Whether or not there’s a God, there’s something important about the idea of sacredness — rituals can be sacred, and the Sabbath can be sacred, and there’s an importance to that. My wife and I also joined a temple at the end of the year. It’s reform, and we don’t really go, but we decided to give our sons just a little taste of religion so they can reject it or accept it as they please. I also learned that it’s important not to take the Bible too literally.

What did you do instead of sacrificing the ox? Was that the part where you instead had a chicken killed?

Yes, that was the closest I came to sacrifice. It’s an annual ritual practiced by some Orthodox Jews called kaparot. It was a fascinating experience, and, frankly, a troubling one. The year was not all light and fun.

Looking back what was the high point and the low points of the project and why? 

One of the highpoints was doing this crazy ecstatic dance with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn. I’d never seen such pure, unadulterated joy.

As for the lowpoint, well, my neighbor died right at the end of my year. And it was tough and moving time. I hope my year gave me some perspective to deal with it. I read somewhere that a movie deal is in the works. How will that work? Someone will play you? We're talking fiction or non-fiction? Who would you like to play you?

Yes, they’re working on the second draft of the script. I’m cautiously optimistic, as they say. It’d be a fictionalized version. As for who’d play me, I’d be happy with anyone, as long as the movie gets made. I’d be happy with Fyvish Finkel. Or Alfred Molina. Or Adam Sandler. Or Colin Farrell. Or anyone in between!   

Is there anything you were hoping I’d ask but didn't? This is your chance to say something that's driving you mad because all the interviewers forget to ask it of you.

No, your questions were delightful. Plus, it’s not biblical to get mad.

Thanks again to A.J. for doing the interview. This book will probably make my top ten books of 2007 list, which I'll be writing up in the next few weeks. I strongly encourage you to read it.

As for the movie I'd rather have seen it done as a documentary but that's just me. Reality is always weirder than fiction, as I think the first article I linked to - the Alaska nut - proves.