Baal Teshuva Reading List
-
Becher, Mordechai, & Newman, Moshe (1994). After the Return: Maintaining good family relations and adjusting to your new lifestyle—a practical halachic guide for the newly observant. Jerusalem: Feldheim Publishers.
Two instructors at Ohr Somayach Yeshiva in Jerusalem advise the newly observant on how to get along with their families. Sometimes surprisingly open to compromise (relatively speaking).
-
Danzger, M. Herbert (1989). Returning to Tradition: The contemporary revival of Orthodox Judaism. New Haven: Yale University Press.
A sociology professor’s study of American and Israeli ba’alei teshuva remains the classic contemporary source despite being somewhat dated. It is based on interviews from the mid-‘70s to the mid-80s.
-
Falcon, Rabbi Ted, & Blatner, David (2001). Judaism for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds.
An excellent primer on Judaism written in a witty yet respectful tone. (Full disclosure: Ted is my brother-in-law.)
-
Greenberg, Richard, H. (1997). Pathways: Jews who return. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson Inc.
A collection of 31 first-person oral histories of ba’alei teshuva. The author is himself a ba’al teshuva who hopes to inspire others to follow the same path. A wide range of experiences. There is an excellent glossary.
-
Hammer, Joshua (1999). Chosen By God: A brother’s journey. New York: Hyperion.
A secular journalist’s memoir of his relationship with his brother, who became a Hasid. Very emotional reading at times.
-
Kaplan, Rabbi Aryeh (1983). Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide. New York/Jerusalem: Moznaim Publishing.
A fascinating guide to what you may expect when ba’alei teshuva get married. Very scholarly, with more footnotes than text on many pages.
-
Willis, Ellen (1977). “In Jerusalem.” Rolling Stone, April 21, pp. 65-76.
A writer’s younger brother becomes a ba’al teshuva, and she agonizes over her own choices. Very thoughtful and well written.
Additional Baal Teshuva resources are available from the links page.
|
|
