2007 Archive: About This Book’s Theme:

In your discussion of Jonathan Rosen's Joy Comes in the Morning we suggest you use the themes described below. We are happy to offer you our dynamic Educational Resource Guide, which provides materials to stimulate dialogue.

Join the conversation by contracting us for more information on the resource guide at scalderone@sajes.org.

Setting the Stage: American Jewish Belief in a Post Holocaust Era

Jonathan Rosen’s novel Joy Comes in The Morning sets the stage for a comparison of the spiritual quests and lives of Holocaust survivors to those raised in a postmodern, post Holocaust era. The postmodern age is characterized by the almost limitless autonomy where individuals search for personal meaning in both structured and unstructured ways. They see life as having few absolutes. The search for meaning through spirituality thus changes the traditional definitions of what Judaism is to today’s Jew. The family and community relationships explored in Joy Comes in The Morning, invite the reader to question how we find meaning and joy in our own lives.

Personal Faith Journeys

Rabbi Deborah Green and Lev Friedman embark on their own faith journeys, individually and as a couple. On their way their faith is challenged by the beliefs and practices of their families, friends, the organized Jewish community, and the scientific world. These encounters propel them along, both favorably and unfavorably, as they seek to find personal joy and meaning in their lives. Additionally, we get glimpses of the impact certain family and social experiences have on the journeys of other key characters.

Beyond the Body: In Search of the Soul

Nefesh and Neshama – At critical points in our lives we search for meaning beyond our present existence and attempt to relate our mortal lives to eternity. When the characters in Joy Comes in the Morning are faced with illness, death or the joys of birth they question the existence of the soul and search for meaningful answers to their questions within Jewish tradition. Jonathan Rosen gives voice to traditional Jewish beliefs on the soul through the voice of his characters.

Family Rituals and Meaningful Inheritances

Lev and Deborah chose to be married under their grandfathers’ tallitot, making their chupah into a symbol rich with meaning. Through this image the couple attempts to connect themselves to their families’ histories. Bridging one generation’s ritual life to the succeeding generation is theme expressed by characters throughout Joy Comes in the Morning. Ethical wills, the teaching of Jewish rituals to children, and the passing down of stories and objects to the next generation are some of the means by which these values can be conveyed.

Ancient and New Psalms for a Modern Culture

On the title page of stoke victim Henry Friedman’s unfinished novel sit the words “joy comes in the morning”, which over time begin to sound more like a request than a declaration. And from the lips of Deborah Green flow a variety of Psalms that offer solace and hope to her community of congregants and hospital patients. The Psalms gave voice to such raw emotions as anger and acceptance, complaint and comfort, despair and delight, fatigue and faith of an ancient people, but can they speak for us today, and if so, how?

Join our conversations right now, from your own home!

Sign up and express your feelings about Joy Comes in the Morning on our message board to other members of our community.