Synopses & Reviews
Norman Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. 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. Modern concerns and debates of the Jewish people are also addressed, such as the impact of the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, the status of women, and medical and commercial ethics.
About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam
Review
"[Solomon] manages to cover a remarkable range of material regarding the nature of the Jews as a historical group, the history of Judaism's religious tradition, the origins of Christianity, and aspects of historical and contemporary piety and practice."--Religious Studies Review
"An excellent brief introduction; contains all your students need to know at the basic level."--I.A. Van Liere, College of Charleston
"Compact and detailed, this is a well-balanced presentation of the biblical foundations, historical development, and contemporary shape of the Jewish tradition. Ideal for those coming to Judaism for the first time."--Ralph Keen, University of Iowa
Review
"An excellent brief introduction; contains all your students need to know at the basic level."--I.A. Van Liere, College of Charleston
Synopsis
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects -- from Islam to Sociology, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume provides trenchant and provocative -- yet always balanced and complete -- discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject developed and how it influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all readers an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever area of study one deems important or appealing, whatever topic fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
About the Author
Norman Solomon is a freelance writer and journalist, and a regular contributor to the
Jewish Chronicle. He is a Fellow in Modern Jewish Thought at the Oxford Center for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. His previous publications include
Judaism and World Religion and he contributed to
The Oxford Companion to the Jewish Religion.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Who are the Jews? 2. How did Judaism and Christianity split up? 3. How did Judaism develop? 4. The calendar and festivals; 5. The spiritual lifeSprayer, meditation, Torah; 6. Making a Jewish home; 7. Out of the ghetto, into the whirlwind; 8. Twentieth-century Judaism; 9. 'Eternal law', changing times; Appendix A: The Thirteen Principles of Faith, as formulated by Maimonides; Appendix B: The 'Philadelphia Platform' of Reform Judaism; Suggestions for further reading; Index