The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism - Hardcover

9780814742754: The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814742750 ISBN 13: 9780814742754

Publisher: NYU Press, 2004

An excellent resource for Jewish families to keep on hand for household use, The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism provides engaging and authoritative coverage of all aspects of the Jewish religion—its history, practices, and important figures as well as current thinking among the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements.

"The Students Encyclopedia of Judaism is a wonderful resource to begin the process of learning...The scholarly entries have been reworked so that the subject matter is accesible to the younger reader."—Amit

"The book portrays a comprehensive picture of Jewish life. The entries in the book are easy to understand and concise. Both the English and Hebrew names of familiar items are cross-referenced in order to guide the reader, and they also lead the reader to further explore other ideas relating to the subject."—Signal Journal

The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism is one of the most important Jewish reference books available to any student. Specially designed for students ages 12-18, the articles in The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism cover a vast spectrum of topics. There are biographical entries on biblical figures, rabbis, and others whose thoughts and actions have influenced the development of Judaism. From traditions and ceremonies to foods and historical leaders, special attention is given to contemporary issues and women's roles in Judaism. Also emphasized are the customs and folk traditions of Jewish cultures throughout the world.

for students in grades 7 through 12
over 900 entries
all facets of daily, Sabbath, and holiday prayers and rituals are included
traditional and modern issues are discussed from several viewpoints
sidebars throughout include the sayings of the sages, texts of prayers, and summaries of biblical books and holidays
a list of books for further reading is included
a perfect gift for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Hannukah

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About the Author:

Geoffrey Wigoder was Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia Judaica. Fred Skolnik is senior editor for the Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust (NYU Press, 2001).

Shmuel Himelstein is the author of The Jewish Primer: Questions and Answers on Jewish Faith and Culture.

From Booklist:

This resource focuses on the Jewish religion itself: its history, practices, and people; Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements; the customs, traditions, and prayers of daily life, the Sabbath, and holidays; and brief biographies of leading biblical and rabbinical figures. Although it draws material from the New Encyclopedia of Judaism (2002), the information has been rewritten for its intended audience of students in grades 7-12, as well as their families. The list of contributors and their affiliations includes such familiar names as Marc D. Angel and Yehuda Bauer. Editor in chief Wigoder was editor in chief of the Encyclopedia Judaica.

The more than 900 alphabetically arranged entries range in length from a brief paragraph to two pages. Many entries are under their Hebrew term (Tallit, Tefillin) with cross-references to and from their English counterparts. This should pose no problem for Jews familiar with the religious terminology but may frustrate other users. Topics such as Israel and the Holocaust are discussed in terms of religion, not as the usual history lesson. Black-and-white illustrations with four sets of color inserts, summaries of biblical books, texts of prayers, sayings of the sages, and similar sidebars highlight the entries. Most biblical translations are based on the Jewish Publication Society of America version. Entries do not provide any pronunciation help, nor are they signed.

This title fills a niche for the teen audience. It offers quick reference and a starting point for research, as well as browsing pleasure. Given the price, school and public libraries can't go wrong by adding it to their religion collections. College libraries may also find it appropriate for their undergraduates. The publisher is also marketing it as a family purchase or for bar and bat mitzvahs and Hanukkah. Esther Sinofsky
Copyright � American Library Association. All rights reserved

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