The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies reflects the current state of scholarship in the field as analyzed by an international team of experts in the different and varied areas represented within contemporary Jewish Studies. Unlike recent attempts to encapsulate the current state of Jewish Studies, the Oxford Handbook is more than a mere compendium of agreed facts; rather, it is an exhaustive survey of current interests and directions in the field.
This is a thoroughly impressive book for anyone wanting to get current in the field of Jewish Academia. It covers the "Great Books" of Jewish scholarship in multiple fields, and while it will obviously get outdated, it is a wonderful introduction to the diverse sub-fields of Judaic studies.