Reading List
- Judaism Reading ListRecommended books and films on Judaism available in McKee Library's collection.
Judaism
- Ancient JudaismDuring the period of early Judaism (6th century BCE - 70 CE), Judean religion began to develop ideas which diverged significantly from 10th-to-7th-centuries BCE Israelite and Judean religion. In particular, this period marks a significant movement towards monotheism, the codification of traditions central to religious identity (i.e. the Hebrew Bible), and new ideas regarding the worship of Yahweh.
- Jewish Virtual LibraryAnything you need to know from Anti-Semitism to Zionism
- JudaismJudaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years. Followers of Judaism believe in one God who revealed himself through ancient prophets. The history of Judaism is essential to understanding the Jewish faith, which has a rich heritage of law, culture and tradition.
Research & Reference
- Credo Reference: JudaismThe term itself was first used by Hellenized Jews to describe their religious practice, but it is of predominantly modern usage; it is not used in the Bible or in Rabbinic literature and only rarely in the literature of the medieval period. The word Torah is employed when referring to the divinely revealed teachings of Jewish law and belief. Judaism is used more broadly, including also the totality of human interpretation and practice.
- World Religion Profile: JudaismThe article discusses the Jewish religion. Judaism consists of denominations such as Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism. Jews value social justice and concepts identified in the Torah, a sacred Jewish text that is part of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Religious figures in Judaism include the patriarch Abraham, who was commanded by God to go to Canaan, the lawgiver Moses, who led the Jews from Egypt, and the prophet Elijah. Jerusalem is a holy location in Judaism.
Perspectives
The New Encyclopedia of Judaism
Includes hundreds of special articles covering subjects in analytical depth, as well as short biographies of the major figures in the story of Judaism.
American Judaism
This magisterial work chronicles the 350-year history of the Jewish religion in America. Tracing American Judaism from its origins in the colonial era through the present day, Jonathan Sarna explores the ways in which Judaism adapted in this new context. How did American culture - predominantly Protestant and overwhelmingly capitalist - affect Jewish religion and culture? And how did American Jews shape their own communities and faith in the new world? Jonathan Sarna, a preeminent scholar of American Judaism, tells the story of individuals struggling to remain Jewish while also becoming American. He offers a dynamic and timely history of assimilation and revitalisation, of faith lost and faith regained. The first comprehensive history of American Judaism in over fifty years, this book is both a celebration of 350 years of Jewish life in America and essential reading for anyone interested in American religion and life.
Encyclopedia of Jewish Folklore and Traditions
This multicultural reference work on Jewish folklore, legends, customs, and other elements of folklife covers specific artifacts, rituals, ceremonies, biblical figures, and legends-in addition to broad topics such as humor, folk dance, costumes, and folk narratives.
Teach Yourself - Judaism
Discover Judaism and its role in our world Teach Yourself Judaism is a comprehensive guide to the Jewish faith. Delving into the roots and development of Judaism and considering the practicalities of pursuing a Jewish way of life, this book will ensure you soon have a thorough understanding of the beliefs and practices of this major world religion. From the principles behind significant traditions and rituals to the impact of the Holocaust and the state of Israel on Jewish self-understanding, this book is a fascinating read.
Judaism When Christianity Began
In this book, Jacob Neusner gives an introductory, systematic, and holistic account of the theology and practice of Rabbinic Judaism, which emerged, along with Christianity, from antiquity and formed the classical statement of Judaism to the present day. He offers a description of beliefs and practices, theology as expressed in mythic narratives, and norms of ritual and symbolic behavior. Neusner also discusses: revelation and scripture, the doctrine of God, the definition of the holy, the chain of tradition embodied in the story of the written and oral Torah, the intervention of God in history through miracles, sacred space, atonement and repentance, death and afterlife, and art and symbol in Judaism.
Streaming Media
- JudaismA numerically small religion practiced by approximately 13 million members, Judaism nonetheless captures a large share of the world's attention-especially in the geopolitical arena. In this program, Hans Kung discusses the practice of Judaism in the United States, Israel, and Germany, as he studies the religion's commitment to its continued existence.
- Judaism - People of the BookIn approaching the sacred texts of Judaism, learn the dramatic history of the Aleppo Codex, a historically significant copy of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). Track the origins of the Tanakh and its constituent sections - the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings - and grasp how the Tanakh became the focus of Jewish identity.
- JudaismArt of Faith is a visually sumptuous series exploring the architecture and art of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Each program is presented and narrated by the broadcaster John McCarthy, who visits many of the greatest and most significant religious buildings of the world.
- Essentials of Faith: JudaismA shared heritage, a spiritual belief system, a set of rules for living—these are all aspects of Judaism, but the order in which they are emphasized varies greatly within the faith. This program features opinions from four articulate and sometimes controversial adherents to the Jewish religion who share their views on differences and similarities within Judaism. Highlighting the impact of the Holocaust and contrasts between the Sephardi and Ashkenazi traditions, the program participants include Rabbi and Baroness Julia Neuberger, Rabbi Barry Marcus of the Central London Synagogue, performer Uri Geller, and Jewish Museum education director Susanna Alexander.