Review
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Title: A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism
Author: Marlena Tanya Muchnick with Daniel C. Baker
Publisher: Granite Publishing and Distribution, L.L.C.
(order from www.jewishconvert-lds.com)
Genre: Religious Nonfiction
Year Published: 2009
Number of Pages: 162
Binding: Paperback
ISBN13: N/A
Price: $9.95
Reviewed by Kristie Wilkins for the Association for Mormon Letters.
I will never forget my first glimpse of the Holy Land. I was a young university student on my way to the BYU Jerusalem Center and I looked out the airplane window in anticipation and awe. The older woman sitting next to me must have noticed my excitement because she asked me in a puzzled tone why I was traveling to Israel and why I was so interested in her country. I responded that I was there as a student to learn all I could about this sacred land because like her, I considered it a holy place. Because of agreements between the government and the LDS church that was all I could say, but it was enough. The rest of the flight was spent in companionable silence as we both looked down on the land where so much of both our histories and our futures lay spread below us.
Reading “A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism” for me was like having a chance to continue that long ago conversation with the sincerity, depth and detail that was not possible then. This book is a wonderful bridge to understanding, an outstretched hand of friendship and brotherhood. I believe it to be an invaluable tool for those who study the scriptures whether in seminary, institute, as a family or personal study and especially for those preparing to serve an LDS mission.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been encouraged by modern day prophets like Ezra Taft Benson to “know more about the Jews” [vi] so that we can enlighten our own understanding and thereby illuminate the path for our friends of the Jewish faith. “A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism” is a wonderful place to begin that journey.
First let me say that I was amazed by the amount of information author Marlena Muchnick was able to pack into a relatively small volume. The book is masterfully organized to make “A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism” an easy resource for study and understanding. Muchnick has provided charts, scriptural references and indexes that allow readers of any age (although I recommend 10 and up) to supplement their studies. This fascinating and informative book is divided into three parts:
Part 1 Basic Understanding
Similarities and differences in the two religions are illustrated in a manner that is easy to read. See the chart on pages 23-26 for an example. What struck me was that the list of similarities was twice as long as that of differences. The author also introduces a concept that she expounds upon in the reference section [135-144], that there is a correlation between many sacred events in LDS church history that coincide with Jewish holy days.
Part 2 For Further Study
Muchnick provides more detailed, in depth information on Jewish belief, customs, and religious rites and holidays.
Part 3 References
This section provides a gold mine of information from ideas from scriptural reference by topic, sources for further study, an index and even a joke section which was delightful. She even includes few relatively simple recipes that Mormons would appreciate as an introduction to Jewish food (i.e., blintzes, chicken soup and potato latkes), cultural and religious practices [145-149]
As I was reading “A Mormon’s Guide to Judaism” I was constantly impressed by the author’s deep love, devotion and respect for two religions that on the surface do not seem compatible with each other.
I have so much respect for Marlena Muchnick and the way she treated the sacred beliefs, customs and subjects pertaining to the LDS and Jewish faiths. Being Jewish herself, Muchnick knows “Jewish people want to be approached with approval and understanding.” [x] I believe the LDS people do as well and the author masterfully illustrates how the two faiths not only have similarities but intertwine in ways that can strengthen both.
After having been converted to the Gospel, and now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the author sees the tremendous blessing the restored gospel has been in her life as it has added upon and enhanced her Jewish faith. Sister Muchnick’s desire is for greater opportunities for those of the Jewish faith to partake in those blessings. In her testimony at the beginning of the book [iv] she beautifully states, “There are souls who love the Lord with only a part of their being, seemingly in little need of spiritual nourishment. But to a Jew who loves God more than life and longs for the saving grace of a personal Savior and the guiding ministrations of the great Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the coming home, the bringing forward out of silent darkness into brilliant light truths that are saving and eternal.”
She invites her readers to use her work as a way to build bridges of understanding and respect with their Jewish friends and neighbors. “After reading this book you will have sufficient knowledge to start and continue conversations, research and discover on your own and to make strides in presenting your side (the LDS perspective) of things to the edification of your Jewish brother.” She encourages, “Time is not of consequence. Your work may not pay off for years or not at all. But if you are finally successful in bringing understanding of the life and mission of Jesus/Yeshua to a Jewish soul, your reward will be multifold, for Jews who love their Savior are of the most devoted, productive, appreciative and joyous kind.” [x]
I could not agree more. Sister Muchnick’s devotion and joy in both faiths is a brilliant example.