Judaism for Dummies®

by Falcon, Rabbi Ted; Blatner, David

• ISBN13: 9781118407516
• ISBN10: 1118407512
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-03-25
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Your plain-English guide to Judaism Whether you're interested in the religion or the spirituality, the culture or the ethnic traditions, Judaism For Dummies explores the full spectrum of Judaism, dipping into the mystical, meditative, and spiritual depth of the faith and the practice. In this warm and welcoming book, you'll find coverage of: Orthodox Jews and breakaway denominations; Judaism as a daily practice; the food and fabric of Judaism; Jewish wedding ceremonies; celebrations and holy days; 4,000 years of pain, sadness, triumph, and joy; great Jewish thinkers and historical celebrities; and much more. Updates to the "recent history" section with discussions of what has happened in the first decade of the twenty-first century including: the expansion of orthodox political power in Israel; expansion of interfaith work; unfortunate recent anti-Semitic events; and other news Expanded coverage of Jewish mysticism and meditation, which has become increasingly popular in recent years New coverage on Jewish views of morality, including birth control, homosexuality, and environmental concerns Revised recipes for traditional Jewish cooking, updated key vocabulary, and Yiddish phrases everyone should know Jews have long spread out to the corners of the world, so there are significant Jewish communities on many continents. Judaism For Dummies offers a glimpse into the rituals, ideas, and terms that are woven into the history and everyday lives of Jewish people as near as our own neighborhoods and as far-reaching as across the world.

Author Biography

Rabbi Ted Falcon PhD, one of the pioneers of contemporary Jewish and interfaith spirituality, is a writer, teacher, and spiritual counselor in private practice. David Blatner is an award-winning author of 15 books, including Spectrums: Our Mind-Boggling Universe From Infinitesimal to Infinity.

Table of Contents

Introduction  1

Part I: What Jews Generally Believe  9

Chapter 1: That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish: Who’s a Jew and Why 11

Chapter 2: It’s All One: Judaism and God 23

Chapter 3: A Never-Ending Torah: The Unfolding of a Tradition 33

Chapter 4: A Path of Blessing: Judaism as a Daily Practice 45

Chapter 5: Jewish Mysticism 69

Chapter 6: Ethical Challenges 89

Part II: From Womb to Tomb: The Life Cycle  105

Chapter 7: In the Beginning: Birth and Bris 107

Chapter 8: Coming of Age: The Bar/Bat Mitzvah 117

Chapter 9: Get Me to the Chuppah On Time: Weddings 125

Chapter 10: Stepping Through the Valley: The Shadow of Death 137

Part III: An Overview of Jewish History  151

Chapter 11: Let My People Go: From Abraham to Exodus 153

Chapter 12: The Kings of Israel: The First Temple 165

Chapter 13: Bracketed by Exile: The Second Temple 173

Chapter 14: The Exiles Continue: The First Millennium 181

Chapter 15: The Greatest Horror, the Greatest Triumph 193

Chapter 16: Jewish Buddhists and Other Challenges of the New Age 211

Chapter 17: The Problem of Anti-Semitism 219

Part IV: Celebrations and Holy Days  231

Chapter 18: A Taste of Paradise: Shabbat 233

Chapter 19: In with the New: Rosh Hashanah 249

Chapter 20: Getting Serious: Yom Kippur 261

Chapter 21: The Great Outdoors: Sukkot 271

Chapter 22: Seeking Light in Dark Times: Chanukkah 281

Chapter 23: Celebrating Renewal: Tu B’Shvat 293

Chapter 24: A Jewish Carnival: Purim 297

Chapter 25: From Groan to Glee: Passover 307

Chapter 26: Spring Is Busting Out All Over: Shavuot 333

Chapter 27: A Day of Mourning: Tisha B’Av 345

Part V: The Part of Tens  349

Chapter 28: Ten People Who Helped Shape Judaism 351

Chapter 29: Answers to Ten Common Questions about Judaism 359

Part VI: Appendixes  371

Appendix A: Oy Vey! and Other Words You Should Know 373

Appendix B: A Sampler of Jewish Prayers and Blessings 385

Appendix C: Go Now and Learn 393

Index  397