Customer Reviews

The Jewish Religion: A Companion

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I've been using this book for years and have always found it readable, scholarly, impartial (as among the different branches of Judaism), and comprehensive. Although that remains my opinion, I was recently shocked to discover a significant error--the article on Rabbi Eliezer (p. 143) tells the famous and philosophically fascinating Talmudic story of Rabbi Eliezer's dispute with an authoritative group of colleagues over a point of law. Jacobs says that "Rabbi Eliezer held fast to his opinion even against ... a voice that came from heaven." In fact, the original Talmudic story (found at Bava Metzia 59b) recounts that the heaveny voice (G-d) was invoked by Rabbi Eliezer and said to the other rabbis (from the Steinsaltz translation) 'Why are you [disputing] with Rabbi Eliezer, for the [law] is in accordance with him everywhere?" Notwithstanding this error, the only one I have come across in many hours with this book, I heartily recommend it.

Rabbi Louis Jacobs was a man of immense Jewish learning and understanding. This volume is rich in information about Jewish religious concepts, practices, sources of learning and even historical phenomena. At one time I carried this dictionary with me everywhere and whenever I had an opportunity would read or two entries and felt I had truly learned something.

I have had this alphabetically ordered compendium of ideas and names for some years now and am grateful for it every time I dip into it. It is definitely one of the several books I would take were I to have to live on a desert island. Rabbi Jacobs was obviously a profound scholar and a very fair judge. He includes matter that a less open mind would shun, but does so circumspectly and in a way that opens windows to new vistas to explore should one see fit. It is very easy to use and read and will be a great personal resource.

This is an amazingly readable work.
A serious aid in my education about the jewish religion.
Jack Millman