What do you think?
Rate this book
Living a Jewish Life
Jewish tradition is a gift and a challenge. Living a Jewish Life is your guide to the cultural and spiritual treasures of Judaism, explained in ways that address the choices posed by modern life. From hanging a mezuzah to celebrating a wedding, from lighting Sabbath candles to choosing a synagogue that's right for you and your family, you will find "why-to's" and "how-to's" in these pages, which are tuned to both the realities of the modern world and the timeless, grounding rhythms of Jewish tradition. Spanning the spectrum of liberal Jewish thought -- Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform, unaffiliated, new age and secular -- this book provides a sensitive and practical introduction to making Judaism a meaningful part of your life. Filled with anecdotes, lore, memorable quotations, history, prayers and ceremonies, Living a Jewish Life celebrates the diversity, joy and fulfillment of Jewish life today. This book is filled with your Jewish choices.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
473 people are currently reading
1715 people want to read
About the author
Anita Diamant
36books4,657followersAnita Diamant is the author of thirteen books -- including THE RED TENT. Based on the biblical story of Dinah, THE RED TENT became a word-of-mouth bestseller in the US and around the world, where it has been published in more than 25 countries.
Her new book, a work of nonfiction. PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. A NEW CHAPTER IN THE FIGHT FOR MENSTRUAL JUSTICE will be published in May 2021., As different as they are, this book returns to some of the themes of THE RED TENT -- including the meaning and experience of menstruation.
Anita has written four other novels: GOOD HARBOR, THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN, DAY AFTER NIGHT, and THE BOSTON GIRL. She is also the author of six non-fiction guides to contemporary Jewish life, which have become classic reference books: THE JEWISH WEDDING NOW, THE JEWISH BABY BOOK, LIVING A JEWISH LIFE, CHOOSING A JEWISH LIFE, HOW TO RAISE A JEWISH CHILD, and SAYING KADDISH..
An award-winning journalist, Diamant's articles have appeared in the Boston Globe, Real Simple, Parenting Magazine, Hadassah, Boston Magazine and Yankee Magazine. PITCHING MY TENT, a collection personal essays, is drawn from twenty years worth of newspaper and magazine columns.
Her new book, a work of nonfiction. PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. A NEW CHAPTER IN THE FIGHT FOR MENSTRUAL JUSTICE will be published in May 2021., As different as they are, this book returns to some of the themes of THE RED TENT -- including the meaning and experience of menstruation.
Anita has written four other novels: GOOD HARBOR, THE LAST DAYS OF DOGTOWN, DAY AFTER NIGHT, and THE BOSTON GIRL. She is also the author of six non-fiction guides to contemporary Jewish life, which have become classic reference books: THE JEWISH WEDDING NOW, THE JEWISH BABY BOOK, LIVING A JEWISH LIFE, CHOOSING A JEWISH LIFE, HOW TO RAISE A JEWISH CHILD, and SAYING KADDISH..
An award-winning journalist, Diamant's articles have appeared in the Boston Globe, Real Simple, Parenting Magazine, Hadassah, Boston Magazine and Yankee Magazine. PITCHING MY TENT, a collection personal essays, is drawn from twenty years worth of newspaper and magazine columns.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
November 16, 2017
this was a really useful book to start learning about judaism with (for someone who knows nothing at all). it was more of a how-to guide to practicing judaism (aimed slightly more at practicing jewish people looking to enrich their practice, new jewish parents, etc) than an overview of the theology of judaism, which i think is more what i was looking for, but it was really interesting and informative! (the only reason it took me 10 days was that i was taking notes, it's very accessible)
March 20, 2011
So we're not Jewish but my son attends a Jewish preschool and has been asking me if we can have Shabbat together as a family on Friday evenings. I read this book to better understand Shabbat as well as the other Jewish holidays and traditions. It was helpful!
April 15, 2017
Like "judaism for dummies". A good starting point I think (not that I know anything which is why I read the book)
August 21, 2013
Much like , this is a book where most of the information contained within is now freely available and the needs for a reference work are much less now than they were back in the pre-Internet days (or, as we millenials call it, The Dark Times). However, while What Is a Jew is an entirely introductory text for people coming from the outside, Living a Jewish Life assumes at least a base level of knowledge and doesn't cover questions like "What don't Jews celebrate Christmas?" The focus is more on the how than the why. Much like actual Jewish practice, really.
Because of that focus, the book has a greater utility for people interested in learning the ins and outs of Judaism. For one, it actually contains Hebrew prayers, in both the original Hebrew and in transliteration. For another, most of the book is devoted to the range of Jewish practice for celebrating the holidays, dealing with synagogue or religious school membership, the birth and raising of children, marriage, death, food and , Shabbat, and so on. While the focus is heavily on liberal Judaism--its words--there are several references to how Conservative Judaism approaches the various topics. Anyone interested in the practices of Orthodox Judaism should probably look elsewhere (though see below).
