My Jewish Year

My Jewish Year follows journalist Abigail Pogrebin's exploration of every Jewish holiday over the course of 12 months. She documents her immersive journey as she participates in rituals, consults with rabbis and scholars, and gains understanding of Jewish practices both familiar and obscure. The narrative chronicles Pogrebin's personal transformation from a secular Reform Jew to someone deeply engaged with tradition and ritual. Through her encounters with diverse Jewish communities and interpretations of observance, she investigates the historical and cultural significance behind each celebration and custom. This memoir serves as both a practical guide to the Jewish calendar and a reflection on faith, identity, and belonging. Through Pogrebin's direct experiences and conversations, readers gain insight into how ancient traditions maintain relevance in contemporary life while building connection between past and present.

Readers appreciate Pogrebin's honest perspective as a secular Jew exploring religious traditions. Many note her engaging writing style and ability to make Jewish holidays accessible to both Jewish and non-Jewish readers. Specific praise focuses on her personal reflections and interviews with diverse Jewish leaders. Common criticisms mention the book's repetitive nature and that some holiday descriptions feel rushed or superficial. Several readers wanted more depth on specific rituals and their historical context. A frequent theme in reviews is that the book works better as an introduction to Jewish observance rather than a comprehensive guide. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (150+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (30+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Her journey resonated with me as someone who grew up Reform but wanted to understand more about traditional observance." - Goodreads reviewer "Would have preferred fewer personal anecdotes and more historical background." - Amazon reviewer

Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz A former White House speechwriter chronicles her journey into Judaism as an adult through study, practice, and reflection.

The Sabbath World by Judith Shulevitz This exploration of Shabbat weaves personal narrative with cultural history to examine how the day of rest shapes Jewish identity.

The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs A secular writer documents his attempt to follow every rule in the Bible for twelve months, revealing insights about faith, tradition, and modern life.

This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared by Alan Lew A rabbi maps the spiritual journey through the Jewish calendar from Tisha B'Av to Sukkot, connecting ancient traditions to contemporary meaning.

The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer A study of how modern American Jews practice their faith presents research from congregations across denominations and geographical locations.

🕯️ Author Abigail Pogrebin spent 18 months immersing herself in every Jewish holiday on the calendar - even the most obscure ones - despite having grown up as a Reform Jew with limited religious observance. 📚 The book grew out of Pogrebin's popular column series "18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew" for The Forward, where she documented her year-long journey through Jewish traditions. ✡️ Pogrebin interviewed 62 rabbis and Jewish scholars across all denominations during her research, gaining diverse perspectives on holiday observances and meanings. 👯 The author is an identical twin whose sister Robin became a prominent Orthodox Jew, while Abigail remained secular - adding personal depth to her exploration of Jewish identity. 🗣️ Many of the holidays covered in the book were completely new to most American Jews, such as Tisha B'Av (commemorating the destruction of both Temples) and Tu B'Shvat (the New Year for Trees).