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Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk about Being Jewish
Sixty-two of the most accomplished Jews in America speak intimately—most for the first time—about how they feel about being Jewish. In unusually candid interviews conducted by former 60 Minutes producer Abigail Pogrebin, celebrities ranging from Sarah Jessica Parker to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, from Larry King to Mike Nichols, reveal how resonant, crucial or incidental being Jewish is in their lives. The connections they have to their Jewish heritage range from hours in synagogue to bagels and lox; but every person speaks to the weight and pride of their Jewish history, the burdens and pleasures of observance, the moments they’ve felt most Jewish (or not). This book of vivid, personal conversations uncovers how being Jewish fits into a public life, and also how the author’s evolving religious identity was changed by what she heard.
Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, Gene Wilder, Joan Rivers, and Leonard Nimoy talk about their startling encounters with anti-Semitism.
Kenneth Cole, Eliot Spitzer, and Ronald Perelman explore the challenges of intermarriage.
Mike Wallace, Richard Dreyfuss, and Ruth Reichl express attitudes toward Israel that vary from unquestioning loyalty to complicated ambivalence.
William Kristol scoffs at the notion that Jewish values are incompatible with Conservative politics.
Alan Dershowitz, raised Orthodox, talks about why he gave up morning prayer.
Shawn Green describes the pressure that comes with being baseball’s Jewish star.
Natalie Portman questions the ostentatious bat mitzvahs of her hometown.
Tony Kushner explains how being Jewish prepared him for being gay.
Leon Wieseltier throws down the gauntlet to Jews who haven’t taken the trouble to study Judaism.
These are just a few key moments from many poignant, often surprising, conversations with public figures whom most of us thought we already knew.
“When my mother got her nose job, she wanted me to get one, too. She said I would be happier.”
—Dustin Hoffman
“It’s a heritage to be proud of. And then, too, it’s something that you can’t escape because the world won’t let you; so it’s a good thing you can be proud of it.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“My wife [Kate Capshaw] chose to do a full conversion before we were married in 1991, and she married me as a Jew. I think that , more than anything else, brought me back to Judaism.”—Steven Spielberg
“As someone who was born in Israel, you’re put in a position of defending Israel because you know how much is at stake.”—Natalie Portman
“Jewish introspection and Jewish humor is a way of surviving . . . if you’re not handsome and you’re not athletic and you’re not rich, there’s still one last hope with girls, which is being funny.”—Mike Nichols
“I felt not only this enormous pride at being a Jew; I felt this enormous void at not being a better Jew.”—Ronald O. Perelman
“American Jews, like Americans, have a very consumerist attitude toward their they pick and choose the bits of this and that they like.”—Leon Wieseltier
“I thought if I had straight hair and a perfect nose, my whole career would be different.”—Sarah Jessica Parker
“I’ve always rebelled a little when people say, ‘My Jewish values lead me to really care about the poor.’ I know some Christians who care about the poor, too.”—William Kristol
“There were many times when I kept silent about being Jewish as I got older, when Jewish jokes were told.”—William Shatner
“‘Jew bastard’ was something I heard a lot.”—Leonard Nimoy.
“I always liked shiksas.”—Larry King
“It specifically says in the Torah that you can eat shrimp and bacon in a Chinese restaurant.”—Jason Alexander
“Yom Kippur is something I do alone , with nobody else, because I believe that my relationship with God is mine and mine only.”—Diane von Furstenberg
Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, Gene Wilder, Joan Rivers, and Leonard Nimoy talk about their startling encounters with anti-Semitism.
Kenneth Cole, Eliot Spitzer, and Ronald Perelman explore the challenges of intermarriage.
Mike Wallace, Richard Dreyfuss, and Ruth Reichl express attitudes toward Israel that vary from unquestioning loyalty to complicated ambivalence.
William Kristol scoffs at the notion that Jewish values are incompatible with Conservative politics.
Alan Dershowitz, raised Orthodox, talks about why he gave up morning prayer.
Shawn Green describes the pressure that comes with being baseball’s Jewish star.
Natalie Portman questions the ostentatious bat mitzvahs of her hometown.
Tony Kushner explains how being Jewish prepared him for being gay.
