From: faigin@aero.org (Daniel P. Faigin)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Judaism Reading List: Introduction and General (Pt. I)
Date: 24 Jan 1993 14:29:10 GMT
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Distribution: soc
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	      Selected Sources for Additional Reading on Judaism
      Part I: Introduction, General Sources, Torah, Talmud, and Mishnah
			[Last Change: 23 January 1993]
		    [Last Post: Sat Jan 23 18:38:52 1993]

				There is nothing more uniquely
				characteristic of the style of Jewish
				religious life than the great love Jews have
				for holy books. [Sie73]

The message is intended to provide the readers of soc.culture.jewish with
suggestions for books discussing various Jewish topics, especially the
subject of Jewish law and practice.  While no book can substitute for a
formal course of instruction guided by one's Rabbi, these books are useful
as reference material for the knowledgeable, and as an introduction for the
not-yet-knowledgeable about Judaism.

This list is by no means intended to be exhaustive, and it is designed to
lean toward traditional Judaism, although some of the sources included under
the GENERAL headings included references to liberal movements. Readers
should be aware of the following supplemental lists posted on a regular
basis:

 o Part II:   Traditional Liturgy, Practice, Lifestyle, Holidays
 o Part III:  The Messiah, Kaballah and Chasidism
 o Part IV:   Reform Judaism
 o Part V:    Conservative Judaism
 o Part VI:   Reconstructionist Judaism
 o Part VII:  Humanistic Judaism
 o Part VIII: Zionism
 o Part IX:   Antisemitism

The reader is also referred to the excellent chapter on "Creating a Jewish
Library" in the first volume of _The (First) Jewish Catalog_.

This list, as well as the lists mentioned above, are archived in the
mail.liberal-judaism info-files area on israel.nysernet.org [192.77.173.2]
and are available for anonymous FTP.  They may be found in the
israel/lists/mail.liberal-judaism/info-files directory.  They may also be
obtained by email request to faigin@aero.org.

It is difficult to separate what is now termed "Orthodox" judaism from the
collective term "Judaism".  The practices of Orthodoxy tend to be the
traditional practices. Furthermore, Orthodoxy is not organized as a movement
in the same sense as Reform or Conservative; although Orthodox organizations
exist, congregations do not need to join them to be considered Orthodox.

This list is based on an original list developed by Rob Levine, which was last
posted to the net in February of 1991.  Rob's list was culled from s.c.j.
postings as well as the bibliographies of some of the books on this list. This
original list has been augmented based on bibliographic research done by D.
Faigin at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, as well as contributions
from readers of s.c.j, mail.jewish, and mail.liberal-judaism.  It is also
based on suggestions found in the excellent _Jewish Catalog_ [**] series,
which would serve anyone well as a sourcebook on Judaism.  Contributions to
the list have also been made by: (your name could be here).  As usual,
suggestions for additions or deletions are welcome, as are *brief* annotations
for any entry. Entries in the GENERAL sections may reflect non-Orthodox
viewpoints; entries in the other sections should reflect the traditional view.
I will entertain suggestions with respect to the non-GENERAL sections that the
reference more properly belongs in another reading list (Reform, Conservative,
etc.).

I can't tell you where to get all of these books, but a good Jewish bookstore
should be a good starting place. The address of JPS is at the end of this
section, information on how to get books published by UAHC and CCAR is in the
Reform part, etc. If you can't find them elsewhere, books marked with [**] may
be ordered from the publishers of _The Jewish Calendar_, a local guide and
magazine for the Jewish community in Los Angeles California. For information
on these books, including prices, contact The Isaac Nathan Publishing Co, 7106
Owensmouth Avenue, Canoga Park CA 91303, 818/346-1410, FAX 818/346-4236.

		BUT THE LIST IS SO LONG, WHERE SHOULD I START?

