Judaism For Dummies (PDF)

Your plain-English guide to Judaism

Whether you're interested in the religion or the spirituality,the culture or the ethnic traditions, Judaism For Dummiesexplores the full spectrum of Judaism, dipping into the mystical,meditative, and spiritual depth of the faith and the practice.

In this warm and welcoming book, you'll find coverage of:Orthodox Jews and breakaway denominations; Judaism as a dailypractice; the food and fabric of Judaism; Jewish weddingceremonies; celebrations and holy days; 4,000 years of pain,sadness, triumph, and joy; great Jewish thinkers and historicalcelebrities; and much more.
* Updates to the "recent history" section with discussions ofwhat has happened in the first decade of the twenty-first centuryincluding: the expansion of orthodox political power in Israel;expansion of interfaith work; unfortunate recent anti-Semiticevents; and other news
* Expanded coverage of Jewish mysticism and meditation, which hasbecome increasingly popular in recent years
* New coverage on Jewish views of morality, including birthcontrol, homosexuality, and environmental concerns
* Revised recipes for traditional Jewish cooking, updated keyvocabulary, and Yiddish phrases everyone should know

Jews have long spread out to the corners of the world, so thereare significant Jewish communities on many continents. JudaismFor Dummies offers a glimpse into the rituals, ideas, and termsthat are woven into the history and everyday lives of Jewish peopleas near as our own neighborhoods and as far-reaching as across theworld.