100 Jewish Things to Do Before You Die

In this humorous and well-researched volume, Sheklin Davis has compiled a list of 100 things to put on a Jewish bucket list. Some activities take just a few minutes and are more cultural, such as eating a knish or gefilte fish, while others, such as fasting on Yom Kippur, comforting one who mourns, or learning the Shema, take important Jewish traditions and laws to heart. Experiencing Jewish culture and appreciating famous Jewish personalities features prominently on her list, and a number of the ideas poke good-hearted fun at stereotypical Jewish behaviors, such as “Feel Guilty” and “Call Your Mother (She Worries...).” Each listing is one to two pages containing a concise, meaningful background and summary and a relevant photograph, making the book quick and easy to read and understand, and underscoring Sheklin Davis’s hope that this work will be a “gateway drug to a more Jewish life.” Her recommendations are suffused with humor and love, and though some seem trivial, many others will offer readers a strong sense of Jewish pride and provide a glimpse into a rich and multifaceted religion and culture. (Feb.)