Judaism: History, Belief and Practice

By Cohn-Sherbock, Dan
Routledge, 2003, Paperback, 432 pp., ISBN: 0415236614, $37.95

This all-encompassing textbook is an unrivalled guide to the history, belief and practice of Judaism, written by a scholar and rabbi who is also an experienced university teacher.

Beginning with the ancient Near East, it covers early Israelite history, the emergence of classical rabbinic literature and the rise of medieval Judaism in Islamic and Christian lands. It also includes the early modern period, and the development of Jewry in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Extracts from primary sources are used throughout to enliven the narrative and provide concrete examples of the rich variety of Jewish civilization.

Specially designed to assist learning, Judaism:

Introduces texts and commentaries, including the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic texts, mystical literature, Jewish philosophy and Jewish theology.
Provides the skills necessary to understand these step-by-step
Explains how to interpret the major events in nearly four thousand years of Jewish history
Supports study with discussion questions on the central historical and religious issues, includes key reading for each chapter and an extensive bibliography
Illustrates the development of Judaism, its concepts and observances, with nearly 200 maps and photographs
Links each chapter from a companion website to other online resources, and gives guidance on what to think about, activities to support chapters and tips for teachers.

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is an American-born rabbi and Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, Lampeter. He is a prolific and distinguished writer and the author of Routledge's Atlas of Jewish History, Fifty Key Jewish Thinkers, and Judaism in the Routledge Religions of the World series.

To link to Judaism's Routledge Companion Website, click here