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The Conversation: A Novel
David Goldstein is a fairly typical Jewish American college student. All he really knows about his Jewish identity is that he’s expected to marry a Jewish girl and that the State of Israel is important, but that’s about it.
In his freshman year he develops a passionate interest not only in a beautiful and brainy non- Jewish coed, but also in some of the major philosophical questions. Is the purpose of life just to seek pleasure? Is there an objectively good way to live one’s life?
In his sophomore year, as his romantic life takes several twists and turns, David delves into Judaism and the philosophy of religion. Is the belief in God rational or is it a matter of faith? If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering in the world? How do Jewish teachings differ from Eastern mystical religions? Why don’t Jews accept Christianity? Soon, a disturbing personal event in his life propels him toward even deeper reflection.
In his junior year, a chance meeting draws him into the study of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. Finally, in his senior year, he charts his own path and comes to a conclusion that will shape his life forever.
David’s four-year journey takes him through a series of conversations with rabbis and professors, bull sessions with friends, emails, phone calls, letters, journal entries, exams, term papers, lectures, and even a Talmud study session. Follow David on this philosophical, spiritual, and intensely personal quest as he learns about God and Judaism – as well as a few other things along the way.
In his freshman year he develops a passionate interest not only in a beautiful and brainy non- Jewish coed, but also in some of the major philosophical questions. Is the purpose of life just to seek pleasure? Is there an objectively good way to live one’s life?
In his sophomore year, as his romantic life takes several twists and turns, David delves into Judaism and the philosophy of religion. Is the belief in God rational or is it a matter of faith? If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering in the world? How do Jewish teachings differ from Eastern mystical religions? Why don’t Jews accept Christianity? Soon, a disturbing personal event in his life propels him toward even deeper reflection.
In his junior year, a chance meeting draws him into the study of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. Finally, in his senior year, he charts his own path and comes to a conclusion that will shape his life forever.
David’s four-year journey takes him through a series of conversations with rabbis and professors, bull sessions with friends, emails, phone calls, letters, journal entries, exams, term papers, lectures, and even a Talmud study session. Follow David on this philosophical, spiritual, and intensely personal quest as he learns about God and Judaism – as well as a few other things along the way.
527 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2011
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 1, 2024
If you’re looking for a beautifully written novel, this isn’t the one for you. If you want a thought-provoking read that will leave you ultimately unsatisfied and frustrated- if a little wiser- go for it.
February 24, 2013
Joshua Golding's novel, The Conversation, is a book I found enjoyable to read. From the first page to the last page, the Jewish philosophical aspects held my interest on many levels.
David Goldstein is the protagonist who is from a secular family. He is a college student, and during his freshman year studies philosophy. This subject is the match that lit the flame for David, and therein begins his delving into religion, particularly Judaism. He is more or less an agnostic, and is seeking concrete answers regarding G-d.
David finds himself constantly questioning the foundation of his Jewish roots. He has rebelled due to a painful childhood, and more or less lost his belief in Judaism's doctrines and principles. That changed when he visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It had a deep and profound affect on him, evoking emotional responses to what he had seen. He begins conversing with the college Rabbi regarding his feelings and thoughts on what he has seen. The Rabbi offers suggestions, and is sensitive to David's questions.
David speaks to his friends concerning his perceptions. His friends' beliefs are varied. There is Simon who believes in pleasure-seeking, and during conversations with David, tries to direct him away from Judaism, or any spiritual higher power. David also has a friend named Ravi. Ravi believes in mystical forces, and is avid in his beliefs in the powers of meditation. George, on the other hand, believes that belief in Jesus, as the savior, is the answer to everything, and that David need look no further.
Aside from his male friends, he was in a relationship with a girl named Helen, and soon broke off with her. His fascination with Judaism, and its theories, dogma and doctrines overtook his attention to her and he neglected her. He was not vain, but he became self-absorbed in his searching for answers. He eventually meets a student named Esther Applefield, who is from an extremely Orthodox family. He is attracted to her in ways that are not permissible within her religious beliefs. Yet, he continues to pay attention to her. She inspires him to educate himself more on Jewish life. He seeks to learn more through her, and through others.
He is constantly conversing with Rabbis, Professors, friends, lecturers, etc., through face-to-face contact, emails, telephone calls, letters, in order to gain more insight and clarity regarding G-d's existence, and regarding Judaism's role in the religious spectrum.
In my opinion, Judaism itself, although not being a physical individual, could be defined as the main protagonist, and David could be the secondary protagonist, and his friends could be the antagonists.
But, I will leave it as David being the protagonist. David is fairly dynamic and not static throughout most of the book, and we see him mature from a freshman to a senior. He attains a state of individualization, as far as his thought processes, religious concepts and cognizance, and emotions. We see his emotional growth as well as his religious growth, and he does exhibit continual change. Yet, within all of his immediacy, his questioning, his seeking answers, his constant reflections and searching for concrete proof of the existence of G-d, we also see, towards the end of the book, a slightness of his being static, within his quests. He changed and advanced, but not entirely.
