false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171430948m/99007.jpg 99007 2 In 1988, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin undertook a mission to heal "Jewish ignorance," an affliction whose symptoms include the ability to name the three components of the Trinity, coupled with an inability to explain <I>mitzvah</I>. Telushkin's contribution to the cure is his wide-ranging, entertaining <I>Jewish Literacy</I>. First published in 1991, <I>Jewish Literacy</I> contains almost 350 entries on subjects ranging from the Ten Commandments to <I>The Protocols of the Elders of Zion</I>. Entries are numbered (for easy, encyclopedia-style reference) and organized topically (to smooth the experience of reading each page straight through). And the revised edition contains several new entries (including articles about the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the vice-presidential nomination of Joseph Lieberman) as well as numerous corrections, enlargements, and updates. One might expect Rabbi Telushkin's project of inspiring Jewish literacy to be overly earnest, but the author's understated wit adds considerable levity to most entries. The entry on "Sodom and Gomorrah," for instance, ends this way: "A number of years ago, some Israeli promoters of tourism suggested transforming the modern city of Sodom into a tourist haven with casinos, nightclubs, and even strip shows. The Chief Rabbinate in Israel sharply demurred, warning that there was nothing to prevent God from destroying the city a second time. The plan was dropped." <I>--Michael Joseph Gross</I> 95447 26 4 1991 Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History total:167|5:83|4:58|3:20|2:5|1:1| 167 718 271 26 2 0 false false Fri May 08 17:36:02 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 16:37:28 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Mar 17 11:09:39 -0700 2009 Tue Mar 17 11:32:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 22 06:39:20 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 09 10:57:44 -0700 2009
Exactly what I was looking for in terms of a book on a religion - it's essentially a narrative encyclopedia about Judaism. Goes through the Bible, religious texts, historical periods, and then contemporary practice and custom (the l...more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 09:09:08 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 01 09:12:10 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Nov 30 13:00:23 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 30 13:05:59 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Sat Oct 18 05:12:26 -0700 2008 Sat Oct 18 05:14:39 -0700 2008 1 The book is devided into a page or two chapters that are easy and pleasant r...more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 04 08:44:37 -0700 2009 Mon May 04 08:46:11 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Thu Aug 20 10:03:33 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 20 10:03:45 -0700 2009 2 5 0 false false Mon Jun 22 16:41:52 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 22 16:42:47 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sat Sep 06 22:52:33 -0700 2008 Wed Feb 25 11:36:29 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Sep 17 19:04:15 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 19:05:08 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Apr 29 20:55:10 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 29 20:55:17 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Tue Aug 14 13:58:10 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 14 13:58:10 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Oct 09 11:40:50 -0700 2007 Fri Apr 10 06:30:29 -0700 2009 God In Search of Man," which I'm reading concurrently with this one. Now THAT thing gives me a headache. Oy! more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001 Fri Nov 09 08:23:57 -0800 2007 Fri Nov 09 08:27:09 -0800 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 22 21:16:41 -0800 2008 Mon Mar 03 17:31:52 -0800 2008 Gives interpretation of the Jewish Bible and important stories.
Gives a chronological breakdown of specific and key events for the formation of Jewish culture and traditions over the years.
Excellent for people who are interested in learning more about Judaism.]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jun 26 09:54:28 -0700 2007 Mon Jul 28 19:41:59 -0700 2008
Great reference.]]> 4 0 false false Sat Jun 02 10:36:53 -0700 2007 Sun Jun 03 07:23:19 -0700 2007 0 0 false false Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Jun 25 12:34:19 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 29 13:55:43 -0700 2007 4 0 false false Sat Jan 03 17:55:30 -0800 2009 Sat Aug 01 21:27:33 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=99007