Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs and Rituals is a brief but comprehensive layman's handbook to Jewish prayer, worship, festivals, customs, history, language, philosophy, and ideology. Its author, George Robinson, returned to synagogue after a 20-year absence and found himself utterly confused about the basics of his religion, despite having attended Hebrew school. He looked far and wide for a reference work that would help him get his bearings but did not find one; so he wrote one himself. Robinson's background as a journalist proved to be an asset in this project, which shows evidence of much detective work, the results of which are plainly described and clearly organized. Robinson is sensitive to the many perspectives of contemporary Judaism without being mealy-mouthed. His work is a triumph of diplomacy and clear thinking; his overview of Hebrew Scripture, and his excellent Kosher primer, would be worth the price of this book in themselves.


From Publishers Weekly
Ten years ago, Robinson entered a Reform synagogue for the first time since adolescence. He became an active congregant, but he discovered in his reincorporation of certain rituals and practices that he "was often baffled" by what occurred in the synagogue. This expansive tome attempts to provide the essentials of Judaism for novices, outsiders and those who, like Robinson, rediscovered their heritage as adults. It's an excellent introductory resource, vast but accessibly organized. Robinson first covers the most ritually significant Jewish prayers and walks the reader through a typical Shabbat service. He presents the basic facts about holidays and the Jewish calendar, then explores Jewish life-cycle rituals from bris to burial and includes a catch-all chapter on other practices such as Kashrut. By beginning with Jewish practice, rather than history or law, Robinson centers the core of Judaism in everyday life. The book's second half is a whirlwind tour of Torah and Talmud, Kabbalah and Jewish philosophers, with a key explanatory chapter on historical developments such as Hasidism and Zionism. Notably absent is the history of the Holocaust and the founding of Israel; Robinson notes that the Judaica sections of most bookstores already overflow with such historical information, and he explores instead the scope of Jews' reactions to those events. This is a valuable, sensitive one-volume guide to Jewish practice. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Written by an informed layperson for a popular audience, this book can be understood and appreciated by Jew and non-Jew alike. Robinson, a former syndicated columnist, writes as a committed Reform Jew attempting to fairly present the viewpoints of the various modern Jewish movements (Conservative, Reconstructionist, Orthodox). The book is divided into nine chapters that focus on such issues as prayer and ritual, festivals, the life cycle, the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and Jewish mysticism. The appendix contains some key documents, a time line of major events, and a discussion of what is kosher. There is also a helpful glossary of Jewish terms. The book is extremely readable with a clean layout and highlighted sidebars. The best introduction to Judaism remains Milton Steinberg's concise Basic Judaism (1947), but this book is a welcome addition to the subject. Highly recommended for most libraries.-Paul M. Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Robinson covers every aspect of Judaism in this comprehensive and informative guide. He begins with a chapter on prayer and ritual: blessings; daily, Sabbath, and festival services; and the role of rabbis. He follows with a chapter on the Jewish holidays--how and when to celebrate them. A chapter on the Jewish life cycle explores everything from a baby-naming ceremony to engagement and marriage, divorce, illness, aging, death, and mourning. Robinson also provides detailed information on the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, Midrash, and Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). He discusses 11 philosophers in depth--Philo, Maimonides, Spinoza, Mendelssohn, Buber, and Heschel, among them. Zionism, anti-Semitism, feminism in Jewish theology, enlightenment and emancipation, and assimilation are also discussed. Almost 3,000 years of Jewish history, thought, and culture are brought to life in this extraordinary work. George Cohen


From Kirkus Reviews
Frustrated by his inability to find a one-volume reference giving reliable information on Jewish laws, prayers, holidays, rituals, life-cycle events, scripture, rabbinic commentary, mysticism, philosophy (buoyantly introduced here with the heading Rabbis Versus Philosophers), and recent history, veteran Kirkus reviewer Robinson has produced his own omnium-gatherum (or whatever the equivalent Hebrew term is) of all things Jewish. The tone throughout is forthright, with just enough humor to keep you browsing after youve found the answer you were looking for. Its in the nature of the enterprise that a great deal of the material in this formidably comprehensive work is available elsewhere, but even readers who think their library of Judaica is complete may be surprised and enlightened by the sidebars on gay and lesbian synagogues, the question of proselytizing, and opponents of the religious laws of halakhah, from the Sadducees to the contemporary Reconstructionist movementnot to mention the appendix (one of five) on kashruth, which ends by reminding travelers who plan to reheat kosher TV dinners in nonkosher ovens to cover them completely first with two layers of aluminum foil. An authorial feat thats a readers feast. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
Morton I. Teicher The Jerusalem Post Extraordinary....Robinson deserves our gratitude for his major contribution.


Book Description
What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? What should I be teaching my children about being Jewish? A landmark reference, here is an indispensable one-volume guide to the religious traditions, everyday practices, philosophical beliefs, and historical foundations of Judaism -- everything you need to know about being Jewish. In Essential Judaism, George Robinson has created the accessible compendium that he sought when he rediscovered his Jewish roots as an adult. Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cycle at every stage, and lays out many fascinating aspects of Judaism -- the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, the evolution of Hasidism, and much more -- while keeping a firm focus on the different paths to living a good Jewish life in today's world.


About the Author
George Robinson is the recipient of a Simon Rockower Award for excellence in Jewish journalism from the American Jewish Press Association. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, Jewish Week, and the Detroit Jewish News. Mr. Robinson is a trustee and former president of Beth Am, the People's Temple, a Reform synagogue in New York City.

FROM OUR EDITORS

A one-volume reference book about every aspect of Judaism, from birth and circumcision to death and mourning. The New York Times Book Review called this compilation "ambitious and all-inclusive."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

What happens at a synagogue service? What are the rules for keeping kosher? How do I light the Hanukah candles? What is in the Hebrew Bible? What do the Jewish holidays signify? What should I be teaching my children about being Jewish?

A landmark reference, here is an indispensable one-volume guide to the religious traditions, everyday practices, philosophical beliefs, and historical foundations of Judaism—everything you need to know about being Jewish. In Essential Judaism, George Robinson has created the accessible compendium that he sought when he rediscovered his Jewish roots as an adult. Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cycle at every stage, and lays out many fascinating aspects of Judaism—the Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, the evolution of Hasidism, and much more—while keeping a firm focus on the different paths to living a good Jewish life in today's world.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal