The Encyclopaedia of Judaism, 2nd Edition (4 Volume Set) [Hardcover]

Jacob Neusner (Editor), Alan J. Avery-Peck (Editor), William Scott Green (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2005

This new edition of the prize-winning Encyclopaedia of Judaism is nearly double the size of the original three-volume edition. It features 52 new entries and includes the two separately published supplementary volumes and bibliographic updates.

This second edition offers an authoritative, comprehensive, and systematic presentation of the current state of scholarship on fundamental issues of Judaism, both past and present. While heavy emphasis is placed on the classical literature of Judaism and its history, this edition also includes principal entries on circumcision, genetic engineering, homosexuality, intermarriage in American Judaism, and other acutely contemporary issues.

Articles are written in essay form, and many are illustrated for further emphasis. The elaborate index facilitates ready access to significant people, places, and other factual information. This invaluable reference work is written for an audience from all backgrounds, scholars and general readers alike.

‘The Encyclopaedia of Judaism is an essential resource for those interested in learning more about Jewish life.’
Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, President of the Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York, 2001

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For this three-volume encyclopedia, an international set of noted religious studies scholars has produced 115 essays and articles on Judaism. Although the work is aimed at an academic audience and the double-columned layout may appear intimidating to the casual browser, lay readers (whether Jewish or not) will appreciate the depth of thought and research here. The articles, which run from a few pages to 15 pages, touch on many contemporary issues, e.g., the article on medical ethics discusses the controversy surrounding "test tube" babies. There is also in-depth discussion of concepts such as monotheism or creeds and modern Jewish movements such as Reform Judaism. Each article is signed and presents notes for further reading and research. Academic libraries and large public libraries serving a Jewish clientele should certainly consider this set, although they are not a substitute for the 16-volume Encyclopaedia Judaica (LJ 8/72; just released on CD-ROM). Most public libraries would do just as well with The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion (LJ 4/15/97) or The Jewish Religion: A Companion (Oxford Univ., 1995), both concise and insightful single-volume texts.APaul M. Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"The internationally renowned editors have been able to assemble many highly qualified scholars well known in their fields of research and guarantee the success of this extremely well planned Encylopaedia." -- Gunter Stemberger (Institut fur Judaistik, Universitat Wien) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 3088 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers; 2 edition (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 900414787X
• ISBN-13: 978-9004147874
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.1 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 16.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,628,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)