READING LIST:

This book list was compiled with the help of members of Gereitzedek, a chat group for Jews by Choice.

Gereitzedek is a support group for those who are in the process , thinking of , or already converted to Judaism, and have a spouse, or significant other, that is less than enthusiastic. I have found this to be quite common, and the need for a support group very strong. If you are someone who feels you have had to shut down your study,and practice of Judaism because of alienating a spouse, this is the group for you. Note- the focus of the group is about working for peace in the house, and still acknowledging the person's aim to be a Jew. This is for men and women, and about repairing, healing, and honoring the partner's needs as well as one's own. This can be a difficult thing to do, and this support group can work to provide ideas on how to achieve this goal and still have Peace in the House.

• Criminal Kabbalah - a selection of mystery shorts by Jewish writers with Jewish themes.
• Shadows on the Hudson by Issac Bashevis Singer - his last posthumous novel and one of his overall best.
• The Reader - Bernard Schlink - short, fascinating story of post-war Europe but not a Holocaust memoir- also an Oprah Book Club selection.
• The Far Euphrates - Aryeh Lev Stohlman - a personal story set in Canada of a Rabbi's son's journey of self-discovery.
• Almost Any Book by Cynthia Ozick -The Messiah of Stockholm, The Pagan Rabbi
• Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass and Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schultz
• Diary of an Adulterous Woman by Curt Leviant
• Shiksa Goddess: Or How I Spent My Forties, The Sisters Rosenzweig, The Heidi
• Chronicles, An American Daughter all by Wendy Wasserstein
• Through the Unknown, Remembered Gate: A Spiritual Journey by Emily Benedek
• Strange Fire by Melville Jules Bukiet-Mideast thriller Coney  by Amram Ducovny-story of the author's youth in 1930's Coney Island
• When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant- the fight for Israel
• Paradise Park, Kaaterskill Falls, The Family Markowitz by Allegra Goodman
• Louisa by Simone Zelitch-Arriving in Haifa from Hungary
• The Sparrow, Children of God written by JBC, Mary Doria Russel
• The Ritual Bath and other Faye Kellerman mysteries based in the Orthodox world.
• The Source by James Michener
• The Name by Michal Grovin- Child of Holocaust survivors
• The Red Tent- Anita Diamont Based on biblical story of Dinah in Jacob's family
• In The Days of Simon Stern, A Hero in His Time- Arthur Cohen
• Almonds and Raisins, Scattered Seed, Children's Children- part of a family saga by Maisie Mosco
• The Assistant by Bernard Malamud and especially his short story , The Jewbird
• For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander
• The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Amy Bender
• Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay
• Exodus by Leon Uris- the founding of Israel
• The Chosen by Chaim Potok
• Friday, the Rabbi slept Late- Harry Kemelman-the first in a series of mystery stories with Rabbi as detective
• Majorie Morningstar- Herman Wouk
• Bee Season by Myla Goldberg- a sad but hilarious account of a young girl's sudden gift and the havoc it creates for her dysfunctional family.

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