“In this fascinating and personal book, Dr. David Weill takes us on a journey to understand his Jewish identity and heritage. It can be a guide for anyone who is searching for an elusive sense of belonging.”

—Walter Isaacson

A heartfelt memoir about the search for religion and identity

“I’m not Jewish.” For years, that’s what David Weill told anyone who asked about his religious background. Yes, his father was a Jew who had left Nazi Germany as a boy. But his mother was a Southern Baptist. Growing up in New Orleans, religion wasn’t something his family discussed, let alone practiced. As an adult, he developed a fervent zeal and profound devotion to his work as a specialist in organ transplants. Transplantation was all he needed to define and fulfill him—until a crisis shook him to the core.

As a boy, Weill’s only experience with religion was when he accompanied Deborah, the family’s domestic help and his second mother figure, to her all-Black Baptist church. As a young doctor, he fell in love with Jackie, a nurse from rural Iowa and a devout Catholic. Much to the chagrin of her parents, they were married in a Dallas hotel rather than a church. After settling in Palo Alto, close to Stanford University Medical Center where Weill headed the heart and lung transplant program, their two daughters were baptized and confirmed at a local Catholic church. When his oldest daughter, Hannah, was around ten and asked him why he never joined them at mass on Sundays, he told her, “I’m not Catholic.” She looked at him, brow furrowed, and raised a question that would prove to haunt him, “What are you then?”

TELL ME I BELONG follows David Weill’s search for the answer. In 2015, after the simultaneous unraveling of his carefully crafted career and the death of his father, Weill began to doubt everything, including his purpose in life. While grappling with emotional pain and sinking deeper into despair, he began to suffer perplexing physical symptoms. In his moment of crisis, he was seized by a strong desire to practice a formal religion. But for Weill, the real question was, Which religion? Eventually, he chose Catholicism and was baptized at age fifty. He found solace in heart-to-heart talks with a priest and his daughters’ happiness at having the whole family at church together. Everything was fine—until 2020, when he learned that his mother had converted to Judaism right before marrying his father. He was born a Jew. And in the eyes of the Jewish faith, he would always be Jewish. That realization sparked his second quest. In an interview, David can talk about:

·         What drew his mother, a native of Selma, Alabama, to Judaism—partly because, to quote her, Jews “always seemed like such practical people,” and largely as a rejection of Baptists who preached love for all God’s children and practiced racism.

·         His father’s complicated sense of being Jewish, which he viewed as a source of pride for its association with smart and successful people while remaining wary of being ostracized or stigmatized for the religion he was born into.

·         His determination, with the help of investigators, to learn more about his grandfather’s time imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and the role of his famous relative, the composer Kurt Weill, in orchestrating his family’s escape to the United States.

·         His heart-wrenching trip to Berlin, accompanied by his daughter Hannah, to find his father’s first home, and the inner work of defining himself.

Ultimately, David Weill made peace with who he is and where he belongs. “I am not turning away from Catholicism as much as I am embracing Judaism, because it is mine, always was,” he reflects. “It  just took me a while to get there.”

DAVID WEILL, MD, is theformer Director of the Center for Advanced Lung Diseases and the Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford University Medical Center. A sought-after advisor to various transplant programs across the country, he also serves on the Board of TransMedics, a company focused on improving availability of donor organs. Dr. Weill has also served on several non-profit boards including the Tulane Medical School, Xavier University of Louisiana, SFJAZZ, the Isidore Newman School, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Foundation, NextGen Personal Finance, and the Bellevue Literary Review. Dr. Weill’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Salon, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, STAT, the Washington Post, The Hill, LitHub, Tablet, The Times of Israel, TODAY.com, and the Los Angeles Times. His previous books include the memoir Exhale: Hope, Healing, and Life in Transplant (2021) and a novel, All That Really Matters (2024). He lives in New Orleans. For more information, please visit davidweill.com.

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TELL ME I BELONG

A Journey Across Faiths and Generations

By David Weill

Publication date: December 9, 2025

ISBN: 978-1454961833; $24.99 Hardcover

Union Square & Co. 