For a basic understanding of Judaism, start with Prager and Telushkin's _The
Nine Questions People ask about Judaism_ [**].  As mentioned above, the
_Jewish Catalog_ [**] series (3 volumes) provides more than enough
information, as well as providing pointers to even more sources.  Siegel and
Rheins _The Jewish Almanac_ also provides useful high-level information. For a
deeper understanding, continue with Donin's _To Be a Jew_ [**] and _To Pray as
a Jew_.  For some historical perspective, read Prager and Telushkin's _Why the
Jews?_.  General history is covered well in Sachar's _The Course of Modern
Jewish History_.  For a discussion of the emotional, social, and lifestyle
aspects of becoming an observant Jew, read Steinsaltz's _Teshuvah_.

Readers are also urged to explore Jewish audio-tape lending libraries, such
as those run by Aish HaTorah, Etz Chayim, and various other Jewish outreach
groups.  Tape series on Jewish History, Jewish Law, (all levels), Torah,
Talmud, and other subjects are available.  Contact your local Rabbi for more
information.

			    FOR NON-JEWISH READERS

You'll probably find the texts listed may be a little too deep if you just
want to learn what Judaism is. Consider the following instead:

[Clo87]	Clorfene, Chaim and Yaakov Rogalsky.  _The Path of the Righteous
	Gentile_.  Smithfield, MI: Targum Press, 1987

[Gar89]	Garfiel, Evelyn.  _Service of the Heart: a Guide to the Jewish Prayer
	Book_.  Jason Aronson, Northvale (NJ), 1989, ISBN 0-87668-873-3.

You should also explore _The Jewish Almanac_, _The Nine Questions People Ask
About Judaism_, and the _Jewish Catalog_ series. You'll find a dicussion of
the relationship between Christianity and Judaism in the supplemental
Antisemitism reading list.
   
			       GENERAL JUDAISM

[Fac87]	Fackeneheim, Emil L. _What is Judaism: An Interpretaion for the
	Present Age_. Summit Books, New York. 1987.

[Ein??]	[**] Einstein and Kukoff. _Every Person's Guide to Judaism_.

[Gre??]	[**] Greenbert, Irving. _The Jewish Way_.

[Gla72]	Glazer, Nathan. _American Judaism_. University of Chicago Press,
	Chicago IL. 1982. 

[Her61]	Hertzberg, Arthur. _Judaism_. Braziller, New York. 1961. Washington
	Square, New York (paperback).

[Neu74]	Neusner, Jacob. _The Way of Torah: An Introduction to Judaism_.
	Dickenson Publishing Company, Encino CA. 1974.

[Neu75]	Neusner, Jacob, ed. _Understanding American Judaism_. Volume Two:
	Sectors of American Judaism: Reform, Orthodoxy, Conservativism, and
	Reconstructionism. Ktav Press, New York. 1975.

[Pra81]	[**] Prager, Dennis and Telushkin, Joseph. _The Nine Questions People
	Ask About Judaism_. Schuster, New York. 1981. ISBN 0-671-62261

[Rot72]	Roth, Cecil, Ed. _Encyclopedia Judaica_. 16 Vols. Keter, Jerusalem.
	1972. 

[Sie73]	[**] Siegel, Richard; Strassfeld, Michael; Strassfeld, Sharon. _The
	First Jewish Catalog: A Do-It Yourself Kit_. Jewish Publication
	Society, Philadelphia PA. 1973. [Catalog 1 covers Symbols of the Home,
	Kashrut, Candles, Kippah, Tallit, Tefillin, the Shofar, Jewish travel,
	the Jewish year cycle, Weddings, Tumah and taharah, Death and burial,
	scribal arts, gematria, music, film, the Jewish press, creating a
	jewish library, and relationships between man, women, and the
	community]

[Sie80]	Siegel, Richard and Rheins, Carl. _The Jewish Almanac_. Bantam
	Books, New York. 1980.

[Sil56]	Silver, Abba Hillel. _Where Judaism Differed_. Macmillan, New York.
	1956.

[Ste47]	[**] Steinberg, Milton. _Basic Judaism_. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,
	New York. 1947. ISBN 0-15-610698-1.

[Str76]	[**] Strassfeld, Sharon and Strassfeld, Michael, eds. _The Second
	Jewish Catalog_. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1976.
	[Catalog 2 covers the life cycle in more depth, aspects of study,
	synagogue and prayer, and the arts. The Jewish Yellow Pages are out of
	date, quite likely.]
	
[Str80]	[**] Strassfeld, Sharon and Strassfeld, Michael, eds. _The Third
	Jewish Catalog_. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1980.
	[Catalog 3 covers justice, community, genealogy, dispersion, exile,
	surroundings, and israel. It also talks about how to be a mentsh, and
	includes a cumlutive index to all three catalogs]

[Tel??]	[**] Telushkin, Joseph. _Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Thinks to
	Know About Judaism_.

			    GENERAL JEWISH THOUGHT

[Ber73]	Berkovits, Eliezer. _Faith after the Holocaust_. Ktav Publishing
	House, New York. 1973.

[Ber79]	Berkovits, Eliezer _G@d, Man and History_. Jonathan David, New York.
	1979.

			    GENERAL JEWISH HISTORY

[Bam70]	Bamberger, Bernard. _The Story of Judaism_. Schocken Books, New
	York. 1970.

[Bar52]	Baron, Salo W. _A Social and Relgious History of the Jews_.  16 Vols
	to date.  Columbia University Press, New York. 1952-.
	[Comprehensive, organized topically, not strictly chronologically.]

[Dim62]	[**] Dimont, Max.  _Jews, G@d, and History_. Signet Books, New York.
	1962.

[Gra67]	Grayzel, Solomon. _A History of the Jews_. Jewish Publishing
	Society, Philadelphia. 1967.

[Rot66]	Roth, Cecil. _A History of the Jews_. Schocken, New York. rev. ed.
	1966. also in paperback.

				NOACHIDE LAWS

[Lic81]	Lichtenstein, Aaron. _The Seven Laws of Noah_. The Rabbi Jacob
	Joseph School Press, New York. 1981.

			       TORAH AND TALMUD

Note: There's lots  of information on Torah and  Talmud (understatement of the
year), and one should contact a competent rabbi for guided study.

[JPS17] Jewish Publication Society. _The Holy Scripture According to the
	Masoretic Text_. Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1917.

[JPS62]	Jewish Publication Society. _The Torah: The Five Books of Moses_.
	Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia PA. 1962.

[JPS69] Jewish Publication Society. _The Five Megilloth and Jonah: A New
	Translation_. Introduction by H L Ginsberg. Jewish Publication
	Society, Philadelphia. 1969.

[JPS85] Tanakh: A New Translation of the Holy Scriptures According to the
        Traditional Hebrew Text. Jewish Publication Society. ISBN
	0-8276-0252-9 (cloth) 0-3276-0264-2 (leatherette).[0-8276-0283-9] 

[Cha72]	Chavel, Charles B. _Ramban: Commentary on the Torah: Genesis_.
	Shilo, New York. 1972.
	
[Hes62] Heschel, Abraham Joshua. _The Prophets_. JPS, Philadelphia. 1962.
	
[Her76]	Hertz, J. H. _The Pentateuch and Haftorahs_. Soncino, London. 1976.

[Kap??] Kaplan, Aryeh. _The Living Torah_, translated and with commentary.

[Ros34]	Rosenbaum, M. and Silbermann, A. M. _Pentateuch with Targum Onkelos,
	Hapthraroth and Rashi's Commentary_. 5 vols. Hebrew Publishing
	Company, New York. 1934.
	
			      MISHNAH AND TALMUD

[Alb52]	Albeck, H. and Yalon, H. _Shisha Sidre Mishnah_. 6 vols. Bialik
	Institute, Jerusalem. 1952-1956.
	
