My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith

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Product Description

One day a Georgia-born son of an Orthodox rabbi discovers that his enthusiasm for Judaism is flagging. He observes the Sabbath, he goes to synagogue, and he even flies to New York on weekends for a series of "speed dates" with nice, eligible Jewish girls. But, something is missing. Looking out of his window and across the street at one of the hundreds of churches in Atlanta, he asks, "What would it be like to be a Christian?"

So begins Benyamin Cohen's hilarious journey that is My Jesus Year—part memoir, part spiritual quest, and part anthropologist's mission. Among Cohen's many adventures (and misadventures), he finds himself in some rather unlikely places: jumping into the mosh-pit at a Christian rock concert, seeing his face projected on the giant JumboTron of an African-American megachurch, visiting a potential convert with two young Mormon missionaries, attending a Christian "professional wrestling" match, and waking up early for a sunrise Easter service on top of Stone Mountain—a Confederate memorial and former base of operations for the KKK.

During his year-long exploration, Cohen sees the best and the worst of Christianity— #8212;from megachurches to storefront churches; from crass commercialization of religion to the simple, moving faith of the humble believer; from the profound to the profane to the just plain laughable. Throughout, he keeps an open heart and mind, a good sense of humor, and takes what he learns from Christianity to reflect on his own faith and relationship to God. By year's end, to Cohen's surprise, his search for universal answers and truths in the Bible Belt actually make him a better Jew.

Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A Funny, Friendly and Ultimately Wise Look at Christianity by a Jewish Pilgrim October 14, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

Some of the best recent books on faith and spirituality are from "outsiders." Secular scientist E.O. Wilson wrote "The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth," atheist Hemant Mehta wrote "I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist's Eyes," and, let's face it, Anne Lamott's popular persona is built on her outsider status.

It's in that spirit that I strongly recommend Benyamin Cohen's "My Jesus Year."

He's funny. I mean, he's Anne Lamott funny. And, he's friendly as he's having fun with others and with himself. You'll find yourself chuckling as he describes trying to slip into an enormous Pentecostal megachurch to learn what's drawing thousands upon thousands of Americans to these venues.

This "five-foot-two bespectacled Jewish kid in a mosh pit of faith" suddenly discovers that the church's video crews have zeroed in on his face and he's shocked to discover: "My Jewish face on Jesus' JumboTron for all to see! Oh, God, forgive me."

We learn a lot about Benyamin's Jewish life, his family life, his vignettes from this year-long Christian pilgrimage and, in the end, his conclusions about faith in America.

In closing, he writes a pitch-perfect summary of how millions of young Americans see our national smorgasbord of faith: "Despite the gospel choirs and Christian rockers, despite the baptismal baths and Christmas trees, despite the wine, wafers, and confessional booths, and even despite our theological and philosophical differences, there is a deeper thread running throughout. There are many roads leading to spiritual maturity and even to God Himself, and all of us have to find our own way."

This is an important new voice. His journey is fun to follow and, when it's done, you'll begin to realize that many of us feel like spiritual outsiders today, looking in on houses of worship and wondering how we might fit inside.

4 out of 5 stars

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: FROM AFRICAN HEBREW ISRAELITES OF JERUSALEM TO A FAITH HEALER SAYING *SHABA-LABA-LABA-BOOMBA* October 29, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

The author Benyamin Cohen is the son of an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and has five brothers and sisters all of whom were brought up "to join him in the family business." Of the six kids only he and his younger sister "didn't either become a Rabbi or marry one (although for the record, she does work in Jewish education)." Benyamin now in his thirties shares his Judaic life with us starting from the day of his circumcision when he was taken to a butcher shop to be weighed on an ice-cold meat scale because at 5.2 pounds his Father was afraid he did not weigh enough to medically handle a circumcision. And in Benyamin's eyes that's where the questioning of his Jewish faith began... and eventually led to this unique... eye-opening... heart rendering... religiously educational... humorous... sojourn through a myriad of other religions... in the hope of teaching him to more fully appreciate his Judaism.

In his twenties the author wanted to get married and "during a five-year dating spree, went out with more than a hundred women. And they all seemed to be various versions of a sitcom cliche." He wanted to marry a nice Jewish girl, so despite living in Georgia would spend many weekends flying to New York for dates. After all this failed to find Benyamin his marital "pot-of-gold", he wound up marrying a girl from Georgia who was "the blond, blue-eyed daughter of a Methodist minister. Elizabeth was having her own crisis of faith that somehow landed her on the path to Orthodox Judaism even before he met her." So... "THE RABBI'S SON WAS GOING TO MARRY THE MINISTER'S DAUGHTER. AND HOW PERFECT THAT MATCH WOULD BE. ELIZABETH WAS STRONGER IN HER NEW FOUND FAITH THAN I EVER WAS. MY WIFE CAME TO JUDAISM NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS FORCED TO OR MERELY BECAUSE, LIKE ME, SHE WAS BORN INTO IT. NO, SHE CHOSE IT OF HER OWN VOLITION."

Benyamin had not only been born into an Orthodox Jewish family, with a Rabbi as a Father, but his house even had a Synagogue built on the side of it. Coincidently right across the street from his house was a church. Growing up he always watched church goers come and go and wondered what magical Christian fun went on inside. While having these "unknown" fantasies of Christian gaiety his daily life involved praying three times a day... living in... and keeping a kosher house... wearing religious undergarments... and an endless list of religious do's and don'ts. Finally as he reached his thirties he wanted to see how the religious "other-side" lived. He hoped a personal investigation into other religions would reinforce his love of being a Jew. He got permission from his Rabbi and his wife to "LIVE WITH JESUS" for a year... and that leads to a "religious-road-trip" that encompasses everything from Atlanta Braves Faith Day... Pastor T.D. Jakes at Megafest... spending a day with an African Hebrew Israelite of Jerusalem polygamist prince... going to Ultimate Christian Wrestling... a Christian rock festival... Christmas... Easter... Monks... Mormons... faith healers... and going to his first confession... without actually telling the Priest that he was Jewish.

If you read this very interesting book you will find out if *HANGING OUT WITH JESUS MADE HIM A BETTER JEW.*

5 out of 5 stars

I loved this book! October 10, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I loved this book. It offers an illuminating glimpse into wildly different sects of Christianity - from mainstream to little-known sects you couldn't have invented if you tried. Ben Cohen took a bold and controversial journey into the Christian Bible Belt to better understand himself, and that moxie is just as apparent in his lucidly and humorously written retelling of his journey.

The message of My Jesus Year is that there is a spiritual intersection of all religions - that all religions have unique ways to tap into the souls of their followers. And that there is no reason why we can't all learn from each other to strengthen our own unique beliefs and styles of worship.

My Jesus Year has a body full of humor, intrigue, and fascinating tidbits - and a soul full of charm.

5 out of 5 stars

'My Jesus Year' is my 'Book of the Year' October 12, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

This book is insightful, entertaining, and can connect with people of all faiths. I had a hard time putting this book down, as it makes you not want to get off of the roller-coaster ride of soul-searching and suprises.

5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening and Entertaining! November 9, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

How can the story of a serious spiritual journey turn out to be a delightful romp as well? With his sharply honed skills as both a journalist and humorist, Benyamin Cohen masterfully peppers his riveting narrative with sly and witty observations that multiply the book's entertainment value. The author is to be applauded for his unflinching honesty in examining the warts and flaws of his own religious observance,
and he is to commended as well for working so hard to make it deeper and more authentic. I LOVED this book; it's one of the best books I've read all year, and I highly recommend it to spiritual seekers of all persuasions.

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