An American girl from Kansas that got a job in Washington , a modern intelligent and hard working girl

A Christian boy from Jerusalem from a Christian family observing Cristian faith

In few day he was about to propose as he already had the ring

The killer Elias Rodriguez the son of a democrat in high rank that even went to the inauguration invited by Shummer , minority leader of the senate

It could have been any of us American

This couple can be anyone of us ! Rabby Noa from Kol Dorot went to that center anytime and he have common friends with that girl … here in the USA

All this terrorism effects any American now! The girl was not military of religious and he was a smart Christian boy

There only fault was to go to this party in Washington

The killer did not know where they work or what religion they have ! He just assumed … what a tragedy and the whole world should wake up against terrorism and corruption and the new communist’s Islandamism that promises them a fake Brotherhood in nothing to do with the reality

#justice #peace #love #safety

In celebration of the Schomburg Center’s 100th anniversary, we’re proud to honor the legacy of the *Lion of Lenox Avenue, Congressman Charles B. Rangel*, during the Harlem Faith Tour on Thursday with Mayor Eric Adams.  He will be joined by fellow faith leaders for an important gathering that continues his citywide tour engaging spiritual leadership.  This is a moment for churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and nonprofits to come together, share concerns, and hear directly from city agencies working to support your vital work in the community.

Harlem Faith in Your Borough
 Thursday, May 29
 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Langston Hughes Auditorium
515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037

Faith in Your Borough (5 Boro Tour & Evening of Faith) is the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships’ initiative to connect Interfaith Leaders with crucial public resources. Through these events, the OFCP will host bi-monthly 5 Borough Tour and Evening of Faith events across the boroughs. These sessions will allow faith and community leaders to meet with city agencies such as the Department of Education (DOE), Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Finance (DOF), FDNY, and the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), to receive technical assistance and support for issues unique to their boroughs.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we have the perfect opportunity for you! NYC Health + Hospitals Faith Based Initiatives is currently offering an Introduction to  Hospital Chaplaincy Internship, tailored for individuals seeking an immersive introduction to spiritual care within a healthcare setting. Whether you’re a seminary student discerning a call to hospital chaplaincy or an experienced clergy leader eager to broaden your understanding of hospital-based ministry, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to extend compassionate spiritual support to those in need.

Spanning approximately 14 weeks with a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week, our internship program is crafted to provide participants with invaluable hands-on experience in ministering to diverse populations. Through meaningful engagement with patients, families, and healthcare professionals, interns will gain practical insights and skills essential for a career in professional chaplaincy.

FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Even when school is out, youth and children can still enjoy free breakfast and lunch! The NYC Department of Education’s 2024 Free Summer Meals Program is here for across New York City, and it’s totally free for anyone who’s 18 years old or younger. You can find these meals at specific places like select NYC Public Schools, community pool centers, parks, and libraries. And guess what? You don’t need to sign up, show any papers, or have an ID to get these meals. Just head to one of our spots and enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch. Have a great summer filled with good food and fun!

Service Information

• All dates, times, locations and menus are subject to change.
• Thursday, June 27, 2024 – Friday, August 30, 2024
• There is no service Thursday, July 4, 2024 (4th of July)
• There is service Friday, July 5, 2024 (Day after 4th of July)
• Breakfast Service Time: 8am – 9:15am
• Lunch Service Time: 11am – 1:15pm
• Text: NYCFood to 304-304 (standard text messaging rates may apply)
• Call 311
• Find A Free Breakfast & Lunch Location Near You

HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP) COOLING ASSISTANCE BENEFIT

The HEAP Cooling Assistance benefit helps eligible households buy and install an air conditioner or fan. Cooling Assistance benefits are provided on a first-come first served basis to eligible applicant. The benefit is worth up to $800 for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan; or up to $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit. To learn more about the benefit or to apply, click here.

SUMMER AT THE LIBRARY IN NYC

Join NYC libraries this summer for free programs and events for all ages. Explore book lists, activities, language classes, teen centers, and even career services for adults at your local library. You can also use your library card to get free passes to 90+ museums and attractions across the city. For more information on library resources click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us on Wednesday, July 17th to explore the art of self-care with our upcoming seminar tailored for faith leaders. This unique event offers insightful tools to cultivate personal well-being while navigating diverse spiritual responsibilities. Join us to foster resilience, deepen connections across faith traditions, and sustain your impactful leadership with renewed energy and mindfulness. Secure your spot today and invest in your holistic health as you continue to serve and inspire your community. Register here to attend.

NYC Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Upcoming Events

Wednesday, July 24^th, 10 AM -12 PM

NYC Mayor’s Faith Office Multifaith Tour (BROOKLYN)

LOCATION: 91 Walworth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205

RSVP HERE

Monday, August 12^th, 6 PM

An Evening of Faith with Mayor Adams (BRONX)

LOCATION: NEW LIFE BRONX, 2757 Morris Ave, Bronx, NY 10468

For more information about these events, please reach out to Rev. Gil Monrose at  GMonrose@cityhall.nyc.gov or Fayth Henderson at FHenderson@cityhall.nyc.gov

MONTHLY HEALTH AWARENESS