Judaism · an Introduction by Hoffman, C.M. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Meet the author Only got a minute? Only got five minutes? Only got ten minutes? 1 Approaching Judaism

Judaism and Jewishness Difficulties in treating Judaism as a religion Judaism as a religion Faith and history The essence of Judaism

2 The roots of belief and practice – the Bible

A people’s history and its significance The structure of the Jewish Bible The content of the Torah The content of the Neviim The content of the Ketuvim Interpreting the Bible Transmitting and translating the Bible

3 The chain of tradition – the Talmud

The written and the oral Torah The varieties of Second Temple Judaism Living as a holy people without the Temple Discussing the Mishnah – the Talmud Legal traditions (halakhah) and narrative traditions (aggadah)

4 Orthodox Judaism

Orthodoxy and belief Continuity and discontinuity Orthodox Judaism and the Bible Ultra-Orthodoxy Orthodox affiliation today

5 Non-Orthodox Judaism

Reform Judaism and points of departure Determining the role of women in Judaism Conservative Judaism Liberal Judaism

6 Food laws

The source and purpose of the food laws Deciding what is kosher Levels of observance

7 Life and death matters

Expressions of belief The importance of having children The sanctity of human life Grief and hope

8 Jewish education

The importance of education In the synagogue In school In higher education (academy, seminary, and college)

9 Marriage

Sex and marriage in Judaism A Jewish wedding Marriages between Jews and non-Jews The religious court (Bet Din) and the laws of status A Jewish divorce

10 Prayer

The point of praying Times of prayer Blessing God Communal prayers – ancient and modern Prayer books Physical reminders

11 The Synagogue

Terms and functions Reading the Torah Language and music Religious leadership

12 The Sabbath

A sense of time out Resting from work in the Bible, the Talmud, and Orthodox Judaism Redefining ‘rest’ Observing Shabbat in home and synagogue

13 The rhythm of the year – festivals and fasts

A sense of time The lunar calendar The new moon The festivals of Hanukah and Purim Other festivals Fasts

14 The pilgrim festivals

Passover – the festival of unleavened bread Freedom – then and now Counting the days Freedom to obey – Shavuot Where true security lies – Sukkot The four plants The obligation to rejoice

15 The New Year and the Day of Atonement

The importance of The High Holy Days Creating the atmosphere Returning Fasting Atonement

16 The Holocaust

Questioning Remembering A radical answer A traditional response Survival and beyond

17 Israel

A focal point for Jews The development of Zionism Religious responses to Zionism Identity in a Jewish State Peace with justice and security

Afterword Glossary Taking it further Index

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