Reader's Guide to Judaism

The Reader's Guide to Judaism is a survey of English-language translations of the most important primary texts in the Jewish tradition. The field is assessed in some 470 essays discussing individuals (Martin Buber, Gluckel of Hameln), literature (Genesis, Ladino Literature), thought and beliefs (Holiness, Bioethics), practice (Dietary Laws, Passover), history (Venice, Baghdadi Jews of India), and arts and material culture (Synagogue Architecture, Costume). The emphasis is on Judaism, rather than on Jewish studies more broadly.

Jewish studies appears to have passed a "mythic moment" in an emerging discipline when its scholars must give up on keeping abreast of new publications in the field. This reader offers critical signposts to the growing literature classified into some 450 topics that specialists expound upon in signed bibliographic essays. An alphabetical listing spans entries from Abraham ben David of Posquieres to Zohar. The thematic list covers the arts and material culture; history (by period, phenomenon, and region, and universal histories); individuals; literature (the Bible, genres, and topics); practice; references; and thought (on angels to Zionism). The unillustrated entries average three columns in length. Indexed by booklist and general subject. Michael Terry is the chief librarian of the New York Public Library's Dorot Jewish Division. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

An oversize volume with double-column pages, this massive work covers over 400 topics, including interfaith relations, historical periods, philosophical and mystical movements, important figures, and more. Preceding each essay is a bibliography of five to ten English-language titles, though bigger topics may have more; these titles are mainly books, though articles are also included. Written by librarians and scholars, whose qualifications are listed at the end of the volume, these 1000- to 2000-word essays include a descriptive and often analytical overview of each book. The books, some of which are out of print, are accompanied by American and British publication data. Terry (chief librarian, Dorot Jewish division, NYPL) is to be commended for including circulating titles along with noted reference works. Although the titles are primarily scholarly, many popular titles are included as well. Altogether, especially considering that many of the fine popular overviews of Judaica titles are out of print, such as Barry Holtz's The Schocken Guide to Jewish Books (Schocken, 1992), this is an excellent tool for building Judaica collections in public and academic libraries. Highly recommended.--Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.