A History of Judaism
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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- $17.99
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
A sweeping history of Judaism over more than three millennia
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied over the course of more than three millennia. A History of Judaism provides the first truly comprehensive look in one volume at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other.
In this magisterial and elegantly written book, Martin Goodman takes readers from Judaism's origins in the polytheistic world of the second and first millennia BCE to the temple cult at the time of Jesus. He tells the stories of the rabbis, mystics, and messiahs of the medieval and early modern periods and guides us through the many varieties of Judaism today. Goodman's compelling narrative spans the globe, from the Middle East, Europe, and America to North Africa, China, and India. He explains the institutions and ideas on which all forms of Judaism are based, and masterfully weaves together the different threads of doctrinal and philosophical debate that run throughout its history.
A History of Judaism is a spellbinding chronicle of a vibrant and multifaceted religious tradition that has shaped the spiritual heritage of humankind like no other.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Goodman (Rome and Jerusalem), professor of Jewish studies at Oxford, integrates up-to-date scholarship into an accessible narrative look at more than 2,000 years of Judaism. His approach combining the linear histories that earlier generations of scholars used with contemporary open-minded thinking about considering "the claims of all traditions" avoids the common pitfalls of assuming that there was always a clearly-defined mainstream of Judaism. Beginning with the second century B.C.E., Goodman traces many varieties of the religion as it shifted over the centuries into its current incarnations; as he notes, "the central liturgical concern of 2,000 years ago the performance of sacrificial worship in the Jerusalem Temple has little to do with most forms of Judaism today." He ends with a nuanced look at contemporary topics, particularly the adjustments major denominations have struggled to make in order to accommodate LGBTQ members and the increase in messianic strains among Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Despite the volume's ambitious scope, Goodman leaves no significant topic unaddressed. This is the rare scholarly volume that offers new insights and details for the lay and academic reader alike.
Customer Reviews
Should be good
I have not read this book yet having just downloaded a sample. However, the Wall Street Journal of March 31, 2018 had an interesting, informative and apparently comprehensive. I will review it myself once I have read the complete book, hopeful that the sample will give me an idea of the writing style.