document.write("<script language=\"javascript1.2\" type=\"text/javascript\">function emo_pop() {window.open('http://www.haloscan.com/commenthelp.php','Help','width=200,height=320,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');}</script><table width=\"97%\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" border=\"0\" class=\"MainTable\">  <tr>    <td>    <div align=\"center\">    </div>    </td>  </tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18411\"></a>        <p>Hagiographies by Artscroll, lots of Paysach Krohn stories, Avigdor Miller, and something on Torah codes.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           zach | 10.29.07 - 4:06 pm | <a href=\"#18411\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18416\"></a>        <p>Judaism as a Civilation - all the rest is commentary, go and learn!<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Anonymous | 10.29.07 - 5:00 pm | <a href=\"#18416\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18435\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=8a1a62267a85b44e53883b46946a56b0&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Oh God... I forgot all about the Artscroll hagiographies! How about some James Kugel? He's \"Orthodox\" with a heavy dose of academia.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Skeptodox | <a href=\"http://safkanut.blogspot.com\" title=\"http://safkanut.blogspot.com\">Homepage</a> | 10.29.07 - 7:28 pm | <a href=\"#18435\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18465\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2229861872cf6c78903d95808ca9b589&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Does she know that you have this blog? <br><br>Seems to me that if she's still on the fence, you owe it to her to let her hear both sides. So I'd tell her that she should be aware of what she's getting into and that there are blogs by those who are frum and maybe name some.  Then I'd tell her that there are other blogs by those who are skeptics, if not skeptics of OJ itself, at least skeptics of some OJ institutions. <br><br>Then I'd tell her about blogs such as yours, Lubab, the Godol's archives, Failed Messiah, etc, and would just point out that if she's going to make a commitment she needs to go into it with her eyes open.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Ichabod Chrain | 10.30.07 - 1:12 am | <a href=\"#18465\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18467\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2229861872cf6c78903d95808ca9b589&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Just remembered a few other things. For books maybe The Unchosen and Boychicks in the Hood, or something by William Dever, the archaeologist. Depending on where she is in the process I might tell her to stay away from To Be a Jew and To Pray Like a Jew, by Donin, at least  until she has some exposure to the skeptics.   <br><br>BTW which Finkelstein are you referring to? Israel, Norman, or someone else?<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Ichabod Chrain | 10.30.07 - 1:53 am | <a href=\"#18467\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18553\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />On Being a Jew by James Kugel looks interesting, but I have not read it yet<br /><span class=\"byline\">           B. Spinoza | 10.30.07 - 2:14 pm | <a href=\"#18553\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18556\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />This is my God by Herman Woulk<br /><span class=\"byline\">           B. Spinoza | 10.30.07 - 2:43 pm | <a href=\"#18556\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"18770\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=f357e5c826cac0e5ce5c3b24f634fc14&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />I don't know specifics about books, but you should definitely make sure they see the \"other side\" before they make the plunge into OJ.<br><br>I have always maintained that OJ is great for many people although I am not one of them.<br><br>It is only fair to let her have ALL of the facts in front of her before she makes such a life altering decision such as converting.<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Rich Perkins | 10.31.07 - 5:04 pm | <a href=\"#18770\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"MessageCell\">    <a name=\"19254\"></a>        <p><img src=\"http://www.gravatar.com/avatar.php?gravatar_id=2229861872cf6c78903d95808ca9b589&amp;default=http%3A%2F%2Fec1.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FG%2F01%2Fx-locale%2Fcommon%2Ftransparent-pixel.gif&amp;rating=PG&amp;size=32\" alt=\"Gravatar\" title=\"Gravatar\" style=\"padding: 1px; margin: 2px; float: right;\" class=\"gravatar\" />Skeptodox,<br>What did you decide to do?<br /><span class=\"byline\">           Ichabod Chrain | 11.04.07 - 12:08 am | <a href=\"#19254\" title=\"Link to this comment\">#</a></span></p><hr /></td></tr><tr>    <td class=\"InputCell\">                  <br /><div style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 234px;\"><a href=\"http://js-kit.com/?hsad\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://www.haloscan.com/images/jskit-ad-banner-small.png\" width=\"234\" height=\"60\" border=\"0\"/></a></div><br /><div id=\"newcomment\"></div><form method=\"post\" name=\"addComment\" action=\"http://www.haloscan.com/comments/safkanut/4597767776818180347/\" target=\"_self\">        <p>    Name: <br />          <input name=\"name\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Email:<br />          <input name=\"email\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          URL: <br />          <input name=\"url\" type=\"text\" size=\"38\" value=\"\" /><br />          Comment:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"javascript:emo_pop()\" title=\"Smiley and tag help\" target=\"_self\">?</a>&nbsp;<br />          <textarea name=\"addMessage\" rows=\"12\" cols=\"38\"></textarea><br /><input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"subscribe\" value=\"1\" /><label for=\"subscribe\">Notify me of followup comments via email</label>        </p>        <p class=\"PSubmit\"><input name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Publish\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />&nbsp;<input name=\"previewMessage\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Preview\" class=\"SubmitButton\" />        </p>      <input type='hidden' name='user' value='safkanut' /><input type='hidden' name='comment' value='4597767776818180347' /></form>    </td></tr>  <tr>    <td><p align=\"center\">        Commenting by <a href=\"http://www.haloscan.com/\" target=\"_blank\">HaloScan</a></p>      </td>  </tr></table><img src=\"http://c5.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=561713&amp;java=0&amp;security=01eeff58\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" /></body>");