Why Be Jewish? A Testament

The late Bronfman’s (1929–2013) last work effectively conveys “the deep and absorbing love” for Judaism that he found late in life. The book more than meets his stated goal of creating an accessible introduction for secular Jews seeking ways of finding meaning in their heritage without having to believe in God. He does so through a “distillation of the elements of Judaism” he most values, such as asking questions, performing acts of social justice, and engagement with Jewish texts, philosophy, history, and art. Little here will be new for readers who are already familiar with the Jewish Bible and ritual observance. His section on questioning authority, for example, makes much use of Moses and Job. Not all sections work equally well; transforming the escalation of the 10 plagues in Egypt into a business lesson to “be relentless” will strike some as a stretch. Bronfman also offers personal prescriptions by injecting anecdotes from his youth and taking pride in the legacy of his training program for young Jewish leaders; it has led to some remarkable initiatives, exemplifying the principles he emphasizes. This is a fantastic rumination on the principles and practices of Judaism for anyone interested in Jewish faith and culture. (Mar.)