What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? What should I be teaching my children about being Jewish?
A landmark reference, here is an indispensable one-volume guide to the religious traditions, everyday practices, philosophical beliefs, and historical foundations of Judaism -- everything you need to know about being Jewish. In Essential Judaism, George Robinson has created the accessible compendium that he sought when he rediscovered his Jewish roots as an adult. Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cycle at every stage, and lays out many fascinating aspects of Judaism -- the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, the evolution of Hasidism, and much more -- while keeping a firm focus on the different paths to living a good Jewish life in today's world.
Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs and Rituals is a brief but comprehensive layman's handbook to Jewish prayer, worship, festivals, customs, history, language, philosophy, and ideology. Its author, George Robinson, returned to synagogue after a 20-year absence and found himself utterly confused about the basics of his religion, despite having attended Hebrew school. He looked far and wide for a reference work that would help him get his bearings but did not find one; so he wrote one himself. Robinson's background as a journalist proved to be an asset in this project, which shows evidence of much detective work, the results of which are plainly described and clearly organized. Robinson is sensitive to the many perspectives of contemporary Judaism without being mealy-mouthed. His work is a triumph of diplomacy and clear thinking; his overview of Hebrew Scripture, and his excellent Kosher primer, would be worth the price of this book in themselves.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A very good introduction:
Robinson tries to provide a comprehensive introduction to Judaism. It's very strong on the Jewish prayer services, the content of Tanakh, and the highlights of Jewish intellectual history and the Kabbalah. Not as strong on the holidays and life cycle events. Nu... who's perfect?!
Great book for overall view of Judaism:
This book is a very good 'one-stop' overview of Judaism. It is well organized and gives a very thorough background and summary which will help even a total outsider begin to understand to Judaism.
much more than a primer:
as a jew making a recommitment to jewish practice after a 30-year hiatus, i needed a major brush-up. this book, i believe, was heaven-sent. i continually found myself saying out loud, "i didn't know that!" it covers every facet of judaism, from what to do and expect when you go to services, to the history of ancient israel, to the major philosophers, to how we as a people survived 2,000 years in exodus, to the rise of hasidism, to the effects of the holocaust on the religion, to the differences between the... more info
Thorough and thoroughly interesting.:
George Robinson returned to Judaism as an adult looking for spiritual centeredness, a deeper understanding of himself and his place in the world. He's a journalist, not a rabbi. His writing prowess is immediately evident, as is the fact that he has educated himself extensively in the material he treats. His book is primarily conceived as a broad-ranging educational text and guide for those who departed from the Judaism of their youth but are seeking 'something' or feeling drawn back. The book is actually a... more info
