Recent items:

The Sabbath world : glimpses of a different order of time, by Judith Shulevitz. (2010)
In this erudite, elegantly written book, critic Judith Shulevitz weaves together histories of the Jewish and Christian sabbaths, speculations on the nature of time, and a rueful account of her personal struggle with the day. Shulevitz has found insights into the Sabbath in both cultural and contemporary sources—the Torah, the Gospels, the Talmud, and the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, as well as in the poetry of William Wordsworth, the life of Sigmund Freud, and the science of neuropsychology. .... And she counterposes the tyranny of religious law with the equally oppressive tyranny of the clock. Can we really flourish under the yoke of communal discipline, as preachers and rabbis like to tell us? What about being free to live as we please? Can we preserve what the Sabbath gives us—a time outside time—without following its rules? (drawn from Amazon product description)

Jewish mysticism : the infinite expression of freedom, by Rachel Elior ; translated by Yudith Nave and Arthur B. Millman. (2007)
This study is an exposition of the Jewish mystical phenomenon. It is based on a close reading of the hundreds of volumes written by Jewish mystics and incorporates mystical testimonies drawn from the different countries and cultural environments in which Jews have lived. Rachel Elior's purpose is to present, as accurately as possible, the meanings of the mystical works as they were perceived by their creators and readers. At the same time, she contextualizes them within the boundaries of the religion, culture, language, and spiritual and historical circumstances in which the destiny of the Jewish people has evolved" - BOOK JACKET

Rashi : a portrait, by Elie Wiesel ; translated from the French by Catherine Temerson. (2009)
Revered for the clarity of his exegesis of the Torah, which Wiesel's citations reveal as strikingly interactive, Rashi asked not just what a text meant, but how it acquired that meaning and its particular place within its written context. To literal-minded, minimalist moderns, he can seem to extrapolate unconscionably; without question, he psychologizes and dramatizes. A prime example comes in his reading of the exchange between God and Abraham about the sacrifice of Isaac, which he interprets as God gradually revealing his shocking demand so that Abraham won't be driven insane by it. Rashi always affirms the goodness of God and God's faithfulness to Israel, his chosen people forever. Given such emphases, no wonder Wiesel and Jews ever since Rashi's time have considered him Judaism's greatest teacher. Though it often reads like unpolished jottings rather than a careful composition, Wiesel's contribution to the Jewish Encounters series is an informative gem. (drawn from Booklist, courtesy of Syndetics)

How to do good & avoid evil : a global ethic from the sources of Judaism, by Hans Kung and Walter Homolka ; translated by John Bowden. (2009)
In this impressive volume, Hans Kung, probably the most famous living Roman Catholic theologian, and Rabbi Walter Homolka, head of Germany's Abraham Geiger rabbinical seminary and distinguished professor, draw on the Jewish tradition to show the riches that Judaism can offer people of all faiths and nonbelievers in achieving these directives. (drawn from the book jacket)

The Temple of Jerusalem : past, present, and future, by John M. Lundquist. (2007)
Lundquist (chief librarian, Asian & Middle Eastern Div., NYPL) does a thorough, but not tedious, job of tracing the four phases of the Temple Mount (aka Al-Haram As-Sharif) in Jerusalem—its original construction, its reconstruction in 516 B.C.E., its expansion during the reign of the Idumean King Herod, and its destruction in 70 C.E. and ongoing survival in the minds of Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. The book is strengthened by Lundquist's referencing of a wide variety of ancient primary sources, his placing of archaeology and meaning in clear historical context, and his presentation of the issues and conflicts surrounding the Temple as well as of its current political, secular, and religious meaning. A well-researched and carefully presented work; (drawn from Library journal review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Doing Jewish theology : God, Torah & Israel in modern Judaism, by Neil Gillman. (2008)
Gillman, a National Jewish Book Award winner, explores the six basic themes of Judaism: How can we know anything about God? What can Judaism teach us about God? What is the source of authority for what we believe and how we live? What is Torah and why is it so sacred? What, if at all, is God's role in human suffering? What happens to us after we die? Gillman submits that his identification with the thinking of Mordecai Kaplan and Paul Tillich represented his gradual shift toward religious naturalism. His book is one of the most enlightening studies of a complex subject. (Drawn from Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics).

A time to every purpose : letters to a young Jew, by Jonathan D. Sarna. (2008)
"In these 13 letters to his daughter, the author discusses the major themes of Jewish life as expressed in a year of holidays - from Passover in the spring to Purim 11 months later. He explains the origins of the holidays and the issues that each illuminates. The holidays include Passover (freedom), Yom ha-Shoah (the Holocaust), Shavout (the Torah), Rosh Hashanah (judgment), Yom Kippur (the individual and the community), Sukkot (making choices and improving the world), Hanukkah (assimilation and anti-assimilation), and Purim (continuity and happiness). (drawn from Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Jewish literacy : the most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its people, and its history, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.
""Esteemed rabbi and bestselling author Joseph Telushkin helps answer the question of what it means to be a Jew, in the largest sense. Widely recognized as one of the most respected and indispensable reference books on Jewish life, culture, tradition, and religion, Jewish Literacy covers every essential aspect of the Jewish people and Judaism. In 352 short and engaging chapters, Rabbi Telushkin discusses everything from the Jewish Bible and Talmud to Jewish notions of ethics to antisemitism and the Holocaust; from the history of Jews around the world to Zionism and the politics of a Jewish state; from the significance of religious traditions and holidays to how they are practiced in daily life" --www.harpercollins.com

How to read the Bible, by Marc Zvi Brettler. (2003)

Brettler, who chairs the department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis, begins with the complicated web of doctrine, history and myth that is the Hebrew Bible and untangles it until a clear and beautifully drawn picture emerges. His mode of interpretation is the "historical-critical" method—reading the text in its historical setting, employing critical methodology to explicate and, when possible, harmonize "the multiple ancient perceptions of God, preserved in our composite Bible." Written for the beginning reader as well as the scholar, this is an outstanding introduction to the Hebrew Bible and the history of Israel... (drawn from Publishers Weekly)

What I wish my Christian friends knew about Judaism, by Robert Schoen. (2004)
Written at a "Layman" rather than academic level, this is in the style of a guidebook on the different streams of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. Introductory explanations of Jewish holidays, synagogue life and worhsip, and beliefs. Although he focuses on differences between Christianity, whatever the reader's background this is an easy to read introduction to Judaism.

Essential Judaism : a complete guide to beliefs, customs and rituals, by George Robinson. (2002)
An indispensable one-volume guide to the religious traditions, everyday practices, philosophical beliefs, and historical foundations of Judaism. Robinson's background as a journalist proved to be an asset as his research is written in laymen's language. Robinson is sensitive to the many perspectives of contemporary Judaism. (drawn from Amazon)

Judaism : a way of being , by David Hillel Gelernter. (2009)
Written for observant and non-observant Jews and anyone interested in religion, this remarkable book by the distinguished scholar David Gelernter seeks to answer the deceptively simple question: What is Judaism really about? Gelernter views Judaism as one of humanity's most profound and sublimely beautiful achievements. But because Judaism is a way of life rather than a formal system of thought, it has been difficult for anyone but a practicing Jew to understand its unique intellectual and spiritual structure. (drawn from the publisher's description)

The mystery of the Kaddish : the powerful story of Judaism's most moving prayer, by Leon H. Charney and Saul Mayzlish. (2008)
Charney and Mayzlish trace the origin, history, and growth of the Kaddish, traditionally thought to be a prayer for the dead, to meet the spiritual needs of Jews across the ages.

What do Jews believe?, by Edward Kessler. (2006)
"Judaism is not simply a series of beliefs. It is a practice and a way of life. What Do Jews Believe? explores the variety of ways Jews live their lives; religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, Jews in Israel and Jews who live in the diaspora. It asks what Judaism is and what it means to be a Jew." (book jacket)

The Exodus decoded.
"After six years of unprecedented research, host Simcha Jacobovici and a team of renowned archaeologists, Egyptologists, and theologians shed revelatory new light on the Exodus and the era's ruling Egyptian dynasty. Their new theory pushes events hundreds of years earlier than previously believed, allowing age-old stories to sparkle with new perspectives and startling historical impact. Using elaborate, state-of-the art CGI, 'The Exodus decoded' offers a stunning virtual account of stories like the birth of Moses, the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea."--Case slick.

101 things everyone should know about Judaism : beliefs, practices, customs, and traditions, by Richard Bank. (2005)
Major biblical events, concepts, liturgy and prayer, practices and cultural elements.

The five books of Moses : a translation with commentary, by Robert Alter. (2004)
"Alter's translation conveys the music and the meaning of the Hebrew text in a lyrical, lucid English. His accompanying commentary illuminates the text with learned insight and reflection on its literary and historical dimensions". (Amazon)

Women and Jewish law : the essential texts, their history, and their relevance for today, by Rachel Biale.
"Gives contemporary readers access to the central texts of the Jewish religious tradition on issues of special concern to women... combining a historical overview with a thoughtful feminist critique".

A Rabbi talks with Jesus - an intermillennial, interfaith exchange, by Jacob Neusner. (2001)
The author argues that the Torah was and is perfect and that there is no need for the teachings of Jesus.

Reference books

The Encyclopedia of Judaism, editor-in-chief Geoffrey Wigoder. (1989)
Fifteen hundred specially commissioned articles cover Jewish history and culture, including festivals, rituals, important individuals of the past, and prominent synagogues. (Amazon)

Online databases & articles

Database articles:

Wellington City Libraries subscribe to a number of different online databases that provide news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics. Below you'll find some links to recent articles on Judaism, selected by our librarians.

If you have signed on to EBSCO (one of our magazine databases) in the last month, the article links below will take you straight in to the database to view the article. Otherwise, you will need to login to EBSCO first in another window, entering your library card number and surname details, then return to this page. If you'd like to discover what our databases have to offer on topics other than Judaism, visit our online databases section, www.mygateway.info.

• Who wrote the Dead Sea scrolls?, by Andrew Lawler, in Smithsonian, Jan2010, Vol. 40 Issue 10, p40-47.
  Discusses the ancient archaeological site of Qumran in the West Bank, including the historical significance of the Dead Sea scrolls, (texts of the Hebrew canon), what the Qumran site actually was, and who the authors were.
• Who Is a British Jew? by David Pryce-Jones, in Commentary, Feb2010, Vol. 129 Issue 2, p21-23.
  The article's context is a civil court case in Britain following the ruling by Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Jonathan Sacks, that a child did not qualify for admission to the Jewish Free School because his Catholic-born mother's conversion to Judaism did not meet Orthodox standards.

Journal titles:

• Commentary
  Presents articles dealing with current events, with an emphasis on politics, social science and culture, with special interest in Jewish affairs.
• Judaism
  Articles, reviews, fiction and poetry; creative discussion and exposition of the religious, moral and philosophical concepts of Judaism and their relevance to the problems of modern society.

Useful websites

• Civilization and the Jews
  A great general site featuring an interactive timeline, lesson plans, teacher sources, excellent illustrations.
• Judaism and Jewish resources
  A good starting place. The content owner explains his basis for choosing the links.
• Jewish encyclopedia.com
  This website contains the complete full-text contents of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia, originally published between 1901-1906.
• Judaism 101
  The goal is to make freely available a wide variety of basic, general information about Judaism, written from a traditional perspective in plain English.
• Maven
  The largest directory of Jewish and Israel resources on the Internet. Searchable and categorized by subject. More than 9,000 links, many annotated.
• Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Wellington
  The Congregation is "traditional orthodox" and is affiliated with the Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth. Jews from all around the world have combined to make this a thriving Jewish community, of about 1000 members.
• Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation