The Blackwell Companion to Judaism

This Companion explores the history, doctrines, divisions,
and contemporary condition of Judaism.

• Surveys those issues most relevant to Judaic life today:
  ethics, feminism, politics, and constructive theology

• Explores the definition of Judaism and its formative
  history

• Makes sense of the diverse data of an ancient and enduring
  faith

Auteur
Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Research Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida and Professor of Religion at Bard College. He has seven honorary degrees, fourteen academic medals and has published more than 800 books.

Alan J. Avery-Peck is Kraft-Hiatt Professor in Judaic Studies at The College of the Holy Cross. His has published widely and is editor of the journal The Annual of Rabbinic Judaism: Ancient, Medieval and Modern.

Texte du rabat
This Companion explores the history, doctrines, divisions, and contemporary condition of Judaism. It organizes and places into context the history of Judaism from ancient through modern times, identifies and expounds some of Judaism's principal doctrines, introduces the more important forms of modern and contemporary Judaism, and takes up topics of special interest in contemporary Judaic life.

The 27 contributions to this Companion and the selections in the associated Blackwell Reader in Judaism illustrate important points, with primary sources complementing the exposition. In this way, the editors talk about Judaism and let Judaism speak for itself. All the contributors, experts in their field, address a broad audience, assuming an interest in the subject but no prior knowledge. They present introductions for any reader interested in the subject, and do not take partisan or sectarian positions.

This volume will guide those curious about the past and present of a vital religious tradition that has exercised influence far beyond its own community.

Contenu
Contributors. Preface.

Part I: The History of Judaism:.

1. Defining Judaism: Jacob Neusner (University of South Florida and Bard College).

2. The Religious World of Ancient Israel to 586: Marvin Sweeney (Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University).

3. Judaism and the Hebrew Scriptures: Philip R. Davies (Sheffield University).

4. Second Temple Judaism: Frederick J. Murphy (College of the Holy Cross).

5. The Formation of Rabbinic Judaism, 70-640 C.E: G_nther Stemberger (Universitat Wien).

6. The Canon of Rabbinic Judaism: Jacob Neusner (University of South Florida and Bard College).

7. Judaism and Christianity in the Formative Age: Bruce D. Chilton (Bard College).

8. Judaism in the Muslim world: Sara Reguer (Brooklyn College of the City University of New York).

9. Judaism in Christendom: David R. Carr (University of South Florida).

10. Philosophy in Judaism: Two Stances: Daniel Breslauer (University of Kansas). 11. Jewish Piety: Tzvee Zahavy (Fairleigh Dickinson University).

Part II: The Principal Doctrines of Judaism:.

12. The Doctrine of Torah: Jacob Neusner (University of South Florida and Bard College).

13. The Doctrine of God: Alan J. Avery-Peck (College of the Holy Cross).

14. The Doctrine of Israel: Jacob Neusner (University of South Florida and Bard College).

15. The Doctrine of the Messiah: William Scott Green (University of Rochester).

16. Language as Doctrine: Hebrew: David Aaron (Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion).

Part III: Modern and Contemporary Judaisms:.

17. Reform Judaism: Dana Evan Kaplan (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

18. Orthodox Judaism: Benjamin Brown (Hebrew University).

19. Conservative Judaism: The Struggle Between Ideology and Popularity: Daniel Gordis (University of Judaism).

20. New Age Judaism: Jeffrey K. Salkin (Port Washington, New York).

Part IV: Special Topics in Understanding Judaism:.

21. Ethics of Judaism: Elliot Dorff (University of Judaism).

22. Women in Contemporary Judaism: Judith Baskin (University at Albany, State University of New York).

23. Judaism as a Theopolitical Phenomenon: Daniel J. Elazar (Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs).

24. Theology in Contemporary Judaism: Neil Gillman (Jewish Theological Seminary).

25. Secular Forms of Jewishness: Paul Mendes-Flohr (Hebrew University).

26. Judaism and Zionism: Yosef Gorney (Tel Aviv University).

27. The "Return" to Traditional Judaism at the End of the Twentieth Century: Cross Cultural Comparisons: M. Herbert Danzger (City University of New York).

Abbreviations.

Index.