Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.

Price: $11.95

Format:
Paperback 160 pp.
halftone, line drawings, tables, 111 mm x 174 mm

ISBN-10:
0192853902

ISBN-13:
9780192853905

Publication date:
February 2000

Imprint: OUP UK

Share on Facebook

Add to Favourites Tell a Friend


Judaism: A Very Short Introduction

Norman Solomon

Series : Very Short Introductions

Norman Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. In addition to answering questions such as Who are Jews? and How did Judaism Develop?, 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.

Readership : Anyone interested in Judaism as a religion and way of life. Students of theology, sociology, Jewish studies, comparative religions, Middle Eastern studies, politics.

Reviews

  • `Throughout Solomon's Judaism there is a freshness of approach which will make it interesting to those who already know something about Judaism. The conversational style will also make it valuable for beginners.'
    Marcus Braybrooke, Church Times
  • `Just as its name implies, this series features concise works that aim to give a crisp insight into otherwise complicated topics ... complicated subjects are condensed and made simple, to whet the appetite or provide just enough material for those with a casual interest.'
    Bournemouth Evening Echo
  • `Norman Solomon has achieved the near impossible with his enlightened Very Short Introduction to Judaism. He manages to keep the reader engaged, never patronizes, assumes little knowledge but a keen mind, and takes us through Jewish life and history with such gusto that one feels enlived, rather than exhausted, at the end.'
    Rabbi Julia Neuberger
  • `A magnificent achievement. Dr Solomon's treatment, fresh, very readable, witty and stimulating, will delight everyone interested in religion in the modern world.'
    Louis Jacobs, University of Lancaster
  • `This book will serve a very useful purpose indeed. I'll use it myself to discuss, to teach, agree with, and disagree with, in the Jewish manner!'
    Rabbi Lionel Blue

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 lifeDSprayer, 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

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Dr 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 Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. His previous publications include Judaism and World Religion and he contributed to The Oxford Companion to the Jewish Religion.

There are no related titles available at this time.

Special Features

  • Part of relaunch of Very Short Introductions series
  • Part of a cluster of established religion titles in the series (Buddhism, Theology, Islam, Hinduism), and will be reissued to coincide with publication of two new religion titles: The Bible and The Koran
  • The cheapest, most accessible introduction to Judaism available
  • A highly readable account of the history and practices of the Jewish people, providing answers to the most frequently asked questions about Judaism