One of Hadassah’s “New Jewish Books to Read in Fall”

“Compelling. . . . Kushner, the founding rabbi of the innovative synagogue community The Kitchen in San Francisco, presents a spiritual and theological—and very friendly—approach to religion, grounded in Jewish sources and her own rabbinate and experience. . . . [Kushner] write[s] of God and holiness with thoughtfulness and wisdom, comfortable in the mysteries.”

Hadassah

“Pretend You Believe offers an invitation into faith and ritual practice that both skeptics and seekers didn’t know they needed. Noa Kushner is such a brilliant and funny storyteller that I almost didn’t notice how she was challenging the way I think about the deepest questions of religious belief and practice. I loved this book and found wisdom on every page.”

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, New York Times bestselling author of Heart of a Stranger

“A tour de force. It is rare to read a book that is so contemporary and at the same time so unwaveringly true to the complex demands of Jewish tradition. The way Rabbi Kushner transfigures philosophical and theological ideas into the immediacy of her narrative is extraordinary. Her voice, full of energy and movement, becomes the vehicle for profundity. Witty and lyrical, blunt and tender, often spiritually evocative, this voice takes one on a journey into a vivid world of texts and traditions. Here, the individual, the community, and God lend life to one another. Irresistible reading, highly recommended.”

Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, author of The Murmuring Deep

“Insightful, wise, and inviting, Pretend You Believe teaches that belief, like love, has to be experienced to be understood. Rabbi Kushner helps us ‘try on’ a religious worldview, to see through the eyes of our ancestors and reorient away from competition and toward the ultimate, unknowable mystery of God. Let yourself be surprised by what you discover with Rabbi Kushner as your guide.”

Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual

“Pretend You Believe is the door for those who wonder if religion might be calling them. Rabbi Kushner’s humane approach emphasizes immersion, practice, and honest, personal questions—not intellectual distance but something richer, deeper, and braver. She playfully guides even the most hardened skeptics to the ancient, beautiful, imperfect wisdom of religion.”

Elizabeth Oldfield, author of Fully Alive

“Pretend You Believe is a vibrant challenge to the all-too-easy assumptions of our time, and a potent, personal exploration of faith. Rabbi Noa Kushner reminds us our lives are a precious gift, and we can choose to live in awe in response. Drink up her wisdom, and ask your deepest questions alongside hers as you read.”

Tara Mohr, author of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead

“In a time of widespread institutional decline, including the failure of so many religious organizations, Pretend You Believe is a vital antidote. For institutions to survive over the long-term, they must be animated by a compelling vision and ethos. Pretend You Believe is a stunning articulation of just such a vision, written by one of the most inspiring religious leaders of our era.”

Eric Ries, New York Times bestselling author of The Lean Startup and Incorruptible

“[A] luminous debut. . . . providing insights into awe, sacrifice, and communal responsibility. At once down-to-earth and profound, this is an open-armed invitation for skeptics to see how faith feels.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Touching, thoughtful, witty, and even wise. . . . An invitation to the religious life for the unconvinced.”

Kirkus Reviews