3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't forget the Kreplach and Wontons!!!, Feb 22 2005
By Magic - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Chicken Soup with Chopsticks: A Jew's Struggle for Truth in an Interfaith Relationship (Paperback)
This book is tasty!!! Just like both Chinese and Jewish food. The author Jack Botwinik has the ability to really bring you personally right into his struggle, as you are truly there with them in their journey. I felt that I actually heared the author as well as all the other characters speaking to me. Like I really got to know them, and I could not put the book down as I was so excited to see what would end up happening. I learned many things about Judaism, Chinese culture, mysticism, the conversion process, relationships and dating, other religions and philosophies, and life in general. All on a very personal level.
Thanks Jack for a GREAT read and for bringing me into your life!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Introspective Baal Teshuvah Story; less about conversion than religious growth, May 14 2006
By Jennifer M. Macleod "yiddishe supermama" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Chicken Soup with Chopsticks: A Jew's Struggle for Truth in an Interfaith Relationship (Paperback)
This is truly Botwinik's story; his girlfriend (now wife) Belinda (now Bina Ester) appears only in glimpses, but although it is ostensibly a conversion story, it is more a fascinating tale of Botwinik's own "Baal Teshuvah" journey towards traditionally observant Judaism.
This is a journey I've taken myself, so can definitely relate to the themes in the book... and the settings, too, are familiar from my own hours across the table from the central Bais Din which oversees conversions here in Toronto.
Botwinik is honest to the extreme, and the book is written with great clarity, which sometimes gives it an overly introspective (read: navelgazing) tone.
Nevertheless, this would be a helpful book for anyone thinking they may land on on either side of the interdating-to-frum-Jew (frum = religious) or non-Jew-to-frum-Jew coin.
This is NOT the book I would give to somebody in an interfaith relationship to convince a partner to convert (what would I offer? Maybe Dennis Prager's Nine Questions or Kelemen's Permission to Believe). This is not even a book I would suggest giving to non-Jewish or non-religious friends or family to explain religious transitions in one's own life (for that, I'd recommend a heartfelt personal letter!).
This book presupposes a level of understanding and agreement on the part of the reader which makes it just right for exactly the right audience... and kinda wrong for the wrong audience. Hard to describe, but if you suspect yourself are on the derech (way, ie towards Torah observance), this book may prove very helpful, in part for its glimpses of the nitty gritty of the bais din conversion process.
I would have been happier with more chopsticks and less chicken soup - as a born-Jewish Baalas Teshuvah, I already *know* the chicken soup stuff! :-) But this book still has its place on many bookshelves... I hope it finds its way to yours.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't forget the Kreplach and Wontons!!!, Feb 21 2005
By Magic - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Chicken Soup with Chopsticks (Hardcover)
This book is tasty!!! Just like both Chinese and Jewish food. The author Jack Botwinik has the ability to really bring you personally right into his struggle, as you are truly there with them in their journey. I felt that I actually heared the author as well as all the other characters speaking to me. Like I really got to know them, and I could not put the book down as I was so excited to see what would end up happening. I learned many things about Judaism, Chinese culture, mysticism, the conversion process, relationships and dating, other religions and philosophies, and life in general. All on a very personal level.
Thanks Jack for a GREAT read and for bringing me into your life!