Leon Wieseltier throws down the gauntlet to Jews who haven’t taken the trouble to study Judaism.
These are just a few key moments from many poignant, often surprising, conversations with public figures whom most of us thought we already knew.
“When my mother got her nose job, she wanted me to get one, too. She said I would be happier.”
—Dustin Hoffman
“It’s a heritage to be proud of. And then, too, it’s something that you can’t escape because the world won’t let you; so it’s a good thing you can be proud of it.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“My wife [Kate Capshaw] chose to do a full conversion before we were married in 1991, and she married me as a Jew. I think that , more than anything else, brought me back to Judaism.”—Steven Spielberg
“As someone who was born in Israel, you’re put in a position of defending Israel because you know how much is at stake.”—Natalie Portman
“Jewish introspection and Jewish humor is a way of surviving . . . if you’re not handsome and you’re not athletic and you’re not rich, there’s still one last hope with girls, which is being funny.”—Mike Nichols
“I felt not only this enormous pride at being a Jew; I felt this enormous void at not being a better Jew.”—Ronald O. Perelman
“American Jews, like Americans, have a very consumerist attitude toward their they pick and choose the bits of this and that they like.”—Leon Wieseltier
“I thought if I had straight hair and a perfect nose, my whole career would be different.”—Sarah Jessica Parker
“I’ve always rebelled a little when people say, ‘My Jewish values lead me to really care about the poor.’ I know some Christians who care about the poor, too.”—William Kristol
“There were many times when I kept silent about being Jewish as I got older, when Jewish jokes were told.”—William Shatner
“‘Jew bastard’ was something I heard a lot.”—Leonard Nimoy.
“I always liked shiksas.”—Larry King
“It specifically says in the Torah that you can eat shrimp and bacon in a Chinese restaurant.”—Jason Alexander
“Yom Kippur is something I do alone , with nobody else, because I believe that my relationship with God is mine and mine only.”—Diane von Furstenberg
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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371 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 6, 2015
Lately I have been reading all the books by one author in succession. Stars of David is an anthology where the author Abigail Pogrebrin interviews 62 famous Americans who happen to be Jewish. And after reading it I find the state of Judaism (besides orthodoxy) in this country alarming.
Of the 62 people Pogrebrin interviewed, the majority shared these characteristics: turned off by Hebrew school, parents loosely observed traditions, married out of faith, do not observe much as adults, would not be surprised if children married out of faith yet would love to see children have Jewish foundations, have an inherent or perhaps subconscious longing to be more Jewish.
These celebrities are but a small sample size of Jews in America but represent all that is wrong with secular Judaism. What lead these people to abandon Judaism and marry out of faith? Most were turned off by Hebrew school and organized religion. Interestingly not a single Orthodox Jew was interviewed for this anthology. Would that have turned off the rest? As frum by choice I only hope that these personas' children and grandchildren somehow see the joys of being Jewish and re-enter the fold so to speak. The one positive is that the author after interviewing these people decided to be take on more observances in her own life.
I give the book 3 stars because even though I was turned off by people's lack of observance, their interviews were candid and most often humorous as well. This is definitely a good book for discussion.
Of the 62 people Pogrebrin interviewed, the majority shared these characteristics: turned off by Hebrew school, parents loosely observed traditions, married out of faith, do not observe much as adults, would not be surprised if children married out of faith yet would love to see children have Jewish foundations, have an inherent or perhaps subconscious longing to be more Jewish.
These celebrities are but a small sample size of Jews in America but represent all that is wrong with secular Judaism. What lead these people to abandon Judaism and marry out of faith? Most were turned off by Hebrew school and organized religion. Interestingly not a single Orthodox Jew was interviewed for this anthology. Would that have turned off the rest? As frum by choice I only hope that these personas' children and grandchildren somehow see the joys of being Jewish and re-enter the fold so to speak. The one positive is that the author after interviewing these people decided to be take on more observances in her own life.
I give the book 3 stars because even though I was turned off by people's lack of observance, their interviews were candid and most often humorous as well. This is definitely a good book for discussion.
July 7, 2022
I really enjoyed reading Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish by Abigail Pogrebin. The book is a compilation of sixty-two interviews of prominent Jews in American society. Interviews with Dustin Hoffman, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, Steven Spielberg and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are included. This book is a fascinating look into how American Jews view themselves and their relation to the tenets of Judaism.
