What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it a nationality, a common language, religion, culture, ideology, or tradition? All of these subjects and more are discussed. Shenker explores ancient sacred texts, from Torah to Talmud; argues with prominent Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz; discusses art and assimilation with modern renaissance man Dr. Jonathon Miller; interviews writer Aharon Appelfeld and movingly bears witness to the Holocaust; talks to or about such Jewish writers and artists as Sholem Aleichem, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Raphael Soyer, and Chaim Gross; and offers fascinating detours into ghettos, kibbutzim, and the still flourishing world of Torah scribes, the Glasgow Jewish Lads Brigade, Yiddish show biz. Includes an Index.

(Key Words: Judaism, Jews, Religion, Israel Shenker, Israel, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Jonathan Miller, Aharon Appelfeld, Sholem Aleichem, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Raphael Soyer, Chaim Gross, Judaica, Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Dr. Jonathon Miller, Aharon Appelfeld, Holocaust; Sholem Aleichem, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bernard Malamud, Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Raphael Soyer, Chaim Gross).