The Conversation is a novel that is filled with philosophical thought concerning religion. Questioning is predominant through conversation. Dialogues range from David-to student, David-to academic individuals, David-to Rabbis. The conversing covers Kabbalah, mysticism, metaphysics, logic, faith-based belief and denial of one's self within the religious realm.
I found The Conversation to be a metaphor for Judaism, for its philosophies, foundation, principles, and the all-encompassing educational and Jewish life aspects of Talmud and Torah. It is an intellectual book and a book that is strong in dealing with Jewish philosophy and religion. I was impressed with Joshua Golding's writing, and thought he was brilliant in infusing the pages with back and forth dialogue and conversation. There is much to ponder in the novel. It is masterfully writtene, in my opinion.
I highly recommend The Conversation to everyone.
Thank you to Urim Publications for my complimentary copy.
David Goldstein is the protagonist who is from a secular family. He is a college student, and during his freshman year studies philosophy. This subject is the match that lit the flame for David, and therein begins his delving into religion, particularly Judaism. He is more or less an agnostic, and is seeking concrete answers regarding G-d.
David finds himself constantly questioning the foundation of his Jewish roots. He has rebelled due to a painful childhood, and more or less lost his belief in Judaism's doctrines and principles. That changed when he visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It had a deep and profound affect on him, evoking emotional responses to what he had seen. He begins conversing with the college Rabbi regarding his feelings and thoughts on what he has seen. The Rabbi offers suggestions, and is sensitive to David's questions.
David speaks to his friends concerning his perceptions. His friends' beliefs are varied. There is Simon who believes in pleasure-seeking, and during conversations with David, tries to direct him away from Judaism, or any spiritual higher power. David also has a friend named Ravi. Ravi believes in mystical forces, and is avid in his beliefs in the powers of meditation. George, on the other hand, believes that belief in Jesus, as the savior, is the answer to everything, and that David need look no further.
Aside from his male friends, he was in a relationship with a girl named Helen, and soon broke off with her. His fascination with Judaism, and its theories, dogma and doctrines overtook his attention to her and he neglected her. He was not vain, but he became self-absorbed in his searching for answers. He eventually meets a student named Esther Applefield, who is from an extremely Orthodox family. He is attracted to her in ways that are not permissible within her religious beliefs. Yet, he continues to pay attention to her. She inspires him to educate himself more on Jewish life. He seeks to learn more through her, and through others.
He is constantly conversing with Rabbis, Professors, friends, lecturers, etc., through face-to-face contact, emails, telephone calls, letters, in order to gain more insight and clarity regarding G-d's existence, and regarding Judaism's role in the religious spectrum.
In my opinion, Judaism itself, although not being a physical individual, could be defined as the main protagonist, and David could be the secondary protagonist, and his friends could be the antagonists.
But, I will leave it as David being the protagonist. David is fairly dynamic and not static throughout most of the book, and we see him mature from a freshman to a senior. He attains a state of individualization, as far as his thought processes, religious concepts and cognizance, and emotions. We see his emotional growth as well as his religious growth, and he does exhibit continual change. Yet, within all of his immediacy, his questioning, his seeking answers, his constant reflections and searching for concrete proof of the existence of G-d, we also see, towards the end of the book, a slightness of his being static, within his quests. He changed and advanced, but not entirely.
The Conversation is a novel that is filled with philosophical thought concerning religion. Questioning is predominant through conversation. Dialogues range from David-to student, David-to academic individuals, David-to Rabbis. The conversing covers Kabbalah, mysticism, metaphysics, logic, faith-based belief and denial of one's self within the religious realm.
I found The Conversation to be a metaphor for Judaism, for its philosophies, foundation, principles, and the all-encompassing educational and Jewish life aspects of Talmud and Torah. It is an intellectual book and a book that is strong in dealing with Jewish philosophy and religion. I was impressed with Joshua Golding's writing, and thought he was brilliant in infusing the pages with back and forth dialogue and conversation. There is much to ponder in the novel. It is masterfully writtene, in my opinion.
I highly recommend The Conversation to everyone.
Thank you to Urim Publications for my complimentary copy.
March 27, 2022
Enlightening and educational... I grew up in an Orthodox home, yet I learned more about the religion than I knew and quite a bit about Jewish philosophy. I also feel I gained a [very] basic knowledge of Kabbalah, which I've always found fascinating.
I would like some of my Christian friends to read it, as well. The book phrases issues much better than I can.
I would like some of my Christian friends to read it, as well. The book phrases issues much better than I can.
December 6, 2018
Quotable:
A lot of modern art is a conscious rebellion against traditional standards. New artists go out of their way to do things totally differently than everything that was done before. They purposefully try to break conventions. But that doesn’t prove there isn’t such a thing as order and harmony, or beauty, for that matter. It only shows that there is such a thing as order and harmony. For without that, there would be nothing to rebel against!
