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