The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture (Paperback)

by Rabbi Benjamin Blech (Author) "For thousands of years, the world has had a love-hate relationship with the Jews..." (more)
Key Phrases: oral law, Yenta's Little Secrets, Sage Sayings, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For 5,758 years, the Jewish people and their culture survived and prospered, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles such as the Egyptian enslavement, the destruction of the two temples in Jerusalem, the Spanish Inquisition, Russian pogroms, the Nazi Holocaust, and continued anti-Semitism today. This Complete Idiots Guide contains easy-to-follow coverage of all of Jewish history, including profiles of Biblical, religious, and political leaders such as Abraham, Moses, King David, and Golda Meir. The last part of the book focuses on understanding the Jewish influence on American and world culture, with insights into: the Yiddish and Hebrew languages; theater; art; literature; comedy; film; television; and more.

From the Back Cover
You're no idiot, of course. You know that Judaism began with Abraham and that Moses led the children out of slavery in Egypt. But when it comes to knowing who Elijah, Esther, and Judah Maccabee were, and their significance to Judaism, you feel like you've been wandering in the desert for 40 years. Don't feel Jewish guilt just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture provides you with a complete, authoritative account of the Jewish people--from Abraham, Moses, and King David to Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Rabin. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (December 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028627113
• ISBN-13: 978-0028627113
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174,568 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When it comes to Jewish history and culture..., April 23, 2001

By	Olga Kay "Rubies+" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

When it comes to Jewish history and culture you can't be too educated. I found this Complete Idiot's Guide very informative. This funny book contains an AMAZING amount of facts. It starts from Abraham and goes all the way to the present. It also covers a huge geographical space. The book contains historical sketches of Jewish communities all over the world: from South America and New Zealand to Sweden and Denmark. The part about culture is also very interesting. This chapter is packed with biographical sketches of writers, actors and scientists "...Wow, did you know HE was Jewish too?...". Sometimes the author is a being a bit simplistic. You feel like reading a bedtime story about the bad guys and the good guys. On the other hand, the Rabbi's sense of humor is great, so I was never bored.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners, July 17, 1999

By A Customer

As someone always interested in Jewish history and culture, and about to be married to a Jew, I found this book to be a fabulous springboard to other more in-depth explainations. The overviews of Jewish history and concepts are brief, but provide an excellent background for beginners who want to do more reading on this fascinating subject. My only complaint is that this book was published by the "Idiot's Guide," a derogatory title that will surely turn off some readers. This is not a book for idiots.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing introduction to Judaism, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This book is a gem!In a concise, practical, funny way, it gives a non-jew some answers to some very pertinent questions. I enjoyed it tremendously and I recommend it even to Jews who cannot really remember the specific of their Hebrew School days. It is a good start to familiarise one self to Judaism. Congratulations on a book well written.