Many of the Jews interviewed in this book do not claim to have a personal relationship with God. Actor Gene Wilder comments, "I feel very Jewish and I feel very grateful to be Jewish. But I don’t believe in God or anything to do with the Jewish religion.” Being Jewish is generally portrayed as a cultural and ethnic identification. Most do not strictly practice the rituals of Judaism in their personal lives, yet they speak of their identity of being Jewish as being defined and an undeniable part of who they are. When Neil Simon is asked how much it matters to him being Jewish, he responds: "It matters to me like my hands matter to me. . . It’s there.”
A common thread that runs through the book is how these Jewish figures have a shared understanding of hard work and responsibility. Some attended Hebrew school in their youth and while the experience was not pleasant, they see this as a part of their shaping influences as individuals. Famous magician David Copperfield recalls hating Hebrew school but he says, "I’m happy for the experience now and if I’m lucky enough to have children someday, I’ll do the same thing for them—to give them a sense of purpose and place."
As an evangelical Christian, I have respect for the Jewish people and their place in society. The apostle Paul says in the epistle to the Romans, to them "belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises." (Romans 9:4) I find it amazing that the Jewish people have been preserved over centuries of human history. Actor Richard Dreyfuss observes, "The Romans died, the Byzantines died, the Assyrians died, the Babylonians died, the ancient Greeks died, the Medievalists died. . .But the Jews consistently retained a set of principles and ties that bound one another. And that’s a unique story.”
I believe that there is a future for the nation of Israel. Where the interviewees in this book and I would differ is that I believe that person of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Old Testament -- what the Old Testament portrays in shadow, the New Testament displays in full reality. I believe that one day the Messiah will return to this earth and fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham and David. In some small way, I feel a shared understanding with the Jewish people in that I believe they were the people who were set apart in the Old Testament to be God's special possession, a light to the nations.
This book helped me understand modern-day Judaism and also prompted me to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in line Psalm 122:6-9:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
"May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces."
For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, "May peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
Many of the Jews interviewed in this book do not claim to have a personal relationship with God. Actor Gene Wilder comments, "I feel very Jewish and I feel very grateful to be Jewish. But I don’t believe in God or anything to do with the Jewish religion.” Being Jewish is generally portrayed as a cultural and ethnic identification. Most do not strictly practice the rituals of Judaism in their personal lives, yet they speak of their identity of being Jewish as being defined and an undeniable part of who they are. When Neil Simon is asked how much it matters to him being Jewish, he responds: "It matters to me like my hands matter to me. . . It’s there.”
A common thread that runs through the book is how these Jewish figures have a shared understanding of hard work and responsibility. Some attended Hebrew school in their youth and while the experience was not pleasant, they see this as a part of their shaping influences as individuals. Famous magician David Copperfield recalls hating Hebrew school but he says, "I’m happy for the experience now and if I’m lucky enough to have children someday, I’ll do the same thing for them—to give them a sense of purpose and place."
As an evangelical Christian, I have respect for the Jewish people and their place in society. The apostle Paul says in the epistle to the Romans, to them "belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises." (Romans 9:4) I find it amazing that the Jewish people have been preserved over centuries of human history. Actor Richard Dreyfuss observes, "The Romans died, the Byzantines died, the Assyrians died, the Babylonians died, the ancient Greeks died, the Medievalists died. . .But the Jews consistently retained a set of principles and ties that bound one another. And that’s a unique story.”
I believe that there is a future for the nation of Israel. Where the interviewees in this book and I would differ is that I believe that person of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Old Testament -- what the Old Testament portrays in shadow, the New Testament displays in full reality. I believe that one day the Messiah will return to this earth and fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham and David. In some small way, I feel a shared understanding with the Jewish people in that I believe they were the people who were set apart in the Old Testament to be God's special possession, a light to the nations.
This book helped me understand modern-day Judaism and also prompted me to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in line Psalm 122:6-9:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
"May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces."
For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, "May peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.
November 1, 2011
Riveting and revealing...
