Book Description
What does it mean to become a Jewish woman? Did you ever think that Judaism had any advice on how to deal with pressure from your friends? Arguing with your parents? Feeling stressed out? Well, this book shows you that Judaism can help you deal with all these things—and a whole lot more. The JGirl’s Guide is a first-of-its-kind book of practical, real-world advice using Judaism as a compass for the journey through adolescence. A fun survival guide for coming of age, it explores the wisdom and experiences of rabbis, athletes, writers, scholars, musicians, and great Jewish thinkers, as well as lots of girls just like you—girls who share your worries and concerns, and your joys. Here’s a place to turn to for honest, helpful discussion about the things that really matter to you: • Friendship • Eating • Health • Sexuality • Getting involved • Dealing with authority • Coping with stress • Self-esteem • Communication • Jewish Identity Now’s the time when you are thinking: Who am I? What do I believe in? Who will I become? The JGirl’s Guide provides Jewish writings, traditions, and advice that can help.

From the Inside Flap
This growing up business isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be: It can be complicated and scary and seem impossibly hard. With all the choices and challenges before you, how do you go from being a girl to being a young Jewish woman? The JGirl’s Guide is an inspiring, interactive book that can help you figure it all out. It explores what happens at school and with your friends. It shows you how to get along better with your family. It offers you a chance to hear the voices of other girls going through experiences just like yours. So go ahead, turn the page and start your own journey! Here are some topics you’ll find inside: • I’m a Jewish girl and so I’ll become a woman—is there any more to it than that? • I love my friends, but it’s hard to be a really good friend. • I love my parents, but do I need to honor them, too? • I like to eat, but I think about food a lot. • I like to be active, but I am really stressed out. • I feel healthy most of the time, but sometimes I don’t take care of myself. • I want to fit in, but I want to be true to myself. • I am curious about sexuality, but I am scared about it, too. • I need to say what I feel and think, but I may be hurting people when I do. • I want to make the world a better place, but there are just too many problems. • I am Jewish, but is this how I want to identify myself?

About the Author
Penina Adelman is the author of Miriam’s Well: Rituals for Jewish Women around the Year. Her most recent book, The Bible from Alef to Tav, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. She is a practicing social worker specializing in group work and has led pre–bat mitzvah and mother/daughter groups. She is the mother of an adolescent girl. Ali Feldman received a master’s degree from the Avi Chai Educator’s Program at Pardes and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and holds a BEd from McGill University. She conducts private bat mitzvah tutorials and classes that assist girls in experiencing their bat mitzvah with relevance and excitement. She teaches middle school Jewish studies and lives in New York. Shulamit Reinharz is the Potofsky Professor of Sociology at Brandeis University, where she serves as founding director of both the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and the Women’s Studies Research Center. Her most recent book (with Mark Raider) is American Jewish Women and the Zionist Enterprise.