From Publishers Weekly
For its third annual anthology of the best Jewish writing, Jossey-Bass has installed a new editor, Arthur Kurzweil. He is well qualified for this task, having served as director of the Jewish Book Club and as editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers, a company that specializes in books of Jewish interest. He casts a wide net for this judicious selection of articles, short stories, poetry and book excerpts. The material is grouped thematically, covering topics such as Israel, current issues, religious education and practice, Jewish spiritual thought, Kabbalah, the Holocaust, 9/11 and anti-Semitism. There are also sections of poetry, fiction and Jewish humor. Kurzweil presents an impressive list of prominent authors and allows them to speak for themselves. Among the better-known writers are Elie Wiesel, Alan Dershowitz, Arthur Waskow, Blu Greenberg, Carol Diament, Adin Steinsaltz, Arthur Hertzberg, Cynthia Ozick, Irving Greenberg, Avi Weiss, Edward Koch, Marge Piercy and Herbert Gold. What is remarkable about the roster is its comprehensiveness-all shades of Judaism and of political opinion can be found, thus fully demonstrating the editor's objectivity in making his choices. Yoel Jakobovits contributes an excellent essay on stem cell research, in which he considers the ethical issues arising from this cutting-edge technology. In a sprightly introduction, Kurzweil denies any claim to such objectivity, asserting that decisions about what to include were highly subjective. Objective or subjective, he has done readers a fine service by bringing together a stellar, diverse collection for their enjoyment. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Kurzweil offers a wide range of Jewish writing by 56 authors on the subjects of Israel, current issues, religious education and practice, Jewish spiritual thought, kabbalah, the Holocaust, and anti-Semitism--in the form of poetry, fiction, and humor. In this third annual volume of the best Jewish writing of the past year, Kurzweil stresses the importance of presenting diverse points of view and topics that are particularly timely. To that end, the contributors include such well-known writers as Elie Wiesel, Amos Elon, Herbert Gold, David Grossman, Cynthia Ozick, Marge Piercy, Arthur Waskow, Arthur Hertzberg, and Adin Steinsaltz. Wiesel's piece is a letter to President Bush on the day that Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was meeting with Bush; Elon and Grossman examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and Ozick's article on kabbalah concerns the mythic passions of Gershom Scholem. Piercy's poem speaks of the solace of Rosh Hashanah, and Waskow discusses an Israeli soldier's refusal to serve in the occupation army. Like the two previous volumes, this one is provocative and highly relevant. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"The book goes beyond its subtitle's promise to extend wisdom and enlightenment for troubled times. It presents an optimish tempered by history - an optimish that is uniquely Jewish. Kurzweil's inclusiveness not only makes this a timely collection, but a timeless one as well." (Jewish.com)

For its third annual anthology of the best Jewish writing, Jossey-Bass has installed a new editor, Arthur Kurzweil. He is well qualified for this task, having served as director of the Jewish Book Club and as editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers, a company that specializes in books of Jewish interest. He casts a wide net for this judicious selection of articles, short stories, poetry and book excerpts. The material is grouped thematically, covering topics such as Israel, current issues, religious education and practice, Jewish spiritual thought, Kabbalah, the Holocaust 9/11 and anti-Semitism. There are also sections of poetry, fiction and Jewish humor. Kurzweil presents an impressive list of prominent authors and allows them to speak for themselves. Among the better-known writers are Elie Wiesel, Alan Dershowitz, Arthur Waskow, Blu Greenberg, Carol Diament, Adin Steinsaltz, Arthur Hertzberg, Cynthia Ozick, Irving Greenberg, Avi Weiss, Edward Koch, Marge Piercy and Herbert Gold. What is remarkable about the roster is its comprehensiveness - all shades of Judaism and of political opinion can be found, thus fully demonstrating the editor's objectivity in making his choices. Yoel Jakobovits contributes an excellent essay on stem cell research, in which he considers the ethical issues arising from this cutting-edge technology. In a sprightly introduction, Kurzweil denies any claim to such objectivity, asserting that decisions about what to include were highly subjective. Objective or subjective, he has done readers a fine service by bringing together a stellar, diverse collection for their enjoyment. (Sept.) (Publishers Weekly, August 11, 2003)

Kurzweil (From Generation to Generation: How To Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History) collects works dealing with the complex problems and difficult situations characterizing the modern Jewish experience. The volume is divided into sections on Israel, current issues, education, religion, Kabbalah, the Holocaust, 9/11, anti-Semitism, humor, poetry, and fiction. Questions of ethics, political action, and personal illumination are all discussed. Amos Elon's fair and detailed coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle and Andrew Wallenstein's discussion of the commercial aspect of Holocaust artistic representation are noteworthy. Jane Leavy's essay on Sandy Koufax, Gilbert S. Rosenthal's discussion of religious law, and Cynthia Ozick's article on Gershom Scholem are expansive and wide-ranging views of religion. A good addition to the series, this is recommended for Jewish studies collections.—Gene Shaw. NYPL (Library Journal, October 15, 2003)


Review
"Kurzweil's inclusiveness not only makes this a timely collection, but a timeless one as well." (Jewish.com)

"...he has done readers a fine service by bringing together a stellar, diverse collection for their enjoyment." (Publishers Weekly, August 11, 2003)


