Why be Jewish? What does it mean for you?

It’s a perennial question for modern American Jews. To explore and answer the question for yourself, join us in June and July for very special study and Kol Ami Book Club sessions as we dive deep into our Jewish identities and our shared identity as Congregation Kol Ami.

Our touchstone for the journey is the probing new book The Jewish American Paradox: Embracing Choice in a Changing World by Robert Mnookin, which explores past frameworks for Jewish identity and suggests how progressive Jews can forge a new definition for inclusion in Jewish communal life. Discussion of the book is spread over three educational moments.

  • 7 PM, Saturday, June 8, at Rabbi Doug Alpert’s home, as we kick off our discussion with some introspection and shared learning as part of our Shavuot celebration, our receiving of Torah.
  • 6:30-7:45 PM, Tuesday, June 18, at Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, as we discuss the first half of The Jewish American Paradox: Does your mother, your practice, your genes or your history make you Jewish?
  • 6:30-7:45 PM, Tuesday, July 16, at Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, as we discuss the second half of the book: How are old ways of judging Jewishness failing us, and are there other ways to think about our “tribe”?

What does being Jewish mean to you, and what more could it mean for you in learning, prayer, giving and helping in your own future? Join us to wrestle with these questions.

Leave a Reply