Reviews (1)

Readable, Challenging, Remarkable
I started Ms. Niditch's "Oral World and Written Word" with something of an attitude after other books on the composition of the Bible had left a jargonesque, overcomplicated, underexplained taste in my brain.I was expecting more of the same.However, I was soon won over by the clarity of Nidich's thinking, the order of the presentation and the strengths of her arguments.The overall thrust of the book is to examine the nature of literacy in the very ancient world, to distinguish it from modern notions of literacy, and to consider how the interplay of oral culture and writing exhibits itself in the Bible.Perhaps the best thing I can say here is that this tiny volume is causing a major shift in my thinking.While she does not pretend to comprehensive knowledge of the process of compiling the Bible, she does raise a number of practical considerations against the Documantary Hypothesis variatons that I daresay the authors of purely literary theories have never even remotely thought of.Wherever you stand, this book is worth reading.I only wish there were more of it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - Old Testament    3. Bible as literature    4. Folklore in the Bible    5. Judaism    6. Judaism - History    7. O.T    8. Old Testament Commentary    9. Oral tradition    10. Religion    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Sacred Texts As Literature    13. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    14. Israel    15. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (1)

Scrapbook of memories.....
JEWISH AMERICANS is a big fat wonderful book filled with hundreds of photographs of native and foreign-born Jewish Americans. The book is coffee-table sized so if you want to start a conversation this is the book that will do it. You'll need an ovesized book shelf to store it. Read more

Subjects:  1. Emigration & Immigration    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Jewish - General    6. Jews    7. Judaism - History    8. Migrations    9. Social Science    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. United States - 20th Century    14. United States - General    15. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    16. Jewish studies    17. USA   

Reviews (2)

Simply Brilliant, but Flawed
This book gets four stars because Margaret Barker manages to provide, in one place, some illuminating material related to the first (the Solomonic) Temple, its liturgical worship, and the theology informing it. We should be grateful to her for her hard work in seeking out and publishing this material!
Most insightful
Margaret Barker has another direct "hit" with her Temple Theology.It was most interesting to read and provides a real insight into the temple roots of early Christanity. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities & Archaeology    2. History    3. Judaism - General    4. Judaism - History    5. Religion    6. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    7. History of religion    8. Judaism    9. Theology   

Reviews (18)

This Idiot's review of an Idiot's Book
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture is a must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in the Jewish culture or knows a Jewish person. This books takes you into the history and culture of Jewish people. It explores what it really means to be Jewish, why we are who we are, and how you can better understand us.
Only OK
I did not find this book to be as comprehensive as I would have liked. For instance, the only holidays he really explains are Purim, Hanukkah, and Yom Ha-Shoah. He mentions Yom Kippur only in passing; considering it is the most important Jewish holiday, I think merited much more explanation. There was no mention of Rosh Hashanah. I did find the coincidences of tragedy falling on Tisha B'Av interesting -- I definitely did not know that so many devastating events, from the destruction of both Temples to the expulsion of Jews from Spain all occurred on the same day. Rabbi Blech's notion that it is a message from God certainly seems plausible.
Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture
I found this book a very simplistic, condescending work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Jewish - General    5. Jews    6. Judaism    7. Judaism - History    8. Religion    9. Jewish studies    10. Religion / Judaism / History   

Reviews (4)

My favorite book
This book is difficult for me to describe, I guess I can only say that along with 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl, 'Souls on Fire' by Elie Wiesel is among the two books that have changed my life.In these powerful and beautiful stories of Jewish Hasidic masters Elie Wiesel teaches us to fight depression by deliberately cultivating joy,that we must enjoy life in spite of life,that death is never the answer,and that that life is sacred,so much so that in spite of anything we have suffered we must say yes to this life.
Disappointed
I was disappointed with this work. It is more about Elie Weisel then about chassidic stories. Many of the stories are familiar to me, and in all cases they appear distorted and many times the point of the story is missing. To summarize, as one of the stories said, He didn't hear what was said, and didn't write what he heard.

More than just nostalgia...
It's amazing how everything Wiesel touches turns to gold, and here, he's done it again.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Hasidim    3. Hasidism    4. Jewish - General    5. Judaism - Hasidism    6. Judaism - History    7. Legends    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Jewish studies    11. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (1)

A great one-volume survey
This text is the primary text for a course I teach on Modern & Contemporary Judaism, at a university primarily set up for military personnel to get their education via distance education.It is ideally suited for a course in Judaism, as it is divided into three broad sections (history, belief, and practice) which are each in turn subdivided into short chapters easily digested by students, linking together well both within the sections and across the three principle divisions.
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Subjects:  1. Judaism    2. Judaism - General    3. Judaism - History    4. Judaism - Theology    5. Religion    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Jewish studies    8. Religion / Judaism / History   

Subjects:  1. Christian converts from Judais    2. Christian converts from Judaism    3. Church And Other Religions    4. Europe, German-speaking    5. History    6. Judaism - General    7. Judaism - History    8. Judaism And Christianity    9. Messianic Judaism    10. Religion    11. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    12. Religion / History   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Christianity    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Christianity and antisemitism    5. Christianity and other religio    6. Christianity and other religions    7. History    8. Judaism    9. Judaism - General    10. Judaism - History    11. Judaism And Christianity    12. Relations    13. Religion    14. Sociology    15. Interfaith relations    16. Jewish studies    17. Racism & racial discrimination    18. Religion & Theology | Judaism    19. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (2)

has little to add to the old testament
This is a great book, very readable and scholarly. There exists one problem though: this book has practically nothing to add to what is written, just as clearly and just as easily accessible, in the old testament. A Nice Introduction to Ancient Israel
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes' A History of Ancient Israel and Judah provides a solid introduction to the methods and problems of studying the development of the kingdoms that came to be known as Israel and Judah.Thebook deals with events from the time of Israel's origins (the Late Bronzeand Early Iron Ages) to the work of Ezra and Nehemiah (the fifth and fourthcenturies BCE).On the whole, A History is more cautious with the biblicaltexts than other histories of ancient Israel, such as John Bright's AHistory of Israel. Miller and Hayes spend less time offering guesses aboutthe more speculative aspects of Israel's history, such as the patriarchsand exodus, and concentrate their efforts on the later period (tenth tofifth centuries BCE) for which conclusions are more certain. From itsbeginning, this study is very much set within the geographical, political,economic, and religious context of the ancient Near East and Egypt as awhole.Perhaps the most attractive feature of this work is the inclusionof both photographs and fairly complete translations of extra-biblicaldocuments pertinent to various stages of Israel's history.A History isdivided into chronological segments, and the authors proceed by summarizingthe biblical texts germane to the time period, critically examining theseaccounts along with extra-biblical and archaeological evidence, and thendrawing conclusions.If the book has a major weakness, it is the absenceof either footnotes or endnotes, but the authors provide a sizable topicalbibliography at the conclusion of the book, and overall, A History ofAncient Israel and Judah is sound, readable scholarship. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Bible - Study - Old Testament    3. Ethnic & Tribal    4. History    5. Jews    6. Judaism - History    7. Middle East - Israel    8. Religion    9. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    10. To 70 A.D    11. ASIA    12. Ancient World    13. Asian / Middle Eastern history: BCE to c 500 CE    14. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis   

Reviews (45)

A predjudicial, shallow view...
Early on the authors of this book let us know their extreme disdain for Christianity.This didn't bother me at first, though I am a believer in Yahushua/Jesus.It is always good to get more than one perspective.But the constant sarcastic put downs of Christianity, and the presentation of themselves as understanders of the Gospel and it's impetus in history, got to be annoying really fast.Baigent & Leigh think they are knowledgeable, they present themselves as objective scholars, but they are actually very biased.
Good read, faulty sholarship
The Dead Sea Scrolls deception is a typical Baigent & Leigh product: a fascinating intrigue-laced narrative that does not hold up to critical examination. Like their more famous Holy Blood, Holy Grail, its ultimate intent is to challenge the origins of Christianity and the legitimacy of the Catholic Church. While a worthwhile and noble task in and of itself, this is best accomplished thorough rationalistic scholarship, such as the one conducted by the members of the Jesus Seminar and scholars like Burton Mack, Robert Price, G.A Wells and Earl Doherty. But such works do not usually make for a thrilling read unless one has some background and a kin interest in the subject; they do not form good basis for best-selling novels of all time; and they do not lead to box-office busting Hollywood pictures. But using thinly-woven questionable arguments in the way Baigent always does ultimately defeat the purpose and ill serve the rationalist cause, while providing fundamentalists with a much-needed amo.
author guilty of deception
The first half of the book examines at length, the Roman Catholics monopoly over the dead sea scrolls, and their excuses and delays over a 50 year period to surpress some of the scrolls. Then as if a few chapters were missing, we skip to the history of the Quman community, political and religous. The author tells us nothing as to what scrolls were then released for publication, what order they came, what was in them etc. I have many unanswered questions.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. Comparative Religion    3. Criticism, interpretation, etc.    4. Dead Sea scrolls    5. History    6. Judaism - History    7. Relation to the New Testament    8. Religion    9. Religion - Church History    10. Religion & Beliefs    11. Religion / General   

Reviews (1)

Hidden Heritage: The Legacy of the Crypto-Jews
Book arrived on time and in good shape. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. General    4. History    5. Jews    6. Judaism - History    7. Marranos    8. Religion - Judaism    9. Religious life    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Anthropology    14. History of religion    15. Jewish studies    16. Judaism    17. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. Apocrypha    2. Apocryphal books (Old Testament)    3. Bible - Apocrypha    4. Bible.    5. Dead Sea scrolls    6. Introductions    7. Jewish    8. Judaism - History    9. Judaism - Sacred Writings    10. O.T.    11. Religion    12. Religion - Judaism    13. Judaism    14. Sacred texts    15. The Bible   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Avot    3. Christianity    4. Christianity and other religions    5. Criticism, interpretation, etc    6. History    7. Judaism    8. Judaism - History    9. Judaism - Sacred Writings    10. Mishnah    11. Relations    12. Religion    13. Religion - Judaism    14. Talmudic period, 10-425    15. BCE to c 500 CE    16. Criticism & exegesis of sacred texts    17. Cultural studies    18. History of religion    19. Palestine    20. Religion & Theology | Judaism    21. Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings   

Subjects:  1. Catholic Church    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Christianity - History - Social Issues    5. Christianity and antisemitism    6. History    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish - General    9. Judaism    10. Judaism - History    11. Leadership    12. Papacy    13. Relations    14. Religion    15. Religion - Christian Living    16. Religion - Classic Works   

Subjects:  1. History Of Judaism    2. Jewish Theology    3. Judaism - General    4. Judaism - History    5. Judaism - Theology    6. Religion    7. Religion - Judaism    8. Judaism    9. Philosophy of religion    10. Religion / General   

Reviews (2)

Takes a lot of knowledge for granted
This massive book, consisting of contributions from 35 scholars, is obviously a valuable and learned resource for anyone interested in Jewish philosophy, and it contains much illuminating material.However, that it is "accessible to general readers as well as to scholars", as one of the blurbs on the back cover of the book reads, is true of only a few of its 39 chapters.The bulk of the book is certainly not suitable for anyone who is not already familiar with philosophy in general, with technical philosophical vocabulary in particular, or has a good knowledge of Judaism.In no way is this book comparable in approach and style with books written for the general public, such as Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy (or, for that matter, my own Philosophy and Living).Indeed, the style of writing can sometimes only be described as constipated.
tough call
It's a daunting task to survey the whole of Jewish philosophy--one could write just as large a volume (934pp) on the medieval period alone. Nevertheless this book is a great summary of and introduction to Jewish philosophy, with the drawback that it doesn't bring any original texts (the same editors composed a Reader for that purpose). While it could be larger (for instance, the Hist. of Islamic Philosophy, of the same series, is a two-volume work) and both the contemporary and ancient periods should be expanded, I recommend it for anyone interested inJewish philosophy in general. For a volume presenting the background to and contexts of Jewish philosophy (which could usefully be studied along with this one), see the Cambridge Companion to Medieval Jewish Philosophy, by the same editors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Judaism - History    2. Jewish studies    3. Oriental & Indian philosophy    4. Philosophy / Religious    5. Judaism - Theology    6. History & Surveys - General    7. Religious    8. Philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Germany    3. History - General History    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Jews    7. Jews, German    8. Judaism - History    9. Religion    10. United States - State & Local - Midwest    11. American history: from c 1900 -    12. Jewish studies    13. Religion / Judaism / History    14. The Americas    15. The Holocaust   

Subjects:  1. Ancient Religions    2. Baal (Deity)    3. Comparative Religion    4. Interior Design - General    5. Judaism - History    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Ugarit (Extinct city)    9. Criticism & exegesis of sacred texts    10. Pre-Christian European & Mediterranean religions    11. Semitic languages   

Reviews (7)

Not bad, but shows bias in places
Overall, this is not a bad book at all. It does have a slight tendency to show bias.For example, the author is completely willing to believe (with soemwhat illogical support.) that the Baal Shem Tov came up with this ideas but that everyone elese was influenced by other parts of culture.Other than this, th ebook is good and worth reading.

A Helpful Guide to Undestanding Judaism in Jesus' day
Knowledge of the Jewish faith is essential to any serious study of the Christian scriptures. Stephen Wylen's THE JEWS IN THE TIME OF JESUS is an essential tool in understanding the Judaism of the days of Jesus Christ. The book is written in a manner that is both academic and personal. The author is a rabbi by profession but also has a keen understanding of Christianity. His writings are meant to educate Christian readers about Judaism but at time it also confronts misconceptions about Judaism. Useful reading, with limitations
This is indeed a good book for the non-scholar who wishes to disentangle some of the history relating to the time of Jesus. It does not assume that the reader has great knowledge of the subject. Read more

Subjects:  1. 168 B.C.-135 A.D    2. History    3. History Of Jews    4. History Of Judaism    5. Jews    6. Judaism    7. Judaism - History    8. Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-2    9. Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D    10. Religion    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Early Church   

Subjects:  1. Doctrines    2. Early works to 1800    3. Jewish Theology    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - History    7. Philosophy    8. Philosophy, Jewish    9. Philosophy, Medieval    10. Religion    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Religious    13. Theology