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Am I a Jew?

Lost Tribes, Lapsed Jews, and One Man's Search for Himself

by Theodore Ross

Am I a Jew?

Hardcover, 275 pages, Penguin Group USA, List Price: $25.95 | purchase

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Book Summary

Traces the author's personal journey in search of his Jewish heritage after being raised by a mother who renounced the family's Jewish faith, describing the author's soul-searching visits to Jewish communities and religious sites in America and Israel.

Read an excerpt of this book

NPR stories about Am I a Jew?

Faith Matters

What Does It Mean To Be A Jew?

A lot of Jewish people identify somewhere between orthodox and atheist. As Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur approach many might come face-to-face with questions about faith and identity. Host Michel Martin talks with Theodore Ross about his book and his journey to answer the question, Am I A Jew?

Note: Book excerpts are provided by the publisher and may contain language some find offensive.

Excerpt: Am I A Jew?

Am I a Jew?

Am I a Jew? It is an obvious question, but one that even the most sophisticated minds struggle to answer. It's a silly question, except millions have lost their lives, depending on their response. It's a religious question, except when an atheist asks it. There is, admittedly, a certain Hebraic quality in even asking it.

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