Miller intro to judaism program american jewish university. Introduction judaism revelation of moses or religion of men. Learn more about the practices and beliefs of judaism. This book offers a full and lucid account of judaism and. Introduction to judaism god, torah, and israel although definitions of judaism as a religious tradition vary, they often involve a combination of commitments to monotheistic belief, sacred texts, and the social and cultural histories and traditions of jewish people. We want to share with you the list of 10 great introductiontojudaism books from the website my jewish learning. It was an extraordinary collection of ashkenazic jewish wit, wisdom and culture that managed to capture the jewish soul better than any other book i have ever seen. Its also a modern religion affecting the daily lives of people in almost every nation of the world. Introduction to judaism is an engaging multisession course for anyone interested in exploring jewish life through a reform lens. This very short introduction starts by outlining the basics of practical judaism, including. The best thing about this book is that it dispels the. An introduction to judaism contains illustrative tables and maps, a full glossary, chronology, bibliography and index. This introduction to judaism course taught by rabbi devorah marcus and rabbi benj fried at temple emanuel offers a basic foundation in judaism in 18 sessions beginning in january each year. Join him for this enlightening 24lecture course and discover judaisms remarkable history.
Unfortunately, these books typically whitewash the entire subject, leaving the reader to erroneously conclude that judaism is in fact based on the old testamentand that judaism is, of all things, the precursor to christianity. Introduction to judaism audiobook by shai cherry, the. The hebrews and israelites were already referred to as jews in later books of the tanakh such as the book of esther, with the term jews replacing the title children of israel. Judaism is the religion of the jewish people with around 15 million followers as of 2006.
Introduction to the middle ages a new pictorial language. The book used common yiddish words as a jumping off point for presenting a jewish joke or story, or just for discussing a jewish custom or practice. Since 1983, this book has been the standard teaching tool for beginning introduction to judaism classes in reform synagogues and institutions throughout north america. A very short introduction very short introductions. In addition to surveying the nature and development of judaism, this very short introduction outlines the basics of practical judaism its festivals, prayers, customs, and various sects. The first class for the 2020 cycle is january 15th. Introduction to judaism christian books, bibles, gifts. Yahadut is the religion, philosophy and way of life of the jewish people. Oct 18, 2015 introduction to judaism varun soni, dean of religious life at the university of southern california, discusses judaism, the 3,000yearold ancient religion of the jewish people. Jewish communities may differ in belief, practice, politics, geography, language, and autonomy. Introduction to judaism temple emanuel of san diego.
Neusner uses a rich variety of primary texts in addition to his own analysis. An introduction to jewishchristian relations by edward. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, believing in one god. Neusner uses a rich variety of primary texts in addition to. Buy now enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Since 1983, this book has been the standard teaching tool for beginning introduction to judaism classes in reform synagogues and institutions throughout north. Modern concerns and debates of the jewish people are. Judaism is considered by religious jews to be the expression of the covenant that god established with the children of israel. I could bring my own expertise and focus on lived judaism and cultural diversity. An oral tradition emerged alongside the written bible.
It is not too large to use as a textbook for a semester long course and it is not too short to deprive the reader of the broad overview needed for studying this subject. Publishers weekly a valuable reference but it is more than that, it provides stimulating introduction to a major world culture. The essential guide to the jewish life cycle, edited by rabbi peter s. There are many books which tell the story of the jewish people, but what matters for this introduction is the way that the past is perceived today and the ways that it affects contemporary judaism. What could be simpler than a single people worshiping a sin. Half of the worlds jews live in north america and the rest are widely scattered, and the book is sensitive to the global context of judaism. I was hoping that this book would be a little more detailed as i was planning on using it for my directed research ive been doing this semester in school. Conversion 101 what you need to know about converting to judaism. Professor shai cherry shows how, for all it has changed, judaism has maintained unbroken ties to a foundation text, an ethnicity, a set of rituals and holidays, and a land.
Neusner describes the practice of judaism in america today and surveys how it took shape throughout historyespecially in response to various political and religious crises. In the bible, claims rosenberg, ethics stands in opposition to the natural world. A twentyfirstcentury introduction to jews and jewish identities, was selected by the jewish book council as a finalist for the dorothy kripke award for education and. Something from nothing, phoebe gilman, simply the best introduction for small children to the jews of eastern europe, and it does not even mention eastern europe. New articles, essays, liturgical writings, and text sources reflect recent. For more than 30 years, we have been the nations leading center for welcoming those seeking to convert to judaism, interfaith couples, and all those who want to learn more and find a home in the jewish community. Being blind is not about how you look, it is about how you see. He is author of introduction to islam for jews and children of abraham. In this book, jacob neusner brings together these two aspects of the study of judaism. This is a stimulation and comprehensive introduction to major world culture. The hebrew bible or, the tanakh serves as the holy text in judaism, and outlines the covenant that jewish people have with god.
Temple judea coral gables, fl 33146 august 28, 2019 december 11, 2019 wednesdays, 7 p. An introduction to judaism contains illustrative tables and maps, a full glossary, chronology, bibliography and index, and can be used for reference, to check details and dates, as well as read consectutively or dipped into at leisure. Pdf introduction to judaism, christianity, and islam. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, with its main inspiration being based on or found in the tanakh which has been explored in later texts, such as the talmud.
