This week, we present to you all the second installment of the edJEWcation book club. This month, we discuss Mary Shelley’s classicFrankenstein.

When I first suggested this book for the book club, ChayaLeah and the Rabbi looked at me as if I had two heads (each with a yarmulka on). However, after reading it, I think they came around. The book deals with several profound human questions, each of which Judaism has something to say about (but of course).

During the discussion, we examine several of the book's primary themes: the need for community, the moral responsibilities of creation, and the desire for forbidden knowledge.

The conversation highlights the importance of friendship and belonging, the consequences of isolation, and the ethical implications of scientific advancements. We explore the intricate themes of human relationships, the pursuit of knowledge, the nature of suffering, and the roles of men and women in creation.

We also discuss the complexities of love and frustration in relationships, the consequences of seeking knowledge, and the philosophical implications of suffering as a form of atonement.

I can’t recommend this book enough. If you haven’t read it, pick it up.