The Basic Beliefs of Judaism

A Twenty-first-Century Guide to a Timeless Tradition

Lawrence J. Epstein

• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.
• Year: 2013
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780765709707
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

One of the oldest monotheistic religions known to humankind, Judaism has withstood the tests of time. So what exactly are the tenets of this ancient faith that have been passed down over the millennia, and how do they apply to our lives in the 21st century? The Basic Beliefs of Judaism gives an updated overview of the belief system on which the Jewish faith is based. Epstein takes a contemporary point of view, looking at how the basic beliefs of Judaism fit into the lives of modern Jews. He does this with an eye toward helping the reader form his/her own understanding of Judaism. The book touches upon beliefs relating to creation, God, and the cosmos, as well as beliefs relating to day-to-day issues of family relations, social interactions, and ethics. Epstein draws from the Torah, the Talmud, Jewish folklore, and Jewish history to give the reader an understanding of how these beliefs were formed and have continued to evolve.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Chapter 1: In Search of the Basic Beliefs of Judaism
• Chapter 2: The Mystery of God
• Chapter 3: The Creation of the World
• Chapter 4: The Origin of Human Beings
• Chapter 5: The Suffering of the Innocent
• Chapter 6: The Jewish People
• Chapter 7: The Jewish Self
• Chapter 8: Love, Marriage, and Family in the Jewish Tradition
• Chapter 9: “Do Not Separate Yourself from the Community”
• Chapter 10: Death and the Afterlife
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• About the Author