The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys

by Joseph B. Meszler, Shulamit Reinharz, Liz Suneby, Diane Heiman

Overview

Who am I? How do I feel about myself? Do I seem cool? Do I fit in?

"At a bar mitzvah people talk about becoming a man in the Jewish religion, but what is that supposed to mean? For sure it means you are no longer a child, but you are also not yet an adult. Fortunately, there's no one official definition of manhood, just as there is no one official way of being Jewish. That's where this book comes in."
—from the Preface

Courage, friends, stress, sex, God, identity—these are some of the things that concern teen guys. This book addresses those concerns—without preaching, judgment or criticism—to help you figure out what becoming a Jewish man means to you.

It presents surprising facts, interesting stories, ideas and actions taken by Jewish men today and all the way back to biblical times to show how they answered the same kinds of questions you're asking yourself. It challenges stereotypes and myths, and offers different opinions, not only from old guys but from dozens of teenage Jewish guys just like you.

Like the Talmud, The JGuy’s Guide offers many perspectives and reflection questions to help you find your own truths.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683363958
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/15/2013
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 14 Years

About the Author

Rabbi Joseph B. Meszler is a noted spiritual leader and educator, recognized for his ability to connect the importance of Jewish tradition with everyday life. He is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys and author of A Man's Responsibility: A Jewish Guide to Being a Son, a Partner in Marriage, a Father and a Community Leader; Witnesses to the One: The Spiritual History of the Sh'ma and Facing Illness, Finding God: How Judaism Can Help You and Caregivers Cope When Body or Spirit Fails (all Jewish Lights). He is the rabbi at Temple Sinai in Sharon, Massachusetts, and an instructor at the Kehillah Schechter Academy.

Rabbi Joseph B. Meszler is available to speak on the following topics:

• The Spiritual History of the Sh'ma: What "God Is One" Might Mean
• Not Your Father's Brotherhood: What Being a Jewish Man Meant Then and Now
• How Judaism Can Help You Cope with Illness

Click here to contact the author.

Dr. Shulamit Reinharz is the Potofsky Professor of Sociology at Brandeis University, where she serves as founding director of both the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and the Women's Studies Research Center. She is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys and The JGirl’s Guide: The Young Jewish Women's Handbook for Coming of Age (both Jewish Lights).

Liz Suneby is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys; The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitvah … and Your Life; It's a ... It's a ... It's a Mitzvah (all Jewish Lights) and coauthor of the Children's Choice Award winner See What You Can Be: Explore Careers That Could Be for You!

Liz Suneby is also available to speak on the following topic:

• Mitzvah Projects

Diane Heiman is coauthor of The JGuy's Guide: The GPS for Jewish Teen Guys; The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah … and Your Life; It's a … It's a … It's a Mitzvah (all Jewish Lights) and the Children's Choice Award winner See What You Can Be: Explore Careers That Could Be for You.

Diane Heiman is also available to speak on the following topic:

• Mitzvah Projects

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Courage
I might be braver than I think. 1
Frenemies
I like my friends, but not always what they do. 17
True to Myself
Sometimes things bother me, but I am not comfortable speaking up. 35
One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours
I love my parent(s), but adults can be clueless. 51
God ... Really?
I am not sure I believe in God because
the world is pretty messed up. 71
The Torah of Everything
Now that I think about it, that's amazing! 87
Enough Already
Why am I so stressed out? 105
Falling in Lust, Falling in Love
I can't help thinking about sex, but I don't know what's right for me. 121
Not on My Watch
Does what I do actually matter? 143
Looking Inside at the Man I Want to Be
Beginning with myself. 161

Notes 181
Suggestions for Further Learning 185

Editorial Reviews

"What a cool book! Filled with ... the voices of teenage peers who talk with honesty about the challenges and joys in their lives. A great bar mitzvah or confirmation gift!"
—Dr. Ron Wolfson, Fingerhut Professor of Education, American Jewish University

"Wise, witty and, in its own way, deeply powerful. I could have used it when I was growing up. My teen years would have been a whole lot easier."
—Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, editor, Text Messages: A Torah Commentary for Teens

“For his bar mitzvah, get the kid a new tallis and kippah ... and this book. The wisdom and warmth of The JGuy's Guide will be a blessing as he grows into adulthood.... He'll thank you for that.”
—Rabbi Edward Feinstein, author, Tough Questions Jews Ask: A Young Adult’s Guide to Building a Jewish Life; rabbi, Valley Beth Shalom, Encino, California

“I often tell the story about how my life has been a journey and, had I turned left instead of right, who knows where I may have ended up. [This] book gives you that perspective about making choices in life.”
—Andre Tippett, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

“Chock full of Jewish and peer wisdom on the things that teen boys think about. What a gift!”
—Rabbi Sid Schwarz, senior fellow, Clal; founder, Panim Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values; author, Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Community

“A superb resource for working with adolescent boys. Raises timely questions, provides context for the big ideas in the book, and includes interesting material from popular culture that will engage boys.”
—Matt King, head of Rashi School, Dedham, Massachusetts

From the Publisher

10/21/2013
"Judaism says boys become men at age thirteen, but we all know that is not really true nowadays," writes Meszler (A Man's Responsibility), a congregational rabbi and educator. This male counterpart to 2005's The JGirl's Guide (Reinharz was a co-author) examines male adolescent concerns and yearnings through multiple perspectives: a short think piece from Meszler; reflections from peers ("Teen Voices"); a passel of supposedly relevant factoids (perhaps the book's weakest element); anecdotes about male Jewish role models of all kinds (Howie Mandel, for example, had to overcome mysophobia – fear of germs); thoughts from the Bible and other Jewish sources (the story of Dinah is evoked in a discussion of women as sex objects); and inspiring Hebrew texts. There's also space for prompted journaling ("Do you think prayer is important? Why or why not?") Teen boys are a tough crowd, and it would take a pretty extraordinary specimen to digest this book on his own. That said, its openhearted tone and willingness to wear its wisdom relatively lightly could make it an excellent tool for an individual or group exercise led by a trusted teacher. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly