Review by Choice Review
Goodman (Jewish studies, Univ. of Oxford, UK) has produced a magnificent, well-researched history of Judaism from the Second Temple period into the present. He has, interestingly and uniquely, chosen to tell the early part of this history through a sophisticated reading of the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, incorporating other sources where necessary and appropriate. For later periods, Goodman utilizes a broad range of both primary and secondary sources. He writes clearly and engagingly, guiding readers through key moments in the development of Judaism. He also provides a detailed literary portrait of many key figures involved in this history (Maimonides, the Baal Shem Tov, Abraham Geiger, and many more). A significant theme running throughout is how Judaism was shaped by surrounding cultures, such as Hellenistic influence in the later Second Temple period, Islamic influence in the early Middle Ages, and Christian influence in later periods in Europe. Scholars of Judaism will certainly find minor details in this presentation with which to quibble, but most will acknowledge that this volume is a valuable contribution to the field of Jewish studies. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. --James M Bos, University of Mississippi
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Goodman (Rome and Jerusalem), professor of Jewish studies at Oxford, integrates up-to-date scholarship into an accessible narrative look at more than 2,000 years of Judaism. His approach-combining the linear histories that earlier generations of scholars used with contemporary open-minded thinking about considering "the claims of all traditions"-avoids the common pitfalls of assuming that there was always a clearly-defined mainstream of Judaism. Beginning with the second century B.C.E., Goodman traces many varieties of the religion as it shifted over the centuries into its current incarnations; as he notes, "the central liturgical concern of 2,000 years ago-the performance of sacrificial worship in the Jerusalem Temple-has little to do with most forms of Judaism today." He ends with a nuanced look at contemporary topics, particularly the adjustments major denominations have struggled to make in order to accommodate LGBTQ members and the increase in messianic strains among Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Despite the volume's ambitious scope, Goodman leaves no significant topic unaddressed. This is the rare scholarly volume that offers new insights and details for the lay and academic reader alike. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Covering the period 2000 BCE to the present, this detailed, wide-ranging, and often surprising history of Judaism as a religion and identity demonstrates that Jews have always been pluralistic. Jews lived among multiple religions, spoke and prayed in various languages, and incorporated religious philosophy and customs from their surrounding cultures. They have been important to those cultures in ways in which modern understandings of simplistic Jewish identity may not encompass or know. Early Christians preserved Second Temple literature for their own aims, for example, but after that little exists beyond archaeological records for a thousand years of Greek-speaking Jewish culture. Another important and fascinating theme is the complex interaction of religious and philosophical practices between Islam and Judaism. Goodman's area of expertise is Second Temple and early rabbinic Judaism, but his masterly expansion beyond this period explores the origins of Judaism, shifting practices throughout Temple periods, and the cultures and practices of Jews up to the present, including mystical and messianic movements. VERDICT While dense and detailed, this volume is ideal for anyone looking for a comprehensive history of Judaism. Even experts will find something new to consider.-Margaret Heller, Loyola Univ. Chicago Libs. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An expansive and fascinating history of Judaism.Goodman (Jewish Studies/Oxford Univ.; Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations, 2007, etc.) has crafted a worthy addition to the wide-ranging genre of Jewish studies, offering a hefty yet accessible historical overview of the Jewish religion. Acknowledging at the outset that his great challenge was to choose a starting point, the author wisely begins with the writings of Josephus (37-100 C.E.), who acted as a singular witness to a watershed change in Jewish history: the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Indeed, the author is so convinced of the importance of the first century of the Common Era that he does not move past it until a third of the way through the book. His decision to dig so deeply into this short window of time makes sense, however, and sets the stage for the rest of the story, as the loss of the Temple, the rise of the synagogue, the furtherance of the Diaspora, and the birth of Christianity would all color Jewish history for centuries to come. A number of themes unfold as readers journey through Goodman's work. Perhaps chief among these is that at almost every stage in its history, Judaism was shaped by other cultures, religions, and movements. Even at its most entrenched, Judaism was and is reacting to other pressures, such as modernity. The author skillfully points to the seemingly endless conflicts and connections Judaism has had with other forces through history, from Hellenism to Rome, Byzantium to the Enlightenment, anti-Semitism to Zionism. Goodman also parses out the many forms that Judaism has taken throughout the past 2,000 years, beginning with Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes in the first century and ending with Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, and their many manifestations, in the 21st.Well-written and exhaustively researched, Goodman's work is a masterpiece of pedagogy crafted as a tool for teaching and learning about one of civilization's oldest religions. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
