Follow the soul treks of Jews lost and
found.
Be inspired to connect with Judaism in new ways.
Be inspired to connect with Judaism in new ways.
“No two people take the same
journey…. Yet the telling of each story can ease the
footsteps of those who follow…. It is my hope that
[these] tales will offer you camaraderie, a guidepost here and
there, and, most of all, the heart and strength to pursue your
own path.”
—from the Introduction
What draws Jews back to their religious
roots? What drives them away? What obstacles must they overcome
to find their way home?
Paula Amann candidly probes these
questions and more as she explores how secular and nominal Jews
are blazing their own trails toward a vibrant,
twenty-first-century Judaism. With the ear of a journalist and
the heart of a seeker, Amann weaves a tapestry of human
stories—of alienation, connection, spiritual detours, and
unexpected portals into a life of faith. The people you meet in
this engaging book will throw a fresh light on Jewish thought
and practice. And their tales of personal transformation might
just renew your relationship with Judaism—or send you off
on your own Jewish journey.
Topics include:
• Swerving In and Out of Other Faiths
• Traditions That Chafe
• The Arts as a Portal
• Healing Body and Soul
• Making a Jewish Life That Works
• … And Many Others
“So many ways to fill the God-shaped
space in a person’s soul. Many a reader will find his or
her answer here.”
—Rabbi
Harold Kushner, author, When Bad Things Happen to Good People
“Anyone interested in how American
Jews are pushed away from—and drawn closer
to—Jewish traditions, learning and thoughts—should
read these vivid stories of Jewish alienation and
rebirth…. An ideal gift for Jews and their friends at any
stage of their own journeys.”
—Sylvia
Barack Fishman, PhD, author, The Way Into the Varieties of Jewishness
“Rich in detail, and full of human
variety…. In this travel book for the Jewish soul, you
are very likely to see your own face reflected in the story of
a fellow traveler.”
—Rodger
Kamenetz, author, The History of Last Night’s Dream and The Jew in
the Lotus
“A moving collection of illuminating
stories that helps us reclaim the blessings that already belong
to us.”
—Rabbi
Naomi Levy, author, To Begin Again and Talking to God
“A book of soulful journeys,
punctuated by the search for meaning....While the stories are
told by others, in their words we can find our own steps along
the sacred path as well.”
—Rabbi
Kerry M. Olitzky, editor, The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life:
A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal
A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal
“Rich, thoughtful, inspiring….
These carefully told stories reverberate with humor and
honesty.”
—Lee
Meyerhoff Hendler, author, The Year Mom Got Religion:
One Woman’s Midlife Journey into Judaism
One Woman’s Midlife Journey into Judaism
Paula Amann is
a former news editor of the Washington
Jewish Week. She is also a former
staff writer at B’nai Brith International, and winner of
three Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in journalism. A
Chicago native, she lives with her family near Washington, D.C.