That does mean the book is often a bit vague about some things, and it may end up confusing for people who don't come to the book with a pre-existing knowledge base. It would be pretty difficult to definitively answer the question of "what happens during a seder" after reading this book. Then again, it would be pretty hard to answer even if you polled a bunch of Jewish people too, so I suppose it's just reflecting reality. That's both a weakness and a strength of the book. Most of the descriptions of various rituals and practices are heavily caveated and enough alternatives are provided that it can be pretty difficult to determine what "living a Jewish life" actually involves. I guess that's also a weakness and a strength of Reform Judaism, as well, depending on who you ask. It's a bit more obvious for rituals like the brit ha-bat or the seder for Tu B'Shvat that don't really have a standardized form to deviate from yet, but it's evident in every description.
In addition, there is an extensive bibliography. Nearly every single chapter or subchapter ends with a list of additional books on that topic that the reader can go to for further information, and the book itself is heavily footnoted. The only problem with the list is that the book was originally published in 1991, so most of the books were published in the 80s at the latest. That's not really a problem for information on the Babylonian Exile or the destruction of the Second Temple, but books on modern practices are going to be woefully out of date on some issues.
All in all, it's better modern introductory text than What Is a Jew, and I recommend it for anyone who'd rather not dive into Wikipedia and start clicking links or who doesn't know what they want to know. It's pretty similar, though--as you may have noticed if you read the other review as well--and if you've read one, you probably don't need to read the other.
Because of that focus, the book has a greater utility for people interested in learning the ins and outs of Judaism. For one, it actually contains Hebrew prayers, in both the original Hebrew and in transliteration. For another, most of the book is devoted to the range of Jewish practice for celebrating the holidays, dealing with synagogue or religious school membership, the birth and raising of children, marriage, death, food and , Shabbat, and so on. While the focus is heavily on liberal Judaism--its words--there are several references to how Conservative Judaism approaches the various topics. Anyone interested in the practices of Orthodox Judaism should probably look elsewhere (though see below).
That does mean the book is often a bit vague about some things, and it may end up confusing for people who don't come to the book with a pre-existing knowledge base. It would be pretty difficult to definitively answer the question of "what happens during a seder" after reading this book. Then again, it would be pretty hard to answer even if you polled a bunch of Jewish people too, so I suppose it's just reflecting reality. That's both a weakness and a strength of the book. Most of the descriptions of various rituals and practices are heavily caveated and enough alternatives are provided that it can be pretty difficult to determine what "living a Jewish life" actually involves. I guess that's also a weakness and a strength of Reform Judaism, as well, depending on who you ask. It's a bit more obvious for rituals like the brit ha-bat or the seder for Tu B'Shvat that don't really have a standardized form to deviate from yet, but it's evident in every description.
In addition, there is an extensive bibliography. Nearly every single chapter or subchapter ends with a list of additional books on that topic that the reader can go to for further information, and the book itself is heavily footnoted. The only problem with the list is that the book was originally published in 1991, so most of the books were published in the 80s at the latest. That's not really a problem for information on the Babylonian Exile or the destruction of the Second Temple, but books on modern practices are going to be woefully out of date on some issues.
All in all, it's better modern introductory text than What Is a Jew, and I recommend it for anyone who'd rather not dive into Wikipedia and start clicking links or who doesn't know what they want to know. It's pretty similar, though--as you may have noticed if you read the other review as well--and if you've read one, you probably don't need to read the other.
October 3, 2008
This would be at the top of my favorite books I have ever read. Judaism moves me and inspires me and this book teaches how to live a better Jewish life. Lets us know how to incorporate Judaism into your everyday lives.
Read
January 20, 2025My libby hold ran out but I did enjoy learning more about my roots. Excited for my jewish journey this year ✡️🩷
October 12, 2018
An excellent guide that goes beyond the basics without being overwhelming. It is presented in a simple, almost conversational style that feels natural and easy to read rather than like a heavy textbook or lecture. I recommend this for anyone interested in learning more about Judaism.
April 2, 2024
Another super informative read! But I think my fav of the Jewish life books I've read is going to be Living Judaism by Rabbi Dosick.
August 7, 2011
Like Diamant's companion volume for converts, Choosing a Jewish Life, Living a Jewish Life is a fine resource for someone looking for introductory-level information on (non-Orthodox) Judaism. This book discusses various aspects of Jewish life, including home and community observances, the holidays, and the life cycle. This book makes no assumptions about the reader's level of knowledge or familiarity with Judaism, so it may be less useful to readers who have already spent time studying Judaism or living a Jewish life. In particular, the book is fairly light on the role of halachah in Jewish life. Diamant discusses the practices around kashrut and shabbat, for example, but does not really offer much in the detail of Jewish law surrounding these issues. While this book is very accessible, it is not quite as substantial as some other fine introductions to Judaism, namely George Robinson's or Rabbi Telushkin's .
