What You Should Know about Jews and Judaism

by Yechiel Eckstein, Lloyd Ogilvie (Foreword by), Lloyd John Ogilvie (Foreword by)

Overview

In How Firm a Foundation, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein answers these questions with his rich presentation of Jewish life: beliefs and practices, festivals and holy days and the Jewish life cycle, including rites of passage, worship practices and dietary laws. Eckstein skillfully frames Jewish beliefs and practices in their historical context and offers the reader an understanding of the contemporary experience of the Jews: the Holocaust, the birth of Israel, and the diversification of the Jewish experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557251893
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	10/01/1997
Edition description:	REVISED
Pages:	270
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.02(h) x 0.73(d)

Table of Contents

	Foreword	xi
	Preface	xiii
	Abbreviations	xxiii
Part 1	Jews and Judaism
Chapter 1	Foundations of Jewish Belief	3
	Torah	3
	The Oral Tradition	12
	Religious Authority	18
	Law	26
	Prophecy	30
	Covenant	32
	Mitzvah	37
Chapter 2	Jewish Paths to Sanctification	43
	The Jewish View of Humankind	43
	The Jewish View of the World	49
Chapter 3	The Sabbath: A Day of Sanctified Time	62
	Shabbat Significance	62
	Shabbat Observance	64
	Shabbat Laws	67
	Shabbat Theology	69
Chapter 4	Festivals of the Jewish Year	75
	The Pilgrim Holidays	76
	Pesach (Passover)	76
	Shavuot (Pentecost)	88
	Sukkot (Tabernacles)	92
	The High Holy Days	99
	Rosh Hashanah--New Year's Day	99
	Yom Kippur--Day of Atonement	106
	The Minor Holidays	114
	Purim	114
	Hanukkah	120
	Fast Days	128
Chapter 5	The Jewish Life Cycle	132
	Rites of Passage	132
	Birth	132
	Bar/Bat Mitzvah	135
	Marriage	136
	Divorce	139
	Death and Mourning	141
	The Service of the Heart	148
	Prayer	148
	The Synagogue	153
	Tefillin, Tzitzit, Mezuzah	157
	Kippah	159
	Kosher Dietary Rules	159
	Meat and Milk	162
	Meaning of Dietary Laws	163
Chapter 6	Facing the Challenges of the Holocaust	169
	Challenges to Christian and Jewish Faiths	173
	Intelligibility of Suffering	175
	Untermensch vs. "In the Image of God"	183
	Questioning Authority	185
	Martyrdom and Power	188
	Failure of a Universalist Ethos	193
	Duty to Support Israel	196
	Conclusion	200
Chapter 7	Israel: The Dawn of Redemption	202
	Jewish Bonds with the Land	203
	Modern Zionism	209
Chapter 8	The Rise of Jewish Denominations	219
	From Ghetto to Enlightenment	219
	Reform Judaism	223
	Orthodox Judaism	229
	Conservative Judaism	232
	Reconstructionism	235
	Hasidism	236
	Cultural and Institutional	241
Part 2	Where Do We Go from Here?	245
	Notes	261
	List of Resources	265
	About the Author	267

Editorial Reviews

The founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews offers insight into the history and practice of Judaism. Eckstein recognizes the clear differences between the two religions that have often caused conflict, but he contends that these conflicts arose out of a misunderstanding of Judaism. Thus, he writes, "this book seeks to serve as a window through which to provide a glimpse into the Jewish world." To that end, Eckstein combines historical and literary traditions in the opening section of his study to explore the Torah, the oral tradition and law, as well as Jewish notions of prophecy, covenant, religious authority and mitzvah. Subsequent chapters examine the Sabbath, festivals of the Jewish year, the Jewish responses to the Holocaust, the state of Israel and the rise of Jewish denominations. Eckstein's greatest gift is his ability to portray the living character of the Jewish faith through its history, its doctrines and its people. Both Christians and Jews will benefit from Eckstein's study. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly