The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism »

Geoffrey Wigoder was Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia Judaica. Fred Skolnik is senior editor for the Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust (NYU Press, 2001).

Shmuel Himelstein is the author of The Jewish Primer: Questions and Answers on Jewish Faith and Culture.

An excellent resource for Jewish families to keep on hand for household use, The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism provides engaging and authoritative coverage of all aspects of the Jewish religion—its history, practices, and important figures as well as current thinking among the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements.

"The Students Encyclopedia of Judaism is a wonderful resource to begin the process of learning...The scholarly entries have been reworked so that the subject matter is accesible to the younger reader."—Amit

"The book portrays a comprehensive picture of Jewish life. The entries in the book are easy to understand and concise. Both the English and Hebrew names of familiar items are cross-referenced in order to guide the reader, and they also lead the reader to further explore other ideas relating to the subject."—Signal Journal

The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism is one of the most important Jewish reference books available to any student. Specially designed for students ages 12-18, the articles in The Student's Encyclopedia of Judaism cover a vast spectrum of topics. There are biographical entries on biblical figures, rabbis, and others whose thoughts and actions have influenced the development of Judaism. From traditions and ceremonies to foods and historical leaders, special attention is given to contemporary issues and women's roles in Judaism. Also emphasized are the customs and folk traditions of Jewish cultures throughout the world.

• for students in grades 7 through 12
• over 900 entries
• all facets of daily, Sabbath, and holiday prayersand rituals are included
• traditional and modern issues are discussed from several viewpoints
• sidebars throughout include the sayings of the sages, texts of prayers, and summaries of biblical books and holidays
• a list of books for further reading is included
• a perfect gift for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Hannukah

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-The approximately 1000 entries in this handsome and comprehensive volume describe virtually all aspects of Jewish life and culture, including significant and lesser-known people. The articles are clearly written and abundantly cross-referenced. The editors indicate that they have attempted to present the discussion of major issues in Jewish life from the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform perspectives, and they have succeeded admirably. In most of the broader discussions of topics such as burial, marriage, halakhah (rabbinic law), and the like, the practices specific to each denomination are noted. Political issues are avoided. Palestine and the Arab world are not mentioned, and the discussion of Israel is biblically framed. Hebrew words are used throughout and are defined or explained in parentheses as they occur. The volume includes a useful glossary, a brief pronunciation guide, and a list of abbreviations. Black-and-white photographs and drawings are interspersed throughout the text. Periodically, glorious full-color spreads appear, although not necessarily in context with the articles. There have been a number of recent reference works about Jews and Judaism for this audience, but this encyclopedia stands out. It is a must for any collection supporting the study of religion.-Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.