to Modern Times. (One description: “Great book on life cycle which shows how Jewish customs change over time and were influenced by surrounding cultures. Fascinating but a little challenging for young college students.”)
  • Orenstein, Rabbi DebraJewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones and Lifecycles &Jewish Women on Biblical Themes in Contemporary Life (Jewish Lights). For downloadable teachings and scholar-in-residence information, please visit www.RabbiDebra.com
  • Pinson, Rabbi Dov Ber. Series of books on spirituality.
  • Siegel, Richard; Strassfeld, Michael; Strassfeld, SharonThe Jewish Catalogue.
  • Steinberg, Milton. Basic Judaism
  • Syme, Daniel. The Jewish Home
  • Telushkin, Rabbi JosephJewish Literacy and Biblical Literacy. (Several people recommended this)
  • Wagner, Jordan. The Synagogue Survival Guide (easy to read, non judgmental and somewhat non platform-specific book.)
  • Washofsky, MarkA Guide to Contemporary Reform Practice (Revised Edition)
  • Waskow, ArthurSeasons of our Joy.
  • Jewish, Alive, and American. The Reconstructionist curriculum for conversion.
  • Choosing Judaism

 

SPANISH

Tapia Adler, Ana Maria Jewish Customs and Traditions 

(Foundation for the Preservation of Chilean Judaism)