Book Description
Best Jewish Writing 2003 Contributors include: Leo M. Abrami Joseph Alpher Benjamin Blech Norman Berdichevsky Susan Berrin Lawrence Bush Talia Carner I. Century Phyllis Chesler Leslie Cohen Ralph de Toledano Enid Dame Alan M. Dershowitz Carol Diament Amos Elon Lawrence J. Epstein Mordechai Gafni Herbert Gold Shefa Gold Gloria Goldreich David Grossman Blu Greenberg Irving Greenberg Leo Haber David A. Harris Arthur Hertzberg Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin Paula E. Hyman Yoel Jakobovits Rodger Kamenetz Edward I. Koch Jane Leavy Amy-Jill Levine Andrei S. Markovits Bezalel Noor Cynthia Ozick Marge Piercy Todd Pitock Daniel Polish Daniel Asa Rose Alvin H. Rosenfeld Gilbert S. Rosenthal David Saks Zalman Schachter-Shalomi Peninnah Schram Eliezer Shore Lewis D. Solomon Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz William C. Speed Andrew Wallenstein Arthur Waskow Avi Weiss Sheila Weinberg Margaret Moers Wenig Elie Wiesel Valerie Wohlfeld The Editor Arthur Kurzweil is the former director of the Jewish Book Club and editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers. He is the author of From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History (Wiley, 2004).


From the Back Cover
Leo M. Abrami Joseph Alpher Norman Berdichevsky Susan Berrin Benjamin Blech Lawrence Bush Talia Carner I. Century Phyllis Chesler Leslie Cohen Enid Dame Alan M. Dershowitz Ralph de Toledano Carol Diament Amos Elon Lawrence J. Epstein Mordechai Gafni Herbert Gold Shefa Gold Gloria Goldreich Blu Greenberg Irving Greenberg David Grossman Leo Haber David A. Harris Arthur Hertzberg Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin Paula E. Hyman Yoel Jakobovits Rodger Kamenetz Edward I. Koch Jane Leavy Amy-Jill Levine Andrei S. Markovits Bezalel Naor Cynthia Ozick Marge Piercy Todd Pitock Daniel Polish Daniel Asa Rose Alvin H. Rosenfeld Gilbert S. Rosenthal David Saks Zalman Schachter-Shalomi Peninnah Schram Eliezer Shore Lewis D. Solomon William C. Speed Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz Andrew Wallenstein Arthur Waskow Sheila Weinberg Avi Weiss Margaret Moers Wenig Elie Wiesel Valerie Wohlfeld


About the Author
Arthur Kurzweil is the former director of the Jewish Book Club and editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers. He is the author of From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History (Jossey-Bass, 2004).

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Best Jewish Writing 2003 Contributors include: Leo M. Abrami Joseph Alpher Benjamin Blech Norman Berdichevsky Susan Berrin Lawrence Bush Talia Carner I. Century Phyllis Chesler Leslie Cohen Ralph de Toledano Enid Dame Alan M. Dershowitz Carol Diament Amos Elon Lawrence J. Epstein Mordechai Gafni Herbert Gold Shefa Gold Gloria Goldreich David Grossman Blu Greenberg Irving Greenberg Leo Haber David A. Harris Arthur Hertzberg Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin Paula E. Hyman Yoel Jakobovits Rodger Kamenetz Edward I. Koch Jane Leavy Amy-Jill Levine Andrei S. Markovits Bezalel Noor Cynthia Ozick Marge Piercy Todd Pitock Daniel Polish Daniel Asa Rose Alvin H. Rosenfeld Gilbert S. Rosenthal David Saks Zalman Schachter-Shalomi Peninnah Schram Eliezer Shore Lewis D. Solomon Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz William C. Speed Andrew Wallenstein Arthur Waskow Avi Weiss Sheila Weinberg Margaret Moers Wenig Elie Wiesel Valerie Wohlfeld The Editor Arthur Kurzweil is the former director of the Jewish Book Club and editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers. He is the author of From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History (Wiley, 2004).

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

he has done readers a fine service by bringing together a stellar, diverse collection for their enjoyment.

Publishers Weekly

For its third annual anthology of the best Jewish writing, Jossey-Bass has installed a new editor, Arthur Kurzweil. He is well qualified for this task, having served as director of the Jewish Book Club and as editor-in-chief of Jason Aronson Publishers, a company that specializes in books of Jewish interest. He casts a wide net for this judicious selection of articles, short stories, poetry and book excerpts. The material is grouped thematically, covering topics such as Israel, current issues, religious education and practice, Jewish spiritual thought, Kabbalah, the Holocaust, 9/11 and anti-Semitism. There are also sections of poetry, fiction and Jewish humor. Kurzweil presents an impressive list of prominent authors and allows them to speak for themselves. Among the better-known writers are Elie Wiesel, Alan Dershowitz, Arthur Waskow, Blu Greenberg, Carol Diament, Adin Steinsaltz, Arthur Hertzberg, Cynthia Ozick, Irving Greenberg, Avi Weiss, Edward Koch, Marge Piercy and Herbert Gold. What is remarkable about the roster is its comprehensiveness-all shades of Judaism and of political opinion can be found, thus fully demonstrating the editor's objectivity in making his choices. Yoel Jakobovits contributes an excellent essay on stem cell research, in which he considers the ethical issues arising from this cutting-edge technology. In a sprightly introduction, Kurzweil denies any claim to such objectivity, asserting that decisions about what to include were highly subjective. Objective or subjective, he has done readers a fine service by bringing together a stellar, diverse collection for their enjoyment. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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