The Concise Guide to Judaism

This highly readable work draws an authoritative portrait of Judaism, telling the history of the Jewish people from their beginnings to the formation of modern Israel, exploring the place of mysticism and philosophy, and offering clear accounts of today's Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements.

Offering itself as a basic guide to the history, description, and practice of the Jewish faith, this book is poorly organized and replete with inaccuracies and misinformation. The author attempts to cover too much territory in a very brief space, and the result is a jumbled mishmash that will confuse readers. His gravest fault, however, is his inaccuracy regarding many aspects of his material. To cite two cases in point: His treatment of the ancient Hebrews and the origins of monotheism is at variance with the latest in biblical research, and his description of Franz Rosenzweig's philosophy of Judaism is misleading. For an excellent introduction to this subject, see Emil L. Fackenheim's What Is Judaism ( LJ 10/1/87). Not recommended.
- Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.