A visit to my house has become a visit to a Jewish library for some of my friends. “Oh, can I borrow this? I need something to explain this to my parents.” Or I’ll get an email asking me for a specific book, “I heard about it on NPR and figured you would have it.”

It’s a good thing that Jews are the people of the book, because when I converted I fit right in. My Jewish library started innocently enough with The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Judaismby Rabbi Benjamin Blech. Then I added Choosing A Jewish Life by Anita Diamant and Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism by Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin. I bought a new copy of Boteach’s Kosher Sex and picked up his newer book Judaism for Everyone.

Then it snowballed and I now have four full shelves of Jewish books, not including the books on loan or on my nightstand. Novels set in Israel, books with reflections on the weekly Torah portions, books of stories for children, Jewish cookbooks, Hebrew lessons, and classic philosophy.

Of all these books, one of the most useful was bought on a whim. Early in my studies with my Rabbi I went to a trade show. I was managing a gift store and this was where we bought all of the items for the upcoming year. I snuck into the Judaica shop and was taken under the wings of the wholesaler.

Bashfully, I told her I was converting and that I had nothing. Could she help me? Help me she did. She figured out my style and whisked me around the store picking out a mezuzah, challah cover, Shabbat candlesticks and two books.

“You must have these books, they are very important.” The pair of books she insisted I buy were The Jewish Book of Why and the Second Jewish Book of Why by Alfred Kolatch. At my seder this year, we got into a debate about the Prophet Elijah. A friend asked for the TaNach and I passed him the Jewish Book of Why.

At my first aufruf I couldn’t comprehend why we were pelting the bride and groom with candy. I came home and picked up the Jewish Book of Why. The two books are indexed thoroughly and answer any basic question a child or adult could have about Judaism. The answers aren’t in depth, but they will smooth over an argument until the parties have a chance to consult with Rabbi Google.

So if you are starting a Jewish library or looking for a gift, this book is one for your list. Kolatch offers quick insight in regular language. He makes Judaism accessible and debates a bit safer… especially if you buy the hardback editions.