The Jewish Experience: An Introduction to Jewish History and Jewish Life

by Steven Leonard Jacobs

This is a story of the Jewish experience through history, which introduces and explains the many dimensions of Jewish life as "cycles" through which Jewish history, thought, writing, and practices have evolved and continue to mature. Steven Jacobs writes a clear and straightforward introduction that explains the basics of Jewish history, the tradition of texts, key philosophical and theological issues and thinkers, the Judaic calendar, and contemporary global concerns and what the future may portend for Judaism. This book is appropriate for use in general and historical introductory courses on Judaism as well as by general readers who seek a better understanding of the richness and meaning of Jewish life through history.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started OUT ok, but it's since gone downhill in a big way. The writing is almost incomprehensibly muddled and disorganized. There are TONS of typos. I understand that it is supposed to be a text book to go along with a college class, but I really think I should be able to read it independent of instruction, and understand what I'm reading. Telling a coherent history of the Jews is a complex and daunting task, for sure, but this book is not the go-to resource I had hoped it might be, at least not so far. I'll reserve final judgment until the end, but so far, not so good.