It is not “what” is Judaism, but rather “why” is Judaism. The 20th century presided over the death of nearly every grand narrative, yet like every other time period that sought in one way or another to annihilate Judaism, Judaism remains. Understanding this requires not only understanding the narrative of Judaism, but as well how it has been able to constantly remake itself for millennia as a tiny minority religion. “Jewish Narratives and Origins," the first volume of a planned three-part series "Gateways Into Judaism," is not an introduction to Judaism. Rather, it is a case arguing that we can fully embrace religious narratives while retaining our intellect and rationality. Moreover, it is an exploration of infinite strangeness, an unflinching look at the difference between history and narrative, and a love letter to a religion that should not still exist, yet does.