About the Book
The Encyclopaedia of Judaism provides a full and reliable account of Judaism, beginning in ancient Israelite times and extending to our own day. About Judaism, the religion, its diverse history, literature, beliefs past and present, observances and practices, and place in the context of society and culture, this is what we know. All principal topics required for the systematic description of Judaism as a religion the world view, way of life, theory of the social entity constituted by the faithful are addressed here.
The Encyclopaedia of Judaism provides a definitive account of contemporary Judaism and a reliable picture of a tradition of nearly four thousand years. A full and detailed index provides ready-reference for facts, and the systematic articles set forth highly readable accounts of the entire range of Judaic systems of belief and behavior put forth over time and in our own time. It is written for people from all backgrounds, scholars and general readers alike.
When the editors completed the initial three volumes of The Encyclopaedia of Judaism, they found satisfaction in having covered the more than one hundred topics. But they also realized that many other important topics remained to be set forth in a systematic way. This led to new inquiries into the history, practices, and theology of the religion, Judaism. Specialists in all these fields were found and the result is more than ninety new studies, which will appear in three Supplements. Supplement One is published in 2002, and Supplement Three is anticipated for 2004.
Published by Brill, Leiden & Continuum, New York.
Table of Contents:
Astronomy
Astrology
Biblical Interpretation, Medieval French
Biography in Rabbinic Judaism
Conversos
Deuteronomy in Judaism
Exodus in Judaism
Genesis in Judaism
Gospels, Oral Traditions of the Mishnah in
Homosexuality in Judaism
Leviticus in Judaism
Medieval Judaeo-Arabic Literature
Numbers in Judaism
Parents, Honor of in Judaism
Pseudo-Philo, Biblical Characters in
Rabbinic Literature, Logics of
Rashi
Samaritan Judaism
Sermons in Modern Judaism
Torah and Culture
Zionism in Moroccan Judaism
About the Author :
Jacob Neusner is Research Professor of Religion and Theology at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. He is a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, and a Member of the Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ.
Alan J. Avery-Peck is Kraft-Hiatt Professor in Judaic Studies in the Religious Studies Department of the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts. Alongside his many publications on Rabbinic Judaism, he is editor of Review of Rabbinic Judaism: Ancient, Medieval and Modern (Brill).
William Scott Green is Professor of Religion, Philip S. Bernstein Professor of Judaic Studies, and Dean of the College at the University of Rochester. He is author or editor of several books on ancient Judaism and also has written broadly on religion and higher education. He served two terms as editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion and is editor of Chicago Studies in the History of Judaism.
Review :
The Encyclopaedia of Judaism has been selected by the American Library Association as Outstanding Reference Source 2001.
This book has been selected as CHOICE's Outstanding Academic Title for 2000.
'In summary, this is a fine reference work on a mosaic of topics informed by competent scholarship and spouting a wellspring of Jewish knowledge and attitudes.'
Zev Garber, Review of Biblical Literature, 2005.
'The publication of the Encyclopaedia of Judaism in the year of the Millennium is an event worthy of celebration. In three volumes scores of scholars have recorded all that happened to a millennial people, whose religious 'Civilization' influenced...the human race, Europe, Asia and the Americas, a measure far beyond what one might have expected from their small number in any given age.'
Emanuel Rackman, Rabbi, Bar-Ilan University
'These internationally renowned editors have been able to assemble many highly qualified scholars well known in their fields of research to guarantee the success of this extremely well planned Encyclopaedia.'
Günter Stemberger, Institut für Judaistik, Universität Wien
'It is actually more than an ordinary encyclopedia. It is a substantial reference book. I recommend the Encyclopaedia of Judaism to everyone who wants to get reliable information about major subjects in Judaism in a compact...usefully detailed, format.'
Ithamar Grünwald, Tel Aviv University
'It has been recently said that 'the Christian ignorance of Judaism is one of the great tragicomedies of history.'...The Encyclopaedia of Judaism will be a splendid resource to combat that epidemic of ignorance, not only for Christians and for neutral observers, but also, I suspect, for an American Judaism that is increasingly in need of finding ways, as the prophet Isaiah admonished, to 'look unto the rock whence ye are hewn.'
Jaroslave Pelikan, Sterling Professor Emeritus, Yale University
'As an outsider, I find this encyclopedia comprehensive and stimulating. It is indeed learned, but not at all specialistic, and in fact is designed to appeal to people of all ages, backgrounds, and religion. Where to my mind it outdoes similar encyclopedias of surveys is in its quiet insistence throughout that Judaism is a living religion, and not just a thing of the past that simply survives into the present.'
Leonard E. Boyla, O.P., Prefect, The Vatican Library, 1984-1997.
'These three volumes represent the cutting edge of contemporary learning of Judaism as religion. The authors of the various entries have opinions of their own and they are not always identical with conventional views. This is, therefore, not a bland encyclopedia. It is provocative in the tradition of the great eighteenth century encyclopedia which spoused the views of the Enlightenment and of the Britannica which accepted the result of modern science. An encyclopedia is most useful and important when is makes the reader think.'
Arthur Hertzberg, Senior Editor, Encyclopedia Judaica.
'The Encyclopedia of Judaism is an essential resource for those interested in learning more about Jewish life.'
Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, President of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York, 2001.
