I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl

When Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was brutally murdered in Pakistan, many Jews were particularly touched by his last words affirming his Jewish identity. Many were moved to reflect on or analyze their feelings toward their lives as Jews. The saying "two Jews, three opinions" well reflects the Jewish community's broad range of views on any topic. I Am Jewish captures this richness of interpretation and inspires Jewish people of all backgrounds to reflect upon and take pride in their identity. Contributions, ranging from major essays to a paragraph or a sentence, come from adults as well as young people in the form of personal feelings, statements of theology, life stories and historical reflections. Despite the diversity, common denominators shine through clearly and distinctly.

"Lack of consensus highlights the extreme variations in Jewish views, indicating that one value of this collection is its demonstration that a healthy diversity of opinion continues to characterize the Jewish community." Publishers Weekly

"The eclectic nature of the contributors makes for a varied level of sophistication, thoughtfulness, and comprehensiveness — but maybe that's the point. Collectively, this volume demonstrates the varied nature of Jewish identity in the world today." Library Journal

"A fitting tribute to Daniel Pearl." Booklist