Open to all, this course is perfect for interfaith couples, those raising jewish children, spiritual seekers, individuals considering conversion, and jews who want a meaningful adult jewish learning experience. Looking for a judaism 101 book to start your jewish learning. It is a modern religion, too, still transforming the lives of many people. After consulting with colleagues and reading books and syllabi, i realized that intro to judaism did not have to focus only on texts and historical events one social science colleague nicknamed his course introduction to what i know about judaism. The title of this book is an introduction to second temple judaism and it was written by lester l. Jun 15, 2000 norman solomons succinct book is an ideal introduction to judaism as a religion and way of life. The rabbis intellectual descendants recorded and expounded upon the mishnah in a series of writings called the gemara and later. Did we miss a great book, or do you have feedback about one of the books we listed. Introduction to judaism 9780664253486 by jacob neusner. Judaism is far from simple, and as a religion, culture, and civilization, it has evolved in surprising ways. A brief introduction to judaism the blog for culture vultures satiate your inner culture vulture with regular news and posts about cultural awareness, doing business abroad, working in a multicultural environment, hr diversity and global mobility. Read and learn for free about the following article. Read my jewish learning s 101 articles to start learning the basics of judaism.
A pluralistic, online school, designed to provide access to anyone looking for an introduction to judaism, its judaism for beginners program addresses jewish texts, holidays, prayers, history, lifecycle events and hebrew in dozens of videos, podcasts, handouts and other resources. This revised edition has been updated and expanded to include new material in each chapter. Norman solomons succinct book is an ideal introduction to judaism as a religion and way of life. Judaismintroduction wikibooks, open books for an open world. This book is an introduction to the jewish lifecycle, including birth, jewish education, barbat mitzvah, the jewish home, marriage, divorce, conversion, death, and mourning. In this book contemporary judaism is presented in all its rich diversity, including both traditional and modern theologies as well as secular forms of jewish identity. How to learn about judaism online my jewish learning. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of jewish people, solomon explores how the religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the bible. Judaism s texts, traditions and values strongly influenced later abrahamic religions, including christianity, islam and the bahai faith. Individuals may also associate or identify with judaism primarily through ethnic or cultural characteristics.
Modern concerns and debates of the jewish people are also addressed, such as the impact of the holocaust, the. A rabbi speaks to a non jewish group about judaism s message to all humankind the seven noahide laws. The hebrew bible or tanakh contains three major sections. History and religion of the jews in the time of nehemiah, the maccabees, hillel, and jesus lester l. Ancient judaism profoundly influenced christianity. In addition, it has an excellent introduction to the jewish history, ethics, underlying creed of judaism and conversion to judaism. Introduction to judaism the holocaust encyclopedia. Modern concerns and debates of the jewish people are also addressed, such as the impact. Judaism introduction yale forum on religion and ecology.
Grabbes introduction to second temple judaism is a text that packs a lot of information into a smaller space. An introduction to judaism introduction to religion. We will be introducing you to more recommendations in future issues. Feb 24, 2000 norman solomons succinct book is an ideal introduction to judaism as a religion and way of life. An introduction to judaism introduction to religion 9780521735049. So we asked a bunch of jewish educators to recommend the best introduction to judaism judaism 101 books out there. Will be a book that i reread, i suspect, many times.
This is a stimulating and comprehensive introduction to a major world culture. When i came to moment 15 years ago, i wanted to expand my jewish. Theological and moral issues to consider while renegotiating a jewish relationship to the natural world, in judaism and environmental ethics, ed. Jews who support outreach claim that active proselytism was the jewish tradition until the roman empire outlawed conversion to judaism under penalty of death. In addition to answering questions such as who are jews. In rabbinic judaism a more subtle view emerges in the context of recognizing the stability of nature, on the one hand, and the ability of humans to learn from the ways animals conduct themselves, on the other. Vanderkams introduction to early judaism is a great covering of the scriptures and prominent features of the second temple period time. Normon solomons succinct book is an ideal introduction to judaism as a religion and way of life. The most popular suggestions are listed below, in order of the most recently publishedupdated. Judaism is an ancient religion, practiced through most of recorded history and having profound influence on both christianity and islam. Skip to search skip to content skip to footer we use cookies to improve your experience on our site and bring you ads that might interest you. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
Our signature intro course explores jewish history, tradition, ideas, and culture. A rabbi speaks to a nonjewish group about judaism s message to all humankind the seven noahide laws. Judaism, an introduction article judaism khan academy. An introduction to the laws of kashrut by juan bejaranogutierrez 2016, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The course is required for persons considering conversion to judaism, but it is also. Touting the virtues of the mythical judeochristian brotherhood, the key flaws and aberrations of judaism are. Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion, with the torah as its foundational text part of the larger text known as the tanakh or hebrew bible, and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the midrash and the talmud. Judaism today is very fragmented, as i have tried to explain in the book, and i have been careful to try to do justice to the different strands. An introduction to jewish christian relations sheds fresh light on this ongoing interfaith encounter, exploring key writings and themes in jewish christian history, from the jewish context of the new testament to major events of modern times, including the rise of ecumenism, the horrors of the holocaust, and the creation of the state of israel. What five books should you read to be an educated jew. An introduction to judaism introduction to religion currently unavailable.