Pretend You Believe

From one of the country’s most visionary rabbis, a rediscovery of the potential for religious experience to transform contemporary life

“Pretend You Believe offers an invitation into faith and ritual practice that both skeptics and seekers didn’t know they needed. . . . I loved this book and found wisdom on every page.” —Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, New York Times bestselling author of Heart of a Stranger

Many of us long for spiritual belonging and connection, only to run up against our confusion and discomfort with organized religion. Noa Kushner understands this well. As the founding rabbi of The Kitchen, a groundbreaking Jewish congregation in San Francisco, she has helped thousands of people into a relationship with religion they never thought they would or could experience.

In this concise, soul-stirring book, Kushner offers a picture of religion not as something we design or consume, but as something we enter, just as we are. What if we temporarily set aside statements of belief and instead approach religion as something we do? Kushner proposes we can then pursue the profound questions this perspective reveals. How is prayer supposed to work? Which comes first, religion or ethics? Why should we be religious? Through imaginative storytelling and a plainspoken, accessible teaching of Jewish sources, as well as hard-won lessons from her own rabbinate, Kushner creates an elegant, thoughtful guide for anyone who has wondered about the limits of today’s secular worldview and is curious about what religion might have to offer. Written in a Jewish idiom but open to readers of all backgrounds, Pretend You Believe is a powerful meditation on God and humanity, responsibility and forgiveness, love and doubt, progress and justice. With this book, Kushner has captured the wonder of religious feeling and inscribed an invitation to readers everywhere.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs