An accessible introduction to the many ways
Jews understand Jewishness and identify themselves and their
communities—throughout history and today.
For everyone who wants to understand the
varieties of Jewish identity, its boundaries and inclusions,
this book explores the religious and historical understanding
of what it has meant to be Jewish from ancient times to the
present controversy over “Who is a Jew?” Beginning
with the biblical period, it takes readers era by era through
Jewish history to reveal who the Jewish community included and
excluded, and discusses the fascinating range of historical
conflicts that Jews have dealt with internally. It provides an
understanding of how the Jewish people and faith developed, and
of what the major religious differences are among Jewish
movements today.
“Marvelous … an excellent
introduction to the diversity of Jewish life.”
—Publishers
Weekly Starred Review
“Cogent … highly
approachable…. Highlights some significant and striking
diversities in the Jewish experience in earlier times and
portrays a broad spectrum of contemporary American modes of
Jewishness.”
—American
Library Association’s Booklist
“Brief but insightful and well
sourced … does not sacrifice scholarship for brevity.
Recommended.”
—Choice
“Remarkable…. Displays a deft
touch as well as considerable intellectual depth and profound
Jewish knowledge. Will inform and educate both the introductory
as well as veteran reader on this topic … highly
recommended as a primary text in popular and academic
settings.”
—Rabbi
David Ellenson, president, Hebrew
Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion
“Engagingly written … a superb
introduction to the diversity of Jewish culture and identity,
and of Judaism itself, throughout three millennia of history.
With sharp insight Fishman illuminates the contemporary
American Jewish scene.”
—Paula
Hyman, Lucy Moses Professor of
Modern Jewish History, Yale University
“A readable, engrossing analysis of Judaism within a historical perspective.... A useful tool for understanding Judaism at this point in the twenty-first century. Highly recommended.”
—Congregational Libraries Today
“Short but substantial, learned but
accessible … a wonderful survey of the varieties of
Jewishness from ancient to modern times.”
—Shaye
J.D. Cohen, Littauer Professor
of Hebrew Language and Literature; director, Center for Jewish
Studies, Harvard University
“Wonderfully engaging and erudite.
Interweaves women’s experience into the general story, as
opposed to making their story a separate one; naturalizes
feminist Jewish scholarship in a way that I hope will serve as
a shining precedent.”
—Prof.
Rebecca Goldstein, author, Betraying Spinoza
“A miracle of compression …
Jews of every persuasion, women and men alike, will come away
from this book with a deeper understanding of Judaism’s
many faces and possibilities.”
—Jonathan
D. Sarna, Brandeis University;
author, American Judaism: A History
“Inspirational.... Will help readers establish their own relationship with sacred text.”
—Jewish Book World
“At last, a cogent and deeply
engaging road map to contemporary American Jewish
life.”
—Pamela
S. Nadell, professor of
history; director, Jewish Studies Program, American University
“Arresting…. Synthesizes
respect for the elements of tradition with critical
scholarship. Combines a kind-spirited awareness of weakness
with a no-nonsense understanding of the strengths of each
variety. I enjoyed every minute of reading this
tour-de-force.”
—Rabbi
Irving Greenberg, president, Jewish
Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation
The Way Into...
The Way Into… Series offers an accessible and highly usable
“guided tour” of the Jewish faith, people, history
and beliefs—in total, an introduction to Judaism that
will enable you to understand and interact with the sacred
texts of the Jewish tradition.
Each volume is written by a leading
contemporary scholar and teacher, and explores one key aspect
of Judaism.
The Way Into… enables all readers to achieve a real sense of
Jewish cultural literacy through guided study.
Sylvia Barack Fishman, PhD, a well-known author of many articles and books
including Double or Nothing? Jewish
Families and Mixed Marriage and Jewish Life and American Culture, is professor of contemporary Jewish life
at Brandeis University, and codirector of the Hadassah-Brandeis
Institute. She speaks frequently at temples and Jewish communal
events as well as at academic conferences.
