宗教や生き方としてのユダヤ教の全体像を簡潔にまとめた入門書です。キリスト教とどこで分かれ発展したのか、また、その行事、祈祷、慣習、さまざまな宗派など、基本要素について解説します。新版では、ユダヤ教が今日どのように受け止められ、理解されているのかについての言及を増やしたほか、イスラエルとパレスチナの問題に象徴されるユダヤ教徒とムスリムの歴史的関係性、欧米でゾーハルやカバラがもてはやされる理由などにも着目します。(cf. The Abrahamic Religions, #633)
   

• A concise guide to all aspects of Jewish faith and practice
• Includes the history of Judaism and its development thoughout the centuries
• Explores what Judaism means around the world today
• Considers some of big issues including the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel

New to this Edition:

• Considers how Judaism is perceived and understood in the twenty first century
• Looks historically at the relationship between Judaism and the Muslim faith
• Charts the rise of Zohar and Kabbala on contemporary culture in recent years
• Considers how Judaism deals with issues such as homosexuality and gay marriage
• Updated further reading section

 
Normon Solomon's succinct book is an ideal introduction to Judaism as a religion and way of life. Demonstrating the diverse nature and ethnic origin of those with the Jewish faith, Solomon explores how the Jewish religion has developed in the 2,000 years since the days of the Bible. 

This Very Short Introduction starts by outlining the basics of practical Judaism - its festivals, prayers, customs, and various sects - and goes on to consider how Judaism has responded to, and dealt with, a number of key issues and debates, including the impact of the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel. In this new edition, Solomon considers issues of contemporary Judaism in the twenty first century.