To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance Book

This book guides the reader through the basics of orthodox Jewish life. It sets a high bar for observance with an unapologetic emphasis on tradition. The book describes how Jews should live, and in most cases offers some guidance on why they should live that way. Rabbi Donin appears to have no sympathy for Jews who find strict observance difficult or impossible, but he does invite Jews from less observant backgrounds to learn and practice according to the traditional ways.

Personally, I found the book interesting because I didn't know most of it. My reform background gave me a sense of Jewish identity but not much knowledge or appreciation of everyday Jewish observance. Now at least I know the laws that I'm breaking, and I feel like I'm in a better position to explain the laws to curious non-Jews who occasionally ask about things like the laws of kashrut and holidays. I also appreciated learning about the orthodox perspective on Jewish spirituality. The traditional approach leaves less room for wondering about the nature or existence of God, and instead places more emphasis on perfecting religious observance according to the edicts of the Torah and the writings of the ancient rabbis. It's a useful perspective that my Jewish education did not seem to include.