A Second Life: A journey into traditional Judaism - Softcover

ohn Bergman is a successful Jewish
attorney, married to Ronni Katz a licensed dietician, and father to Betty. He
was never given a Jewish education. His father, a disgruntled Holocaust
survivor, was angry with God for being silent during the Holocaust, and
determined to strip himself and his family of any connection to his birth
religion. Faced with a life threatening illness, John makes a promise to God
that if he recovers he will commit to traditional Judaism. This is a story
about an intellectual and spiritual journey told through vignettes that portray
the everyday experiences of the traditional Jewish family. A story of faith,
family and friendship.

The reader is given a glimpse of the life of an Orthodox Jewish family that includes
a potpourri of spiritual experiences: the parental pride inspired by an authentic
Bar Mitzvah, the ecstasy that is generated at a Yeshiva wedding, the sanctity of Shabbos,
the symbolism and joy of the festivals and the awe-inspiring quality of the High
Holidays. Last but not least, the reader is shown the significance of Torah
study as both an intellectual and a spiritual experience.