What struck me in this highly polished, riveting interviews of the many Jewish stars is the amount of research Abigail Pogrebin had conducted in preparation for each interview. It was clear that she had read everything published by and about each of the celebrities from various fields, be it politics or music. She read foreign media if relevant. The result of this exploration of what it means for these successful people in the public eye to be Jewish is how this identity is embedded in most of them, as inseparable as their other identities such as their gender.
While I found it fascinating to read about their pride in their Jewishness, it also hurt to read how little many of them had done to halt or slow down the assimilation of their own children. Mike Wallace, who named his son "Chris," (how more Christian can a name be?) insisted to Chris that he was nevertheless Jewish. Kenneth Cole, in a rare baring-of-his-heart moment admitted to regret "every day" the agreement he had made with his wife, Maria Cuomo, to raise their daughters as Catholic. Kyra Sedgwick, who had been obsessed with the Holocaust in her young adulthood, married without even a rabbi present.
But then, from the interviews, the picture that emerges is that many prominent Jews did not appreciate the depth of their connection to their Jewish roots until later in life.
Lessons learned? Hebrew school must change drastically in the USA to save the next generation of Jews.
What struck me in this highly polished, riveting interviews of the many Jewish stars is the amount of research Abigail Pogrebin had conducted in preparation for each interview. It was clear that she had read everything published by and about each of the celebrities from various fields, be it politics or music. She read foreign media if relevant. The result of this exploration of what it means for these successful people in the public eye to be Jewish is how this identity is embedded in most of them, as inseparable as their other identities such as their gender.
While I found it fascinating to read about their pride in their Jewishness, it also hurt to read how little many of them had done to halt or slow down the assimilation of their own children. Mike Wallace, who named his son "Chris," (how more Christian can a name be?) insisted to Chris that he was nevertheless Jewish. Kenneth Cole, in a rare baring-of-his-heart moment admitted to regret "every day" the agreement he had made with his wife, Maria Cuomo, to raise their daughters as Catholic. Kyra Sedgwick, who had been obsessed with the Holocaust in her young adulthood, married without even a rabbi present.
But then, from the interviews, the picture that emerges is that many prominent Jews did not appreciate the depth of their connection to their Jewish roots until later in life.
Lessons learned? Hebrew school must change drastically in the USA to save the next generation of Jews.
October 30, 2007
I thought this was an interesting book. I am neither religious nor Jewish so I read it as an outsider. It made me curious how much of what would said would also hold for other religions. Many people seemed to have religion forced on them as children, they grew into adults and turned away from it only to return either when they had children of their own or later in life.
Of course, Judaism also has the religion/ethnicity split and it was interesting to see how people separated the culture and the religion. I liked the point made by more than one person that rejecting Judaism is fine, just so long as you know what it is you're rejecting. I think that holds true for all religions.
Many people felt culturally Jewish though not necessarily religiously Jewish but almost to a person they said no matter how tenuous they felt that relationship to be, they would immediately defend Israel from an outside threat. There was a split opinion on whether it was every okay to criticize Israeli policy.
One of the things I found the most fascinating was how many people were only slightly self-identified as Jewish until they visited Israel. That visit seemed to change every person who took the trip.
Of course, Judaism also has the religion/ethnicity split and it was interesting to see how people separated the culture and the religion. I liked the point made by more than one person that rejecting Judaism is fine, just so long as you know what it is you're rejecting. I think that holds true for all religions.
Many people felt culturally Jewish though not necessarily religiously Jewish but almost to a person they said no matter how tenuous they felt that relationship to be, they would immediately defend Israel from an outside threat. There was a split opinion on whether it was every okay to criticize Israeli policy.
One of the things I found the most fascinating was how many people were only slightly self-identified as Jewish until they visited Israel. That visit seemed to change every person who took the trip.
December 28, 2017
3.5 stars. This is an interesting book where the author interviews different prominent people and asks them questions about their feelings about being Jewish. Some had very interesting answers, some barely gave her the time of day, and some people were incredibly arrogant and full of themselves.
I found myself nodding in agreement with Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker, and being charmed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fran Drescher cracked me up. Leon Weiseltier needs to seriously get over himself: he seems to think that his ways of being an observant Jew is the only way. Most of the stories were were interesting but after a while it just seemed to be endless and tiresome. Maybe this is the type of book you pick up, read a few chapters, and read something else for a while. The epilogue was interesting in that the author told how writing this book impacted her own life and Judaism.
