Enter Gil Mann.

Gil quit the business world after receiving his degree in journalism and started writing and producing TV news. He began to connect with his Jewish roots, and was encouraged to create the Email of the Week column in AOL’s Jewish content area. Gil became so involved with his work in the online Jewish community that he decided to write his first book, which he blessed with probably the longest title of any book ever; How To Get More Out of Being Jewish Even If:

A. You are not sure you believe in God.
B. You think going to synagogue is a waste of time
C. You think keeping kosher is stupid
D. You hated Hebrew school
E. All of the above

Contrary to the title, the book was not at all flippant. It was the result of listening to 150 Jews in focus groups and interviews and dealt with serious issues concerning the needs of all members of the Jewish community.

Gil’s new book, Sex, God, Christmas & Jews is an equally serious collection of letters he received asking questions about all aspects of life, but with a definite leaning towards Jewish values. He deals with subjects not often spoken about publicly such as: to circumcise or not to circumcise, or the truth behind Orthodox Jews having sex through holes in the sheet, body piercing, the reasons for being Jewish, generational differences and myriad other topics one might have floating around the back of their mind.

Gil’s real talent is his ability to speak to his correspondents in a sensible, sincere, yet soft spoken manner. If he were a physician, one would compliment him on his marvelous bedside manner. He never speaks down to his questioners. He never treats a question, no matter how unusual, as being unimportant or frivolous. His respect for his readers is apparent in all of his responses. This, in my opinion, is the reason so many people feel free to ask Gil questions they might never bring up to anyone else. They know they will be dealt with respectfully, and never be made to seem foolish. On top of which, of course, they will get the information they want.

I urge the members of our Megillah family to get their hands on Gil’s book and to devote some relaxing time to savouring the questions and answers provided in Sex, God, Christmas and Jews. Not only will you learn something, but you will feel as if you made a new friend.