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Dan Cohn-Sherbok
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Judaism: History, Belief and Practice 1st Edition

by Dan Cohn-Sherbok (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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Judaism: History, Belief and Practice
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Written by an experienced university teacher, who is also a scholar and rabbi, this extensive textbook presents an unrivalled guide to the history, belief and practice of Judaism. Beginning with the ancient Near-Eastern background, it covers early Israelite history, the emergence of classical rabbinic literature and the rise of medieval Judaism in Islamic and Christian lands. It also explores the early modern period and the development of Jewry throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Extracts from primary sources are used to enliven the narrative and provide concrete examples of Jewish civilization. Judaism:

  • introduces texts and commentaries, including the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic texts, mystical literature, Jewish philosophy and Jewish theology
  • provides the skills necessary to understand these step-by-step
  • explains how to interpret the major events in nearly 4,000 years of Jewish history
  • supports study with discussion questions on the central historical and religious issues, includes key reading for each chapter and an extensive bibliography
  • illustrates the development of Judaism, its concepts and observances, with nearly 200 maps and photographs.

A companion website links each chapter to other online resources, and gives guidance on activities and support for teachers.

Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0415236614
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0415236614
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Routledge
  5. Publication date
    June 20, 2003
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    7.5 x 1.25 x 10 inches
  8. Print length
    608 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Judaism: History, Belief and Practice ... will amaze. It's encyclopaedic cover of the entirety of the learned output of 4,000 years of Jewish life is a feat in itself. It is certainly to be recommended ... a truly fine book.' - Brian Fox, Jewish Telegraph

'There is no doubt that this is an excellent introductory text for undergraduates and A level students. The chapters provide useful chunks of bite-size information with suitable resources to explore key concepts ... I have no reservations in making it the set text for my undergraduate introduction to Judaism.' - Dr Deidre Burke, British Journal of Religious Education

"Judaism by Dan Cohn-Sherbok is the most comprehensive introduction to Judaism available to American undergraduates. The concise chapters of this book provide excellent background information on Jewish history, culture, and religion. As a teacher, I can build upon this information when we pursue critical issues in specialized classes in Jewish Studies. My undergraduate students at this liberal arts college praise the encyclopedic character of the book as well as the maps and text samples. Many of my students keep this book as a future reference work." - Rivka Ulmer, The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Chair in Jewish Studies, Bucknell University

About the Author

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is an American-born rabbi and Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 1st edition (June 20, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0415236614
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0415236614
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 1.25 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

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  1. Dan Cohn-Sherbok

    Dan Cohn-Sherbok

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  2. Dan Cohn-Sherbok

    Dan Cohn-Sherbok

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    Dan Cohn-Sherbok is Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales. Born in Denver, Colorado, he was a student at Williams College, Massachusetts, spending a junior year in Athens, Greece. He was ordained a Reform rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He was Chaplain of the Colorado House of Representatives, and Honorary Colonel Aide-De-Camp of New Mexico. He received a PhD from Cambridge University, England. Later he received an honorary DD from the Hebrew Union College, New York. He taught theology at the University of Kent and served as Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Society, and was Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales. He is the author and editor of over 100 books which have been translated into Russian, Greek, Bulgarian, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Swedish, Japanese, Turkish, Persian and German. He has also illustrated 25 books of cartoons.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Y
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
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Good price and new book.
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Tricia Fran
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2015
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Great condition
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FrKurt Messick
5.0 out of 5 stars A great one-volume survey
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2006
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.

The longest section is the history section, and Cohn-Sherbok begins in ancient Mesopotamia, drawing on archaeological evidence and chronicles of other ancient peoples as well as biblical sources for his development of the people who came to be called the Jews. Cohn-Sherbok presents both the popular and/or biblical accounts of the history as well as areas of divergence and controversy where archaeological and other data may conflict or be missing. This is true at different key periods such as the Exodus and conquest of Canaan, but occasionally this part is missing (for example, there are scholars who doubt the historicity of the figure David, due to lack of extra-biblical evidence; Cohn-Sherbok does not address this controversy).

Further into history, things become a bit more clear, and Cohn-Sherbok's discussion of the post-Babylonian development through the Hellenistic, Roman, Islamic, and European experiences is very solid. The discussions of the nineteenth and twentieth century include topics such as the Zionist movement, the increasing Diaspora throughout the world, the rise of Anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, the advent of the state of Israel, and a few speculations on the future of Judaism in the world. Being more than a religion or an ethnic identity, the future of Judaism looks to be as rich and complex as its past.

The second section of the text deals with beliefs. This is looks at some pointedly theological issues (the unity of God, providence, revelation, etc.) as well as some issues that point toward identity (the idea of a chosen people, the promised land). There is also a good discussion of messianic ideas in Judaism, and what is though about issues such as the afterlife. Cohn-Sherbok avoids the fairly common practice of discussing these ideas in relation to Christianity, to keep both the issue and discussion grounded in the Jewish context.

The third section is devoted to Jewish practice. Tying these two latter sections together, Cohn-Sherbok states that this `explores Judaism both as a religion and way of life, providing essential information on Jewish family and community customs as well as on the beliefs and traditions that have shaped the Jewish faith throughout nearly four thousand years of history.' Practices here refers both to religious rituals (worship, Sabbath, high holy days, etc.) as well as life-cycle and community practices that are incorporated into the way of life for Jews around the world.

This is a great one-volume survey of Judaism. It is comprehensive, accessible, interesting, well-illustrated with maps and pictures, and organised in a good way. Perhaps the most helpful feature is the inclusion at the end of each chapter excerpts from original texts, letters and documents from the history, liturgical works, literary creations, and more. This gives a great sense of the flavour of Judaism apart from the words of a single author, and provides a more direct connection with the ideas and peoples discussed.

Another great benefit of the book is the accompanying free companion website, which provides more material, guides, maps, and other helpful pieces for students and general readers. This is a great text, and one I will continue to use for my courses.
12 people found this helpful
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Breanna Skinner
2.0 out of 5 stars Binding good though.
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2015
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Some highlights & marginal notes that are distracting. Binding good though.
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Top reviews from other countries

R, Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very useful for my Uni studies, my lecturer is a fan of Dan Cohn-Sherbok and now I can see why :) Very big book with everything you need to know in it.
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Holly Nicholls
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
As described and in good condition
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