Pretend You Believe
How To Enter Religion
A new book by Rabbi Noa Kushner
On sale October 13, 2026 from Schocken
From our very own Rabbi Noa Kushner, a rediscovery of the potential for religious experience to transform contemporary life.
In this concise, soul-stirring book, Kushner offers a picture of religion not as something we design or consume, but as something we enter, just as we are. What if we temporarily set aside statements of belief and instead approach religion as something we do? Kushner proposes we can then pursue the profound questions this perspective reveals. How is prayer supposed to work? Which comes first, religion or ethics? Why should we be religious? Through imaginative storytelling and a plainspoken, accessible teaching of Jewish sources, as well as hard-won lessons from her own rabbinate, Kushner creates an elegant, thoughtful guide for anyone who has wondered about the limits of today’s secular worldview and is curious about what religion might have to offer.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
CELEBRATE WITH THE KITCHEN
SHABBAT + BOOK CELEBRATION
Potrero Hill Neighborhood House
October 16 + 17
Join us to celebrate the arrival of Pretend You Believe! We'll mark Rabbi Noa Kushner's long-awaited new book throughout Shabbat, with readings during services and plenty of celebrating over Friday night dinner and kiddush lunch.
Purchase your copy of Pretend You Believe when you register for Kabbalat Shabbat or Shabbat Morning, and Noa will personally sign it for you. Books will be available for pickup at either service.
Event Registration + Book Purchase:
Purchase by Thursday, October 15 if you’d like to have your copy signed by Rabbi Noa Kushner.
PRETEND YOU BELIEVE:
CLASS SERIES + INTERVIEW
PRETEND YOU BELIEVE : CLASS SERIES + INTERVIEW
Taught by Kitchen-ite Todd Asher Ormsbee, PhD
Wednesdays · 7:00–8:30 PM
October 28 · Opening Interview with Rabbi Noa Kushner at The Firehouse
→ Open to everyone, registration required
November 4, 11 + 18; December 2 + 9 · The Kitchen Office
→ Open to Kitchen Members, registration required
What if everything we thought about religion was wrong — or maybe just slightly askew?
The series begins with an interview and dialogue between Rabbi Noa Kushner and Kitchen-ite Todd Asher Ormsbee, followed by five weeks of diving into, arguing with, enriching, and expanding on the ideas in Pretend You Believe, led by Kitchen-ite Todd Asher Ormsbee.
Together, we'll explore what it means to be religious and to live your life in relationship to God — whether or not you believe.
READ + LISTEN
Conversations, reviews, and features with Rabbi Kushner about Pretend You Believe and the ideas behind the book.
This Is Not Advice
Podcast Interview · July 13
LISTEN →
Sudbury Weekly
Q&A · July 30
READ →
Kirkus Reviews
Book Review · August 3
READ →
Publishers Weekly
Starred Review · August 9
READ →
Hadassah Magazine
New Jewish Books to Read in Fall 2026 · September 2
READ →
Identity/Crisis
Don't Believe in God? Try It Anyway with Noa Kushner · September 8
LISTEN →
Religion News Service
Feature · September 11
READ →
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Feature · September 17
READ →
Also published in Cleveland Jewish News, The Times of Israel + Jewish Rhode Island
J. The Jewish News of Northern California
Feature · September 18
READ →
COMING SOON
More conversations, reviews, and appearances are on the way.
Liz’s Coffee Connection
Podcast Interview
Interfaith Voices
Podcast Interview
Too Jewish
Radio + Podcast Interview
Spirituality & Practice
Book Review
Religion Unplugged
Podcast Interview
Totally Booked with Zibby
Essay
Detours and Destinations with Rabbi David Ingber
Podcast Interview
JBS: In the Spotlight
Interview
Wondering Jews
Podcast Interview
The One You Feed
Podcast Interview
Jewish Journal
Book Review
Jewish Book Council — Paper Brigade
Excerpt
The Free Press
Follow the Light
Podcast Interview
Tapped In
Podcast Interview
Joyful Belonging
Substack Interview
The Sacred