Review of Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander

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As a young Jewish adult, I'm always fascinated by memoirs catering to my background. One of my non-fiction highlights this year is Foreskin's Lament by Shalom Auslander, a book about a man's upbringing in an Orthodox Jewish home and his gradual move away from religious traditions and strict edicts.

It's fascinating to read about Shalom's life as an Orthodox Jew in New York -- how he learned what foods are kosher, how he related with other Orthodox kids, why he resented his religious parents. Humour peppers the book, especially in the beginning section. Auslander has a fine knack for what the French call le mot juste -- the perfect word in a sentence that can say volumes.

We learn how Shalom begins to question his faith, raising his fists to God when the obstacles begin to get painful. He starts eating unkosher food as a way to rebel against his childhood, gradually moving on to other "sins" such as smoking weed, masturbating and spending money on Shabbos. You can sense a playful delight in how Auslander describes these vacations from religion.

I won't give away the main conflict Auslander faces in adulthood but suffice to say the tension grips you and the pacing is pitch-perfect. Most importantly, you don't have to be Jewish to relate to his experience; if you've ever been frustrated by religious fundamentalism, Foreskin's Lament will speak to you.