I received an advanced reader copy of ON BEING JEWISH NOW. I am so grateful for the many personal stories and experiences shared in this anthology. I am not Jewish, but you don't have to be to be outraged by what happened not only on October 7th but continues to happen every day in our country...acts of antisemitism. I have many friends who are Jewish and have been deeply saddened and angry on their behalf for the acts of hatred that are occurring simply because of their religion. Having friends and relatives who fought in WWII (one who is 103) and hearing firsthand what they saw during the Holocaust has made me want to ensure all Jewish people are able to simply live as they are...a freedom many of us take for granted all too often.

I personally know a number of the authors included in this book and despite that, I still learned more about their journeys and experiences by reading these essays. There is always more to learn from others and this book gives us the opportunity to expand our empathy for our Jewish friends, to understand how very personal this is and to do better on behalf of them.

A HUGE thank you to every contributor for sharing your stories, being vulnerable and allowing the rest of us to read what you've experienced and feel.