August 8, 2008
I have like ten copies of this, and I am not even Jewish! Amazing book that explains so much and in such understandable ways about the hows and whys of the Jewish lifestyle.
I completely recommend this to all my friends.
I completely recommend this to all my friends.
Read
February 4, 2015Excellent overview of Jewish customs, traditions, holidays, rituals, etc. Good pace. Very informative.
June 30, 2012
Very open-handed and helpful outline of Jewish traditions.
November 21, 2018
Good, practical knowledge of some of the basics of Judaism.
February 18, 2021
Very insightful on the jewish lifestyle and traditions. I have even more respect for Jews, and how they managed to keep their faith and culture alive through persecution over thousands of years. Judaism is a beautiful religion and it breaks my heart that there is so much anti semitism in the world. I believe this book will make me a better ally in the fight to end antisemitism, and I hope to read books about other religions to fight more prejudices as well.
October 6, 2024
Excellent manual for beginners and people looking to learn more!
October 20, 2024
A description of Judaism from a modern, liberal (Reform or Reconstructionist) perspective. Diamant tells what Jews do in a way that can be of help to a new convert or an unobservant Jew who now wants to know more. But there is not much here for a moderately observant Jew. Diamant tells what, but not why. For a better book on why Jews believe what they do, prefer Sarah Hurwitz's "Here All Along" or Herman Wouk's "This Is My God." For explanations of Jewish observance with more depth, prefer Martin S. Cohen & Michael Katz, eds., "The Observant Life."
Read
August 26, 2023Finally bro
February 13, 2012
Oh hey, primer on Jewish practices, services, rituals, holidays, and rites of passage. You were straightforward, well-researched and reported, answered a lot of kind of basic questions I had, like "what do Jews do at temple on Friday night?" and also served as sort of refresher on the bits and pieces of knowledge I'd collected over the last few years. I will say you were somewhat procedural, as you intended to be, and not deeply spiritual and powerful, but I can dig it. You did not cover non-reform Judaism sufficiently, but it seems that's to be expected. Diamant's little lyrical introductions were so appreciated. What a dame. The end.
October 29, 2009
I picked this up for some thematic Yom Kippur reading and immediately realized that I was not the target audience. Nevertheless, I quickly completed it. This is really a primer for someone with minimal knowledge of Jewish customs (that would not be me). I think there are probably updated editions that might be a little more useful to someone who's interested (this edition was quaint, in that it was written before the Internet became widely available and mentions antiquated things like catalogs and ordering by mail).
October 23, 2012
This was the first book I completed on Judaism. It gives a good overview of jewish traditions and customs. It is very family oriented. It talked a lot about children, family, and stuff like that. I would not recommend it for someone thinking about converting. It gives barely any guidance on conversion and some of the traditions it explains (most of which don't come from the Torah) might seem pagan and frankly non-biblical to non-Jews.
May 9, 2016
A very interesting, useful guide to the things that influence Jewish lives, and how those influences show up in daily lives. Much more than I knew, and I considered myself reasonably knowledgeable. And balanced, showing how the different parts of the Jewish spectrum, from conservative orthodoxy to the very liberal, may differ in their interpretations and reflexions and still all be right. Presumes no previous understandingb(or mis-), which is really important in a book like this.
September 5, 2017
I like this introduction to liberal Jewish practice, and while I wish there was more about different kinds of traditional Jewish practice around the world, or more about theology and the contributions of feminists and recent social justice minded rabbis to Jewish thought, it is a solid place to start.
May 2, 2008
Goes hand and hand with her book on conversion...another one I pick up again and again. Her books on Judaism make fantastic starting points for different topics in Judaism, be they religious, cultural or historical.
August 22, 2008
I've read much of this but not all, and I did eventually have to return it to the library. It's good and its intent is quite worthy of respect, but it could use a bit of an update now, over ten years after its publication. I'll take it back out and finish it at a later date.
September 4, 2008
Ehh, this was ok. Basically, Reform Judaism (and this book) can be boiled down to: Whatever you believe (whatever works for you) can work within Reform Judaism. Lots of info about holidays and stuff.
May 7, 2010
The blessings interspersed do not make for very fluid reading, but this is an interesting book nonetheless, though very general. A good how-to "do" Judaism.
June 9, 2010
Very informative. I love this writer.
Read
September 23, 2010"Living a Jewish Life: Jewish Traditions, Customs and Values for Today's Families by Anita Diamant (1996)"
October 17, 2010
The Preface is great! The lists of additional reading is good to. I didn't agree with some of their statements. I guess I've traveled further down the learning road.
September 17, 2011
Used this during our early family life, introducing Shabbat traditions, holiday practices, talking about our choices.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.