It should be noted that the book was written in 2005, and since then we have learned things about some of the interviewees that may color our impression of what they told the author.
I recommend it as in interesting read on Jewish studies.
I found myself nodding in agreement with Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker, and being charmed by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fran Drescher cracked me up. Leon Weiseltier needs to seriously get over himself: he seems to think that his ways of being an observant Jew is the only way. Most of the stories were were interesting but after a while it just seemed to be endless and tiresome. Maybe this is the type of book you pick up, read a few chapters, and read something else for a while. The epilogue was interesting in that the author told how writing this book impacted her own life and Judaism.
It should be noted that the book was written in 2005, and since then we have learned things about some of the interviewees that may color our impression of what they told the author.
I recommend it as in interesting read on Jewish studies.
January 29, 2015
I loved this book. Abigail Pogrebin, a producer at 60 MInutes, had carte blanche access to the biggest Jewish names in America and for this book, with her not so hidden agenda of making peace with her own Jewish identity, she interviewed celebrities about a part of their lives that is rarely discussed or even known in the media -- their Jewishness. About sixty assimilated Jews -- who form the backbone of this collection -- define for the author their take on being Jewish. It's typical here for Jewish identity to become a minor appendage to their mighty careers, but in some fascinating stories, like director Steven Spielberg, actor Dustin Hoffman and New Republic literary editor Leon Wieseltier, Judaism is more than a pastrami sandwich at Second Avenue Deli. It is the cart before the horse, the cart that carries their spiritual life, creative aspirations and intellectual activities to new heights. Some stand out stories, include Joan River's showing up late for HIgh Holiday services, being refused entry into the shul. So what does the queen of the Shopping Channel do? She self comforts at Bergdorf.
January 12, 2016
The first sentence of the epilogue says it all regarding my feelings about this book "A funny thing happened on my way to finishing this book: I became more Jewish".
I was raised in the faith by my Grandfather until
I was 12 1/2 and then we moved halfway across the country from him. My father had been raised in the faith but, as an adult, had pulled away and became more agnostic and my stepmother was devoutly Catholic so then I became confused.
I dabbled in other religions, my children were baptized, and things got weird.
However, in the last 6 years - since my Grandfather died, I've felt a pull toward my heritage and my faith. So, my wife bought me this for Hanukkah this year (which is the only Jewish holiday I've celebrated regularly my whole life...even when I was dabbling) and from the first chapter I felt that pull get stronger.
Was this book the best book about Judaism ever written? No. It was more the appetizer than the meal but it made me think, it made me feel proud, and it made me want to find my Jewish feet and that, in my opinion, garners it 4 stars.
I was raised in the faith by my Grandfather until
I was 12 1/2 and then we moved halfway across the country from him. My father had been raised in the faith but, as an adult, had pulled away and became more agnostic and my stepmother was devoutly Catholic so then I became confused.
I dabbled in other religions, my children were baptized, and things got weird.
However, in the last 6 years - since my Grandfather died, I've felt a pull toward my heritage and my faith. So, my wife bought me this for Hanukkah this year (which is the only Jewish holiday I've celebrated regularly my whole life...even when I was dabbling) and from the first chapter I felt that pull get stronger.
Was this book the best book about Judaism ever written? No. It was more the appetizer than the meal but it made me think, it made me feel proud, and it made me want to find my Jewish feet and that, in my opinion, garners it 4 stars.
March 9, 2012
Most of the subjects lack depth (William Shatner, Kyra Sedgwick, Joan Rivers, etc.) and the author merely lets them waffle on in the manner of an interview in People magazine. Subjects who may have had some depth (Richard Holbrooke) are wasted as the author carefully notes each phone call and assistant interruption instead of working to pull an interview together. Trivial.
November 26, 2017
I heard Abigail Pogrebin speak at Northwestern University recently and decided to check out this book. Fascinating look at famous Jews, where they started from in their Judaism and where they were when the interviews took place. Fast reading with interesting quips and quotes, but sad to see so many whose families no longer consider themselves Jews.
