A Second Life

John 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...
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John 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, he is shown the significance of Torah study as both an intellectual and a spiritual experience.