[Dan33] Danby, H. _The Mishnah, translated from the Hebrew with Introduction
	and Brief Explanatory Notes_. Oxford University Press, London. 1933.

[Esp35] Epstein, Isidore, ed. _The Babylonian Talmud with Introduction and
	Commentary_. Soncino Press, London. Vol 1-36. 1935-1952.

[Lie55a] Lieberman, Saul. _The Tosefta_. 3 vols to date. Jewish Theological
	Seminary, New York. 1955-. [Note: for those with good Hebrew skills]

[Lie55b] Lieberman, Saul. _Tosefta ki-Feshutah_. 11 vols to date. Jewish
	Theological Seminary, New York. 1955-. [Note: for those with good
	Hebrew skills]
	
[Ste69]	Steinsaltz, Adin, ed. _The Babylonian Talmud_. 6 vols. to date.
	Israel Institute of Talmudic Publications, Jerusalem. 1969-.  [Note:
	Scholars do not always agree with Steinsaltz's determinations of the
	formerly fluid text.]
	
			TORAH AND TALMUDIC COMMENTARY

[Adl58]	Adler, Morris. _The World of Talmud_. B'nai B'rith Hillel, Hillel
	Little Book Series, Washington DC. 1958; 2nd ed. Schocken, New York
	(paperback).
	
[Chi74]	Chill, Abraham. _The Mitzvot: The Commandments and Their Rationale_.
	Bloch, New York. 1974.

[Coh75]	Cohen, A. _Everyman's Talmud_. Dutton, New York. 1948. (hardback)
	Schocken, New York. 1975. (paperback)

[Mie69]	Mielziner, Moses. _Introduction to the Talmud_. Bloch, New York.
	1969. 

[Pin87]	Pinchas, Peli H. _Torah Today_. B'nai B'rith Books, Washington. 1987.

[Ste76]	Steinsaltz, Adin. _The Essential Talmud_. Basic Books, New York. 1976.

				   MIDRASH

[Gin46] Ginzberg, Louis, _Legends of the Jews_. 7 vols. Jewish Publication
	Society, Philadelphia. 1946.
	
[Gla??]	Glatzer, Nahum N. ed. _Hammer on the Rock: A Midrash Reader_.
	Schocken, New York. Paperback.

[Mon70] Montefiore, C.G. and Loewe, H. eds. _The Rabbinic Anthology_
	Schocken Press, New York. 1970.

				HALACHIC CODES

[Mai??]	Maimonides, Moses. _Mishneh Torah_. Various editions.

[Ash??]	ben Asher, Jacob. _Arbaah Turim_. Various editions.

[Kar??] Karo, Joseph. _Shulhan Arukh_. Various editions. [Note: The Jewish
	Catalog cautions against using the _Kitzur Shulhan Arukh_ of Shlomo
	Ganzfried, which it states is "a collection of ultrastringent views
	often without firm basis in halakhic sources". However, other
	contributors think it provides lots of information on specific
	practices, but can be overwealming. As usual, it is probably best to
	pass the particular volume you choose past your Rabbi.]
	 
			  BECOMING AN OBSERVANT JEW

[Kah??]	Kahane, Meir.  _Why be Jewish_?

[Kah??]	Kahane, Meir. _Uncomfortable Questions for Comfortable People_

[Kus??]	Kushner, Harold.  _Who Needs G@d?_  

[Sei87]	Steinsaltz, [Rabbi] Adin. _Teshuvah: A Guide for the Newly Observant
	Jew_.Jerusalem: The Domino Press, 1982.  (English Translation: The
	Free Press, 1987.) 

[Tat??]	Tatz, Akiva. _Anatomy of a Search_.

Many of these books are published by the Jewish Publication Society. Their
address (they do have a catalog) is 1528 Walnut Street, Suite 800;
Philadelphia PA 19102.

Please mail additions or corrections to me at faigin@aero.org.

-- 
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