title: The Conversation: A Novel
author: Joshua Golding
description: ''The Conversation is a rare combination of an intellectually engaging and enjoyable read. It enlivens various philosophical and religious positions, and then puts Judaism into an animated conversation with them. It's a kind of Chaim Potok meets Philosophy 101. The results are rich in narrative, tradition and ideas. It is also an excellent book for young adults and their parents to read at the same time, to stimulate discussion about important issues and challenges.'' - --Faydra Shapiro, Associate Professor of Religion and Culture, and author of Building Jewish Roots (winner of the National Jewish Book Award)<br /><br />''Joshua Golding's book brings to mind Judah Halevi's Kuzari (for its spirited and intelligent defense of traditionalist Judaism) and Samson Raphael Hirsch's Nineteen Letters (for its epistolary form). But unlike these earlier polemics, this book is also an academically sound introduction to Jewish philosophy. Most surprising, perhaps, given its attempt to both defend a Jewish position and teach philosophy, the book is actually fun to read I really wanted to find out what eventually happened to the book's two central protagonists!'' - --Menachem Kellner, Professor of Jewish Thought and author of Must a Jew Believe Anything?, Maimonides' Confrontation with Mysticism, and Science in the Bet Midrash
zlib_text: PROLOGUE
   
  The night stretched out before Jay from his vantage point on the familiar, old hill. The gathering of Sentinels – both their
  trailers and their bodies – differentiated the situation from two months ago. Well, along with the hotdogs being roasted over
  various grills and the light conversation lilting through the air.
   
  Jay glanced skyward to the full moon that lulled in the sky. Unless Kristi changed tactics, a raid would descend tonight.
   
  Scattered around the city of Goldbridge, his four squads grouped together. Each party was situated at cardinal directions
  and each pretended to be a jolly gathering. Jay sighed and checked his cellphone for the thousandth time. Around him, his squad
  traded jokes and cooked hotdogs over the open flame of his grill. He was still amazed Mayor Stone had caved. Granted, every
  phone was five years old and practically useless, but they worked for texting, at least. It garnered the element of stealth among
  the Sentinel warning system and, not to m