Rabbi Edward Feinstein has been answering questions posed to him by Jews for more than 20 years as a congregational rabbi, a day school teacher, and a seminary instructor. In this 2nd edition of his book, expanded with new questions, he responds to serious issues put before him by teenagers. While some religious people still wince at the idea of wrestling with the faith, Feinstein points out that "the Talmud, the great encyclopedia of Jewish wisdom, teaches that if you're too embarrassed to ask questions, you'll never learn anything."

Here are some of the queries which the author responds to as best he can:

• Why should I believe in God? Why should anyone?
• What good is praying? Does God listen? Does God answer?
• Is any of that stuff in the Bible true?
• Why does religion need so many rules?
• Why are there so many religions? Aren't they all the same?
• What happens to us after we die?

Feinstein does a fine job answering the question "Why does God let terrible things happen?" He states that God doesn't cause tragedies; nature and human beings do that. The Creator is working through our courage to survive these terrible events and also in the love, help, and encouragement of family and friends.

In a chapter where the question is "What's wrong with texting? What harm can it do?" Feinstein salutes this communications vehicle for its ability to connect us instantly with friends but cautions that we should not underestimate or underuse our face-to-face contact with others — what Martin Buber called "I-Thou" moments (see the excerpt).