Finding Ourselves in the Crowd: What 18 Out-of-the-Box Jews Can Teach Us About Individuality in Orthodoxy

Being an Orthodox Jew is a balancing act.

On the one hand, we’re supposed to be part of a community, which means we have to fit in. On the other hand, Torah teaches that each of us has a unique soul and purpose in the world, which means we have to recognize and affirm our individuality. Doing both is a challenge. Some of us are so into being unique that we’re unwilling to conform at all. Many more of us, however, get so caught up in conforming that we forget how to be ourselves.

Finding Ourselves in the Crowd profiles 18 highly committed, out-of-the-box, Orthodox individuals who decided to do something different and unconventional. Thanks to being true to themselves, they’ve reaped tremendous spiritual satisfaction, often contributing greatly to others as well. At the same time, they’re full members of their communities, proving that you needn’t forfeit your individuality to be part of the crowd.

Within traditional Jewish observance, there are as many paths as there are people. To build a truly rewarding life, we must have the courage to choose our own path, join a community where we feel comfortable, and then be who we are. Finding Ourselves in the Crowd will inspire you to do just that.