If you claim to be superior to everyone else what can you expect but that people will try to prove you wrong?
The fact that some smart people go on believing something is not proof that it’s true or logical!
We are thrust into a world of action, a world in which we have to make choices. So, we must decide what we are going to believe the world is like if we are going to make those choices and live. The result is the following key point: what we choose to believe about the world is based on what kind of life we decide we want to live.
Christians want to have a relationship with the Creator, but at the same time they don’t want to commit themselves to monotheism in it’s pure form.
The Holocaust was a result of man’s free will. However... if the Holocaust is a result of man’s free will, that does not get God off the hook since God (if he exists) created humans with free will and can take it away at any time. God is responsible for what humans do.
Life is worthwhile, meaningful and moral, even if God does not exist.
How much evil is too much? This is a tough question. The only thing we can say for sure is that it would be “too much” evil of humans completely destroyed one another, or committed such horrible acts that the world was beyond repair.
If humans could figure it out on their own, why did God have to give the Noahide Laws to human beings at all?
Because not everyone knows in fact what they might know in principle. Not everyone uses reason to full capacity, either out of neglect or out of willful disregard.
The Free Will Defense: I know what I would say if I were trying to explain this to a friend. “God gives us choice, God gives us responsibility. The conditions for living a virtuous and spiritual life require that we be free, that we have the opportunity to bring about joy, but also that we be able to cause suffering. Having choice enables us not only to ruin our lives, but the lives of others around us.” Blah, blah, blah. Does this really make sense? If there’s no life after death, it doesn’t make sense in the end. The price, the suffering of the innocent, is too high to pay.
If you respect someone as a person, you don’t violate or frustrate their personhood – that is, their intelligence and free choice.
Whether we believe in God or not, the deepest form of wisdom is having new and creative insights onto the nature of ultimate reality.
A lot of modern art is a conscious rebellion against traditional standards. New artists go out of their way to do things totally differently than everything that was done before. They purposefully try to break conventions. But that doesn’t prove there isn’t such a thing as order and harmony, or beauty, for that matter. It only shows that there is such a thing as order and harmony. For without that, there would be nothing to rebel against!
If you claim to be superior to everyone else what can you expect but that people will try to prove you wrong?
The fact that some smart people go on believing something is not proof that it’s true or logical!
We are thrust into a world of action, a world in which we have to make choices. So, we must decide what we are going to believe the world is like if we are going to make those choices and live. The result is the following key point: what we choose to believe about the world is based on what kind of life we decide we want to live.
Christians want to have a relationship with the Creator, but at the same time they don’t want to commit themselves to monotheism in it’s pure form.
The Holocaust was a result of man’s free will. However... if the Holocaust is a result of man’s free will, that does not get God off the hook since God (if he exists) created humans with free will and can take it away at any time. God is responsible for what humans do.
Life is worthwhile, meaningful and moral, even if God does not exist.
How much evil is too much? This is a tough question. The only thing we can say for sure is that it would be “too much” evil of humans completely destroyed one another, or committed such horrible acts that the world was beyond repair.
If humans could figure it out on their own, why did God have to give the Noahide Laws to human beings at all?
Because not everyone knows in fact what they might know in principle. Not everyone uses reason to full capacity, either out of neglect or out of willful disregard.
The Free Will Defense: I know what I would say if I were trying to explain this to a friend. “God gives us choice, God gives us responsibility. The conditions for living a virtuous and spiritual life require that we be free, that we have the opportunity to bring about joy, but also that we be able to cause suffering. Having choice enables us not only to ruin our lives, but the lives of others around us.” Blah, blah, blah. Does this really make sense? If there’s no life after death, it doesn’t make sense in the end. The price, the suffering of the innocent, is too high to pay.
If you respect someone as a person, you don’t violate or frustrate their personhood – that is, their intelligence and free choice.
Whether we believe in God or not, the deepest form of wisdom is having new and creative insights onto the nature of ultimate reality.
January 19, 2013
The Conversation was a novelized dialogue centered around critical issues in Judaism. The story revolves around a the spiritual quest of the main character, David, a secular Jew, through 4 years of university. Through conversations, emails, and journaling, David and the reader are exposed to a wide range of thought regarding spiritual issues in Judaism, eg, existence of G-d, choseness of Jewish people, rational for dietary laws, etc. The ideas expressed were very interesting and thought provoking. I do think the long section regarding Kabbalah in David's Junior year was a bit overwhelming, and I skimmed through much of that. Otherwise, I thought the philosophic and religious perspectives presented were very interesting and enlightening. I would recommend this book to anyone who has questions about faith and G-d, from a Jewish perspective.
August 6, 2015
Great job of creating a character who searches for truth. And great job of making different philosophical and religious views come to life. There are very few works of fiction that can change the reader into a different person. This is one of them.
Want to Read
February 2, 2012This was a bit too heavy to read and not what I was in the mood for...I liked what I read so far which was just a little into it and I will get back to it later.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews