101 Things Everyone Should Know About Judaism

Beliefs, Practices, Customs, And Traditions

Richard D Bank, James B. Wiggins

• Publisher: Adams Media
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN:
  9781593373276
• eBook ISBN:
  9781440518645
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

What's the difference between Reform and Orthodox Judaism? What does it mean to keep kosher? And what are mizvot? Compact and comprehensive, 101 Things Everyone Should Know about Judaism touches on all these basics and more. You'll learn all you need to know about this ancient religion and culture - from the significance of the Torah and Talmud, to the importance of holidays and the meaning of religious objects and symbols. You'll also find out about:

• Major Biblical events that have shaped Jewish history and tradition
• Judaism's concept of God, the soul, and the afterlife
• The structure of Jewish liturgy and prayer services
• The Ten Statements, and other Jewish laws
• Practices associated with life milestones
• Language, literature, food, and other cultural elements

Thoughtful and engaging, this portable volume packs in a wealth of fascinating, detailed information that is sure to leave you with a deepened appreciation for this rich tradition.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. What does being Jewish mean?
• PART 1: THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUDAISM
• 2. Joseph's saga and the journey to Egypt: The historical context of Passover
• 3. The Exodus: Deliverance from slavery in Egypt
• 4. Schism and rebellion: The historical context of Hanukkah
• 5. The Maccabean Rebellion and the reclaiming of the Temple
• 6. Exile in Persia: The historical context of Purim
• 7. Esther makes her case and the Jews prevail
• 8. Branches of Judaism under Greek and Roman rule
• 9. The difference between Karaitic, Ashkenazic, and Sephardic Jews
• 10. Orthodox Judaism
• 11. Reform Judaism
• 12. Conservative Judaism
• 13. The emergence of Reconstructionism in twentieth-century America
• 14. The schism between mystics and traditionalists, and the beginning of Hasidism
• 15. Hasidic practices today
• PART 2: ESSENTIAL BELIEFS AND LAWS
• 16. The Torah: Judaism's cornerstone
• 17. The Talmud: Applying the laws of the Bible to life
• 18. Using the responsa tradition to answer contemporary questions
• 19. Midrashim: Interpretive stories
• 20. Halakah: Jewish law and accumulated jurisprudence
• 21. The Ten Statements
• 22. The 613 mitzvot
• 23. Other laws: Geizeirah, takkanah, minhag, and lashon ha-ra
• 24. Basic tenets: The Thirteen Principles of Faith
• 25. Striving to comprehend the nature of God
• 26. The eternal nature of the soul
• 27. The Jewish concept of the afterlife
• 28. Resurrection and the world to come
• 29. Honoring the dead
• 30. Spirituality and mysticism: Connecting to divine sparks
• 31. The Kabbalah
• 32. Understanding God's essence through the Kabbalistic Tree of Life
• 33. Establishing justice through good deeds
• 34. The Jewish outlook on interfaith marriage and divorce
• 35. What does keeping kosher mean?
• PART 3: RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND OBJECTS
• 36. What it means to be a rabbi
• 37. What does a cantor do?
• 38. The importance of prayer
• 39. House of prayer: The synagogue
• 40. Prayer during formal worship
• 41. Blessings
• 42. Important things to know when attending a Jewish service
• 43. Items found in the synagogue
• 44. “Laying” tefillin
• 45. Why do Jews wear skullcaps, prayer shawls, and tassels?
• 46. Judaic decorations: The Star of David, the chai, and the hamesh
• 47. The mezuzah and other religious items found in Jewish homes
• PART 4: HOLY DAYS AND FESTIVALS
• 48. Observing Shabbat
• 49. Why are certain activities prohibited during Shabbat?
• 50. Shabbat services
• 51. What do Jewish families do during Shabbat?
• 52. Seeking forgiveness and reconciliation during the Days of Awe
• 53. Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year
• 54. Rosh Hashanah ceremonies, customs, and services
• 55. Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement
• 56. Which activities are prohibited on Yom Kippur?
• 57. Yom Kippur preparations and services
• 58. The significance of Sukkot
• 59. Building and using a sukkah
• 60. Sukkot services and liturgy
• 61. Shemini Atzeret: The Assembly of the Eighth Day
• 62. Simchat Torah: Completing the cycle of readings
• 63. Hanukkah's religious significance
• 64. Lighting the Hanukkah menorah
• 65. Hanukkah customs, traditions, and services
• 66. Purim observances and celebrations
• 67. A time for rejoicing and celebrating
• 68. Recognizing the hidden face of God and the power of the individual
• 69. What is chametz?
• 70. Passover services and observances
• 71. The Passover seder
• 72. Key elements of the seder ceremony
• 73. Shavuot: The Festival of Weeks
• 74. Shavuot services
• 75. Tisha BAv: Memorializing the destruction of the Temples
• 76. Tu B'Shevat: New Year for Trees
• PART 5: CEREMONIES AND MILESTONES
• 77. Finding a soul mate through a matchmaker
• 78. The Jewish view of marriage
• 79. Mitzvot that deal with marriage and sexual relations
• 80. Kiddushin and the ketubah: Betrothal and marriage contract
• 81. Key elements in a Jewish wedding ceremony
• 82. Marking the birth of a new child
• 83. The Jewish view on adoption and abortion
• 84. The importance of naming ceremonies and the circumcision ritual
• 85. Redemption ceremonies
• 86. Bar and bat mitzvah: Becoming sons and daughters of the commandment
• 87. The bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies
• 88. Parties, feasts, and other activities to celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs
• 89. Confirmation: Celebrating continued education
• 90. Jewish funeral ceremonies
• 91. What does sitting shiva mean?
• 92. The final phases of mourning
• PART 6: JEWISH CUSTOM, CULTURE, AND TRADITION
• 93. The Hebrew language as a common thread
• 94. The sacred language and the mother tongue
• 95. Hebrew's renaissance in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
• 96. The history of Yiddish literature
• 97. The rise of modern Jewish writing
• 98. Yiddish poetry, drama, journalism, and music in the twentieth century and beyond
• 99. Jewish cuisine
• 100. Common food dishes
• 101. Jewish humor as a means of speaking about existential questions
• APPENDIX: TIMELINE OF KEY EVENTS: HINDUISM, JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, BUDDHISM, AND ISLAM