This book has had more impact on me than any other one book on any Jewish subject.

I myself went to afternoon Hebrew schools, and was nodding throughout Donin's discussion of why they are so ineffective. My two kids are now in Jewish dayschools, and hopefully will be for the rest of their educational lives.

If you're worried that your kids will either turn out "too Jewish" or "not Jewish enough," this book will alleviate fears and provide an accessible path to creating a Jewish way of life that resonates with your own level of spirituality and committment.

Whether or not you have children, if you hope to be part of a Jewish community, this book is a warm and heartfelt starting point.

A MUST read for everyone who is dealing whith the infinite steps that should be climbe, during the raising of a jewish child, as she (he) should be raised.

Every detail of Jewish practice is in this book, along with some of R. Donin's own aggadot and midrash on why these practices are important. In the end though, R. Donin is a believing Jew, and aggadot aside, he would say that any practice we do, we do because it's a mitzvah.

Though Donin writes from an orthodox perspective, he is very gentle with the reader, never insisting that his way is the only way. He doesn't dictate, he encourages the reader to try what feels comfortable, and to explore, and provides material enough for a long, long exploration. I can't think of a single question about daily practice or synagogue etiquette that couldn't be answered by referencing this book.

This book is intended for Jews, and as he states, particularly for Jews who grew up in a household where Yiddishkheit was not present. R. Donin assumes a certain amount of prior knowledge (such as understanding the Hebrew and Yiddish words I've used so far), so this is not a book for non-Jews with a casual interest in Judaism. However, anyone who has read one or two basic books on Judaism, or anyone who grew up Jewish, even if just barely observant should have no trouble with this book.

Donin's writing is more than just engaging, it projects a kindness that really must be experienced. It was as though Zayde were reading aloud to me. The book has heart. Never once do I think that R. Donin has written this book because he is casting for people to turn back to orthodoxy. I really believe he was motivated out of a pure love for Judaism, and this comes out of the pages.

Being in the process of Baal Teshuvah, I have searched and read quite a few books on Orhtodox Judaism. No other book comes even close to exaplaining so many details of Orhtodox Judaism in such a simple way to understand. If you are intersted in coming back to you Jewish roots, this is the book to read. Everytthing from Holydays, Shabbat, to comforting the mourner is explained in this book. Also, many prayers are listed both in Hebrew and in English. Also, a brief but excellent chapter is devoted to the history of Judaism, from Abraham to the present.

As a French Catholic who has made the decision to convert to Orthodox Judaism, I found this book invaluable, both as a learning source and as a source of solace and joy. Rabbi Donin tells us, in lovely language, just what everyday life is like for the Orthodox Jew.

Unlike many other religions, Judaism is primarily a religion of action and not beliefs. Although certain basic beliefs do exist, much in Judaism remains open to personal interpretation. Judaism does not demand that other people convert; in fact rabbis are encouraged to make at least three vigorous attempts at discouraging the possible convert. Conversion is, nevertheless, possible, and it is important to remember that Abraham was a convert, as was Ruth, a descendant of King David.

In To Be a Jew, Rabbi Donin gives an overview of the history of Judaism and tells us that it was Maimonides who explained that any human being who faithfully observes the Seven Laws of Noah earns a proper place in heaven, no matter what religion he follows. Additionally, The Torah of Moses is a truth for all humanity, whether Jewish or not. Therefore, if one is not prepared to embrace the Jewish religion fully, it would be far better for him to remain outside this beautiful faith.

The Holy Temple, as well, did not benefit Jews only. When King Solomon built the Temple, he specifically asked the Creator to heed the prayers of the gentiles who came to the Temple to pray (Kings I 8:41-43). The Jewish prophet refers to the Temple as a "House for all nations," (Isaiah 56:7). The Temple was the universal center of spirituality, a concentrated point where the consciousness of our Maker filtered down into the world.

We also learn that in ancient times, the service in the Holy Temple during the week of Sukkos featured a total of seventy bull offerings. This, the Talmud explains, corresponded to each of the seventy nations of the world. In fact, the Talmud says, had the Romans only realized how much benefit, they, themselves, were deriving from the Temple, they never would have destroyed it.

Although Judaism certainly does not consider conversion a necessity, what about those who, like me, do find that Orthodox Judaism is the only way to fulfill their own spiritual needs? As we learn in this book, the Code of Jewish Law (the Shulchan Aruch), prescribes three requirements for a valid conversion. Those three requirements are: (1) Mitzvahs. The convert must believe in one Creator and in the divinity of the Torah, as well as personally observe all 613 mitzvahs (commandments) of the Torah; (2) Milah. Male converts must undergo circumcision by a qualified Mohel or a ritual known as hatafas dam; (3) Mikveh. All converts must immerse in the Mikveh, a ritual bath linked to a reservoir of rain water. This must all be done before a court of three Jewish men who themselves are true believers, who accept the divinity of the Torah and observe the mitzvahs.

Conversion, as Donin tells us, must be motivated out of pure love and spiritual desire and not done for the worldly purpose of furthering business or marriage, for example.

Those who are simply interested in the Jewish liturgy or the everyday life of an Orthodox Jew will find this book very interesting, even fascinating, reading. But those who, like me, have made the firm and irrevocable decision to convert, will find the book invaluable.

"To Pray as a Jew" is one of those books it is hard to escape. It is used as a textbook in many Jewish classrooms; it is recommended by many Rabbis. There is no question that the book is thorough, accurate, and detailed. The main problem is it doesn't seem to know who its audience is.

The minutiae are so extreme that it even gives advice on what to do if you take someone's customary seat in the synagogue (it advises you apologize and ask if they want the seat; it insists that the person in question will rarely actually ask for it back). If you have never darkened the door of a synagogue, the incredibly long and detailed descriptions of how and why to pray could make your head spin. If, on the other hand, you are someone who has gone to a synagogue before, and wants to know WHY certain practices are done, or who wants an explanation of some of the more unusual rituals, the attention to practices such a proper dress and step-by-step diagrams on how to bow may evoke giggles rather than enlightenment.

The biggest error, however, is that it completely ignores the existence of the Reform movement. Many of the practices in Reform synagogues are substantially different from those mentioned in this book. Nevertheless, if Rabbi Donin truly wants to help a Jew be comfortable in "any synagogue in the world," as he purports to want to do, it is a major oversight to not at least mention that Reform synagogues exist, and that the practices are very different.

I have used this book occasionally as a reference, but I do not recommend that anyone read it straight through.

There are few books as easy to read as "To Pray as a Jew." You will find all the essentials ... from preparing to attend synagogue to what to do when you leave and thereafter. If you desire to learn how to make prayer an effective part of your everyday life, then you MUST read this book. It is a "how to", "when to", "what to", "what else" manual. You will certainly wear this book out!

In my opinion, "To pray as a Jew" is not for everyone. It is written by an Orthodox rabbi, and it does not say things many modern-minded people would like to hear. That is why I think that those interested in learning (about) Jewish prayers should start with somewhat "theoretical" writings on the subject of prayer and "mitsvot" in general by Y. Leibowitz. Once they understand that a prayer with a fixed text at a fixed hour is the only serious way to pray, they they may move to R'Donin's book, which is an extremely helpful practical guide to synagogue and Jewish prayer, written in a very warm and welcoming manner.

This book was very helpful and included some common sense parenting advice that, quite frankly, would be nice if it was more common. The author's main focus is on Jewish education. While he does review other options it is obvious his opinion is the traditonal Hebrew school with the goal being the child will continue to be dedicated to his faith long after his/her Bar/Bat Mitzvah. He is very encouraging of an orthodox upbringing and encourages parents to be involved in their children's religious education at home and at school. The lesson is "more is caught than taught", if it's important to you it will also be important to your child (i.e. marrying within the faith). He gives examples of prayers a young child can learn so that a child can begin as soon as possible to be involved with their faith and not just a casual observer. I think the part I found most encouraging was his emphasis on good parent-child communication and the parent setting the example for their child rather than leaving it up to the rabbis and teachers. Yet another book by Rabbi Donin that will never collect dust on my book shelf, I begged for more information and advice in the end.