Product Description

Judaism isn’t a race or even a particular culture or ethnic group. There are about 13 or 14 million Jews spread around the world, including about 6 million in the United States and about 5 million in Israel – so Judaism clearly isn’t “a nation.” So what does it mean to be Jewish? Here are the basics:

• Being Jewish (being “a Jew”) means you’re a Member of the Tribe (an M–O–T). The tribe started with a couple named Abraham and Sarah about 4,000 years ago, it grew over time, and it’s still here today. You can become part of the Jewish tribe in two ways: By being born to a Jewish mother or joining through a series of rituals (called converting).
• Judaism is a set of beliefs, practices, and ethics based on the Torah. You can practice Judaism and not be Jewish, and you can be a Jew and not practice Judaism.

Whether you′re interested in the religion or the spirituality, the culture or the ethnic traditions, Judaism For Dummies explores the full spectrum of Judaism, dipping into the mystical, meditative, and spiritual depth of the faith and the practice. In this warm and welcoming book, you′ll find coverage of

• Orthodox Jews and breakaway denominations
• Judaism as a daily practice
• The food and fabric of Judaism
• Jewish wedding ceremonies
• Celebrations and holy days
• 4,000 years of pain, sadness, triumph, and joy
• Great Jewish thinkers and historical celebrities

Jews have long spread out to the corners of the world, so there are significant Jewish communities on many continents. Judaism For Dummies offers a glimpse into the rituals, ideas, and terms that are woven into the history and everyday lives of Jewish people as near as our own neighborhoods and as far–reaching as across the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28842 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Senator Joseph Lieberman
A concise and upbeat primer on the Jewish faith, Judaic history, and what it means to be a Jew."

From the Back Cover
"A concise and upbeat primer on the Jewish faith, Judaic history, and what it means to be a Jew." —Senator Joseph Lieberman

"Judaism For Dummies is a delightful and rich resource book for anyone interested in the Jewish tradition." Rabbi David A. Cooper, author of God Is a Verb

"Falcon and Blatner have written a warm, friendly, fair, and direct book to share the complex story of Jews and Judaism." Rabbi Dr. Zalman M. Schachter–Shalomi "If you are looking to make sense of the Jewish experience, read Judaism For Dummies." Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, Simply Jewish Foundation

Explore the Jewish faith from Chanukkah to the Kabbalah

A fascinating look at what being Jewish is all about If you want to reconnect with your Jewish heritage, or if you′re just curious about the Jewish experience, then this friendly guide is for you. With a dose of warmth and humor, you′ll discover key Jewish beliefs and traditions, understand the importance of Jewish history, and learn about Jewish holiday celebrations.

Discover how to:

• Recognize Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism
• Celebrate Passover and other holidays
• Get a handle on Jewish history
• Explore the Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism
• Reconnect with the Jewish faith

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About the Author
Rabbi Ted Falcon, Ph.D., writes and lectures about Jewish spirituality and is the founder of a synagogue for Jewish meditation in Los Angeles. David Blatner is an award–winning, bestselling author of eight books.

Customer Reviews

Great
For anyone looking to learn more about the Jewish faith, this super book is the only one you need.

Judaism for Dummies
This book has been a breath of fresh air to me personally.
Informative helpful and reassuring to someone whose has found their belonging after denial.
This book will help others of different persuasions to learn of Judaism and hopefully enlighten.

An informative, accessible and enjoyable book.
This is an enjoyable and illuminating intoduction to judaism.
It explores the core beliefs, offers a history of the jewish people and explains what goes on on holy days and celebrations. The odd recipe is included, as is a glossary of yiddish words, a section on jewish humour and a collection of frequently asked questions (amongst other things). Besides its broad scope what impressed me was that the authors take care to explain not only how but also why, and they do so with a great deal of wisdom, understanding and humour.
It is also a very accessible book. It is easy to dip in and out of, everything is explained in a clear and waffle-free manner and divided into bite size sections. Explanations are clear and concise without sacrificing completeness or depth of understanding and i feel as though I have really learnt a lot from reading this book.
Trying to provide a decent overview of judaism in 400 words is a pretty tall order but I believe that this book makes a very respectable attempt.