Your plain-English guide to JudaismWhether you're interested in the religion or the spirituality, the culture or the ethnic traditions, Judaism For Dummies explores the full spectrum of Judaism, dipping into the mystical, meditative, and spiritual depth of the faith and the practice.In this warm and welcoming book, you'll find coverage of: Orthodox Jews and breakaway denominations; Judaism as a daily practice; the food and fabric of Judaism; Jewish wedding ceremonies; celebrations and holy days; 4,000 years of pain, sadness, triumph, and joy; great Jewish thinkers and historical celebrities; and much more.* Updates to the "recent history" section with discussions of what has happened in the first decade of the twenty-first century including: the expansion of orthodox political power in Israel; expansion of interfaith work; unfortunate recent anti-Semitic events; and other news* Expanded coverage of Jewish mysticism and meditation, which has become increasingly popular in recent years* New coverage on Jewish views of morality, including birth control, homosexuality, and environmental concerns* Revised recipes for traditional Jewish cooking, updated key vocabulary, and Yiddish phrases everyone should knowJews have long spread out to the corners of the world, so there are significant Jewish communities on many continents. Judaism For Dummies offers a glimpse into the rituals, ideas, and terms that are woven into the history and everyday lives of Jewish people as near as our own neighborhoods and as far-reaching as across the world.P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Judaism For Dummies (9781118407516). The book you see here shouldn t be considered a new or updated product. But if you re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We re always writing about new topics!

Introduction 1Part 1: What Jews Generally Believe 9Chapter 1: That's Funny, You Don't Look Jewish: Who's a Jew and Why 11Chapter 2: It's All One: Judaism and God 25Chapter 3: A Never-Ending Torah: The Unfolding of a Tradition 35Chapter 4: A Path of Blessing: Judaism as a Daily Practice 47Chapter 5: Jewish Mysticism 71Chapter 6: Ethical Challenges 91Part 2: From Womb to Tomb: The Life Cycle 107Chapter 7: In the Beginning: Birth and Bris 109Chapter 8: Coming of Age: The Bar/Bat Mitzvah 119Chapter 9: Get Me to the Chuppa On Time: Weddings 127Chapter 10: Stepping Through the Valley: The Shadow of Death 139Part 3: An Overview of Jewish History 153Chapter 11: Let My People Go: From Abraham to Exodus 155Chapter 12: The Kings of Israel: The First Temple 167Chapter 13: Bracketed by Exile: The Second Temple 177Chapter 14: The Exiles Continue: The First Millennium 185Chapter 15: The Greatest Horror, the Greatest Triumph 197Chapter 16: Jewish Buddhists and Other Challenges of the New Age 215Chapter 17: The Problem of Anti-Semitism 225Part 4: Celebrations and Holy Days 237Chapter 18: A Taste of Paradise: Shabbat 239Chapter 19: In with the New: Rosh Hashanah 257Chapter 20: Getting Serious: Yom Kippur 271Chapter 21: The Great Outdoors: Sukkot 283Chapter 22: Seeking Light in Dark Times: Chanukkah 293Chapter 23: Celebrating Renewal: Tu B'Shvat 305Chapter 24: A Jewish Carnival: Purim 309Chapter 25: From Groan to Glee: Passover 319Chapter 26: Spring Is Busting Out All Over: Shavuot 345Chapter 27: A Day of Mourning: Tisha B'Av 357Part 5: The Part of Tens 361Chapter 28: Ten People Who Helped Shape Judaism 363Chapter 29: Answers to Ten Common Questions about Judaism 371Part 6: Appendixes 383Appendix A: Oy Vey! and Other Words You Should Know 385Appendix B: A Sampler of Jewish Prayers and Blessings 397Appendix C: Go Now and Learn 405Index 411