December 18, 2021
Honestly, probably one of the most significant books about Judaism I've read lately. Just really what I needed to read right now, and so many funny and poignant one liners.
September 2, 2008
thought this was an excellent anthology, both in terms of the diversity of people interviewed as well as the interviewer's keen perception of her subjects.
Alan Dershowitz's "Candle Theory of Judaism" was interesting-- "The closer you get to the flame of Judaism, the less likely you are to be a productive, successful, creative person. The great successes in Judaism are people who moved away from the flame. But the problem with that is that the further you move away from the flame, the less likely you are to have Jewish children and grandchildren. It's a great paradox. There's no answer. You need to be the right distance away. If you look at almost all the great people that Judaism has produced over time, you find that many of them do not have Jewish grandchildren. Particularly in this century." p 248
Alan Dershowitz's "Candle Theory of Judaism" was interesting-- "The closer you get to the flame of Judaism, the less likely you are to be a productive, successful, creative person. The great successes in Judaism are people who moved away from the flame. But the problem with that is that the further you move away from the flame, the less likely you are to have Jewish children and grandchildren. It's a great paradox. There's no answer. You need to be the right distance away. If you look at almost all the great people that Judaism has produced over time, you find that many of them do not have Jewish grandchildren. Particularly in this century." p 248
July 31, 2021
“I feel like I’m not comfortable with a lot of organized structure. I like to subscribe to the positive things that make me spiritually a good human being, a caring, understanding, altruistic person. I defend and protect my roots, my family, and my friends. And in so being, I feel like I am a good Jew.” -Fran Drescher
This was such a clever concept for a book. The author asked meaningful questions that elicited insightful responses from each interview subject, and it was intriguing to hear from a range of notable Jewish figures in so many fields. Though I found myself disagreeing with certain individual beliefs presented, I feel strongly that the Jewish spectrum is a wide and fluid one and I think that the 50+ interviewees represented that. It would be so interesting to have a follow up book now (as this book was published in 2005) in order to see what has changed and what has remained the same regarding public figures and their perception of/relationship to Judaism today.
My highlights of the book:
•Nora Ephron
•Joan Rivers
•Aaron Brown
•Fran Drescher
•Sarah Jessica Parker
•Ruth Bader Ginsburg
•Natalie Portman
•Steven Spielberg
•Alan and Marilyn Bergman
•Wendy Wasserstein
•Neil Simon
•Diane von Furstenburg
This was such a clever concept for a book. The author asked meaningful questions that elicited insightful responses from each interview subject, and it was intriguing to hear from a range of notable Jewish figures in so many fields. Though I found myself disagreeing with certain individual beliefs presented, I feel strongly that the Jewish spectrum is a wide and fluid one and I think that the 50+ interviewees represented that. It would be so interesting to have a follow up book now (as this book was published in 2005) in order to see what has changed and what has remained the same regarding public figures and their perception of/relationship to Judaism today.
My highlights of the book:
•Nora Ephron
•Joan Rivers
•Aaron Brown
•Fran Drescher
•Sarah Jessica Parker
•Ruth Bader Ginsburg
•Natalie Portman
•Steven Spielberg
•Alan and Marilyn Bergman
•Wendy Wasserstein
•Neil Simon
•Diane von Furstenburg
March 28, 2021
This was a great collection. There were very few entries that I didn't feel some visceral connection or emotional response to. I planned to pick this up and read an entry or two every now and then but ended up reading it all the way through. While it didn't make me question or want to change my own feelings toward the religion, it did force me to have some conversations with myself I've been avoiding about how to raise my now 3 year old son.
Pogrebin doesn't fall into the trap of asking every person the same questions, and allows the subject to guide the questioning with their own individual story. I found myself surprised that so many of these prominent Jews, even from one or two generations earlier than myself, have had their experiences lead them to such a similar place to where I'm at in the religion. For some reason, I definitely had a naive thought that the venture away from some of the deeper religious aspects of Judaism with a greater embrace of the cultural was a newer thing than it clearly is.
Pogrebin doesn't fall into the trap of asking every person the same questions, and allows the subject to guide the questioning with their own individual story. I found myself surprised that so many of these prominent Jews, even from one or two generations earlier than myself, have had their experiences lead them to such a similar place to where I'm at in the religion. For some reason, I definitely had a naive thought that the venture away from some of the deeper religious aspects of Judaism with a greater embrace of the cultural was a newer thing than it clearly is.
January 12, 2019
Published in 2005, I’m afraid it’s a bit of a dated read now, but still interesting to read how famous personalities in the arts, literature, law, business, politics, medicine, the media, (etc) feel about being Jewish. The connection they all have is their Jewish heritage, and there are vast differences in how critical, influential, and important being Jewish is in their lives. Some are Jews by label/genetic makeup only and some are highly devout - but all speak to the burdens and the pride that come with the label of identification. Many experiences and thoughts mirror my own - I frequently felt that my story showed up in these pages. How Judaism (whether religious or cultural) shows up in your daily life is an interesting discussion topic.
July 19, 2023
Abigail Pogrebin provides a fascinating snapshot of the Jewish-American experience through the lens of America's most famous Jewish citizens. As a fan of Star Trek and 1960s-70s film and comedy, I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Leonard Nimoy, Gene Wilder, and, yes, even William Shatner (who I usually don't love). I also loved learning a little bit more about Fran Drescher's family life and her 'Nanny' inspirations and how she feels about the public's reaction to Fran Fine. With dozens of interviews from famous Jews of a variety of ages and backgrounds, this book is an excellent read for all.
October 10, 2024
This is a really interesting book. We have famous people (some of whom I'm not familiar with as I don't live in the US) describing what being Jewish meant to them. I felt that a number of the interviews were a touch frustrating. It depended on how much each person wanted to reveal about themself and I would have liked the author to have probed a little more deeply in some cases. That said, I came away more knowledgeable and as she writes in her Epilogue, enriched regarding my own Jewish identity. I'm so glad that I have this book in my library.
April 4, 2025
What I thought may be a throwaway book on celebrity culture and the lives of the rich and famous actually ended up being a chilling thermometer reading of the temperature of Jewishness in modern American society. Almost universally, those interviewed reject Judaism and burdensome and difficult but still embrace with pride their identity as Jews. The Epilogue I found very touching and inspiring, as it seems that Pogrebin and I came to similar conclusions after experiencing these interviews. A good book that took me in a very different direction than I expected.
May 28, 2018
I expected this book to be interesting and funny (and it is), but was surprised to discover how personally meaningful it was to me as a converted, but not very observant, Jew. I plan to reread it every year.
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July 20, 2022A beautiful tapestry
I am not Jewish, but have long been Interested in Jewish culture and history. I found this book to be a marvelous testament to the resilience and power of the Jewish people.
I am not Jewish, but have long been Interested in Jewish culture and history. I found this book to be a marvelous testament to the resilience and power of the Jewish people.
January 15, 2023
A good book with fascinating stories however it is a little dated now and I’d love to see a new edition released. Particularly as so many contributors are proud of their assimilation and lack of antisemitism in the US at the time of writing…a stark contrast to where we are now.
May 15, 2023
I enjoyed this collection of interviews with famous Jewish people who talked about how connected (or not) they felt with their Jewishness. I was interested to read how many of these people really connected to being a Jew even if they didn't uphold all of the rituals.
July 10, 2017
Stars of David
Stars of David by Abigail Pogrebin is a fascinating book. It gives differing point of view on Judaism. I highly recommend this book.
Stars of David by Abigail Pogrebin is a fascinating book. It gives differing point of view on Judaism. I highly recommend this book.
August 20, 2019
Enjoyed
September 28, 2020
Very interesting and would like to see if there are similar, more recent interviews
October 13, 2021
I read only the interviews that I wanted. The book was ok. I liked the part with Sarah Jessica Parker and Natalie Portman. Some sections were longer than others.
January 11, 2024
This was an interesting concept, but at the time of my reading, already quite dated.
Read
April 19, 2024too long and too much of the same
October 13, 2024
Really enjoyed these conversations. It was cool to see what famous Jews feel about being Jewish. Made me contemplative about what my own jewishness means to me.
December 13, 2024
I really wanted to like this but it’s an insanely shallow and surface level book.
August 3, 2021
I thought this was well done and would also enjoy an updated version with new participants. It was light but nevertheless meaningful
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