Judaism A Short History

This book covers all the elements of Jewish history, from the times of thencient Middle East, Mesopotamia and Babylon, to the Jewish diaspora today.t opens with a consideration of the background to the Jewish faith, and itsmergence from the Ancient Middle East. It then considers the Pentateuch, itsrigins, status, and the various different sources. The book then moves on tohe themes of conquest and exile, through the Northern Kingdom, theabylonian conquest and the Maccabean Revolt. Chapter 5 considers Rabbinicudaism and the Academy at Javneb, while Chapter 6 examines the dispersion ofews, in the Roman Empire, under early Islamic rule, and in Christian Europe.hapter 7 studies the Jewish philosophical tradition, while Chapter 8utlines the origins of Jewish mysticism, including information on theabbalah and the Zohar. Chapter 9 is a study of Jewry in Eastern Europe,hile Chapter 10 addresses progressive Judaism and the Reform Movement.hapters 11 and 12 deal with Anti-Semitism, Zionism and the Holocaust; theook closes with a consideration of the challenges facing the Jewish

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a widely published and eminent scholar of Judaism. He is currently Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales at Lampeter and visiting Professor of Interfaith Dialogue at Middlesex University Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok is a writer and teacher specializing in Judaism and Jewish issues.