Gonzo Judaism: A Bold Path for Renewing an Ancient Faith

by Niles Elliot Goldstein

Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson transformed his field with an audacity that did not always sit well with his publishers. Gonzo Judaism embraces that same spirit, challenging today's Jews to reclaim their rebel roots, even if the consequences of their actions are disquieting to the leaders of a largely complacent Jewish establishment.
            Rabbi Niles Elliot Goldstein explores how this revolutionary drive can reshape and revitalize contemporary Judaism--a Judaism many find out of touch and irrelevant. His fresh, maverick approach urges us to take risks and think freely, but also to look back into the past in order to move forward into our future. Gonzo Judaism offers practical tools for creating a more accessible, meaningful, and celebratory Jewish life.
 
·        Learn why the current nostalgia- and fear-based Judaism has utterly failed to resonate with the modern Jew.
·        Discover how to gain inspiration both inside and outside the conventional synagogue setting.
·        Become a "spiritual archaeologist" and recover powerful practices that have been lost over the centuries.
 
            This isn't your run-of-the-mill Judaica book. It is a bold, no-holds-barred manifesto that meets us where we are, a much-needed and daring work that re-visions Jewish identity, community, holidays, and ritual, written with both the credibility of an insider toiling in the trenches and the piercing insight of an outsider observing from the margins. Gonzo Judaism is required reading for anyone in search of an adventurous but authentic path toward spiritual growth and religious wisdom.
 

Genres: Judaism, Nonfiction, Jewish, Judaica

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2006

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never would have known about this book, let alone read it, had it not inexplicably popped up on my screen on Amazon.com when I ordered "A Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian McLaren. Apparently "other customers" who bought that book on the "emergent" movement within evangelical Christianity were also purchasing this book on...cutting edge Jewish renewalism. Well my husband was raised in the Jewish faith and I've done quite a bit of Jewish studies reading, so I was intrigued. I put it on hold at the library and decided what the heck. It's a short book, less than 200 pages, so it didn't take long to read through it.

I found some moments of good insight in the book, and some definitely funny "insider" humor. On the other hand, I found that Goldstein had a very annoying habit of negativity, and he spent a lot of time putting down...everybody. Other rabbis, synagogues he visited, rivalling efforts to renew Judaism, secular people, Orthodox people, Christians, kabbalists, etc. If he had done this with good humor it probably wouldn't have bothered me as much but frankly he just sounded kvetchy. A lot of what he proposes, the so-called original ideas at the center of the book, have already been proposed and done by Mordecai Kaplan (aka Reconstructionist Judaism) or the 1970s back-to-the-roots havurah movement. He doesn't make any significant mention of Kaplan, and the havurah movement gets dismissed in an anecdote where he acknowledges its significance, but (again) complains about an affiliated synagogue he visited that apparently wasn't warm enough in welcoming him.

If you haven't read ANY other books on this subject, go ahead and pick this one up for the suggested reading list if nothing else, and an introduction to the concepts. But if you've read any better-written works on modern Jewish trends, don't bother with this one. Also: as you may have feared from the title yes, the Hunter S. Thompson obsession runs deep, with all that entails. (Deep sigh and rolling of eyes.)

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good - Rabbi Goldstein is correct, we do need to shift Judaism away both from the too often unthoughtful praxis of Orthodoxy and from the stilted stuffiness of High Reform services. Many of the things he states - the importance of Jewish community versus total individualism, the need to just try out new-for-you mitzvot - are absolutely correct

The bad - For someone mocking others for trying to be hip, his dated references (already dated when he wrote the book) and dude-bro language sound an awful lot like trying to be hip. Also for someone who espouses being egalitarian, the majority of people he mentions are male, white rabbis who are privileged - able enough to mountain climb and "commune" with nature and moneyed enough to be able to have the money/take the time off to do so. When he speaks of some people who have incorporated Native American practices into their Judaism, he only states that they don't mesh, not that its appropriation. He seems completely unawares that his dude-bro, white male speak is in fact something else that drives many people away from Judaism - both traditional and his attempts at reforms.

[Patrick Aleph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out with the New, In with the Old is the only chapter to read...you'll understand everything about Judaism in that one chapter.

[S R · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was from a course that my son took in the Judaic Dept at CU Boulder. I don’t understand the goal of the book nor do I understand what was the goal of using this book for a college course. This book is one long kvetch about modern Judaism geared for the unaffiliated young Jews. He assumes about what bothers young people about Judaism and tries to offer alternatives….tries…but does not succeed. In the conclusion: "We can say that we reject Judaism. We can get all worked up and rebel against it...if we're thoughtful and self-aware, we'll eventually recognize that our struggle is itself an engagement, a relationship...that we might confront." and "When you reject the status quo, you embrace a vision of a better-improved state. You can fight against poor expressions of Jewish religion; without renouncing Judaism itself. It's not enough to be angry with the powers that be. Offer a passionate alternative. It's not easy to rethink the institutions and practices. Change your mindset. The first step is an internal one. Get over your childhood baggage; move beyond the self, beyond negative associations/stereotypes and reach out ... down a path of a purpose-driven life." Why this was given out for a course where I would hope they would go deeper with Judaism, I will never know. Very disappointing; both the book and the teacher who handed it out to young students.

[Eliezer Sneiderman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niles Goldstein offers up an insightful critique of the organized Jewish community. He calls for organizations to go "Gonzo" and think out of the box when designing programs for younger Jews. Great advice. Yet, the only Jewish content in his 150 pg book come from the Alter Rebbe and Reb Nachman.

The method of delivery can't be the only "Gonzo" quality to Judaism. There must be rich meaningful content if one expects people to be interested. There must be more than just wrapper.

Niles highlights family foundations and their role in incubating new Jewish projects. Looking back, all these projects have ended. Even Niles is now the Rabbi Emeritus of the New Shul. Doesn't anyone feel an obligation to serve the community any longer?

There is also the standard damning praise of Chabad. It seems Every Non-Chabad Jewish expert must put in a segment on Chabad. "I love them but..." Niles praise is pretty high. Chabad was the only organized Jewish presence that he found in Khazakistan. Chabad is on the ground and accepts everyone where they are. That would be great except Niles goes on to place Chabad in with J for J, the Kabbalah Centre, and Scientology.

This is ironic when one considers that the only Jewish content in his book comes from Hassidism. If Jewish thought from over 200 years ago is still relevant today, perhaps the authors are worthy of some admiration.

It is not just Chabad, but, a number of Jewish organizations come under the knife in Nile's book. It is ok to be Gonzo, but, try being less judgmental.

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entertaining book is aimed at Jews but will be of interest to anyone with an interest in revitalising religious practice. Among other ideas, Goldstein discusses combining Judaism with outdoor adventure, reclaiming core elements as a way of rejecting shallow repackagings of faith (he has some strong things to say about consumerist Kabbalah, for example), and seeing rejection and struggle as legitimate forms of engagement with a complex tradition. I particularly like his rejection of continuity in favour of discontinuity: he says that "tedium is the stepchild of consistency" (p.51), and if there's one thing his version of Judaism is not, it's tedious. Would more religious people - or people who are nearly but not quite religious - benefit from a 'gonzo' approach which is less dry, less consistent, and more "intensely personal and opinionated" (p.ix)?

[Mike Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the most important books I read during/soon after my conversion journey, helping me to seize ownership of my own Judaism. Niles emphasizes being brave enough to be your own Jew in your own way--a brave way--while also emphasizing that you can do that while still respecting Jewish law, teaching, and tradition. Most books of this nature argue for one or the other. Niles makes it clear you can swim in booth pools--that when you get right down to it, it's really just one pool, and it's yours to explore. (A few years after reading the book, Niles unexpectedly became a personal friend and I will say in real life he stands behind what he wrote here, and is one of the most humanly authentic rabbis I have ever known.)

[char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fantastic, very passionate, very down-to-earth, it's clear that the author really cares about making Judaism more accessible and more heart-felt. The only reason why it didn't get five stars is because in sections where he describes other people's efforts to change the face and style of Judaism, it can read a bit like advertisements, but otherwise it was fantastic.

[Matthew Strenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book full of great ideas for where Judaism should go. However the tone sounds very much like he's "trying to be hip", which is at once endearing and exhausting. All the same, excellent fuel for thought for any young Jews that ever doubted the nature of their faith and belief.

[Eddie ME]

this is a real inspirational book to explore a different way of looking at faith.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a practical real world application of a religion that has become, unfortunately, irrelevant to some. It breathes new life into old traditions. Exciting.

[Edy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book, despite the title-- I've gotten tired of everyone's adulation of Hunter Thompson.

[jodi]

I wish this guy were my Rabbi.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used book store when I was 18 purely based on the title and figured I should finally read it and/or donate it. *Really* not my genre, but still, some things to think about.

[Anna Dyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kind of Judaism