"From the Sabbath to circumcision, from Hanukkah to the Holocaust, from bar mitzvah to bagel, how do Jewish religion, history, holidays, lifestyles, and culture make Jews different, and why is that difference so distinctive that we carry it from birth to the grave?" This accessible introduction to Judaism and Jewish life is especially for Christian readers interested in the deep connections and distinct differences between their faith and Judaism, but it is also for Jews looking for ways to understand their religion--and explain it to others. First released in 2002 and now in an updated edition.

Robert Schoen is the co-author (with Catherine deCuir) of the novel The Rabbi Finds Her Way and the author of On God's Radar, about his solo walk across America. He is a musician and has served as Composer-in-Residence at Temple Sinai in Oakland, California. He lives in Oakland with his wife, Sharon.

Alice Camille, M.Div. (Foreword) is a Catholic author and religious educator. She writes the online column "Questions Catholics Ask" for VISION Vocation Network. Her twenty books include Invitation to Catholicism and The Forgiveness Book.Alice takes God seriously--and the business of religion with a sense of humor.

Acknowledgments

Preface

The Purpose of This Book

A Range of Jewish Lifestyles, Beliefs, and Behaviors

Christians and Jews

• Going to Church: The Jewish Roots of Christian Worship Jews, Jesus, and Christianity

The Jewish Religion

• From Orthodox ...
• To Reform ...
• To Conservative ...
• To Reconstructionist
• Contemporary Synagogues and Congregations
• A Personal Observation

Inside the Synagogue

• The Torah and the Law
• Prayers and Blessings
• Symbols-The Mezuzah and the Star of David
• The Role of the Rabbi
• The Role of the Cantor
• Jewish Education
• Confirmation
• Congregation Membership and Paying the Bills
• The'Temple
• Jewish Priests
• Time for Confession
• Who's in Charge?

Holidays and Festivals

• Holidays and the Jewish Calendar Shabbat--The Sabbath
• The High Holidays-Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
• Sukkot
• Simchat Torah
• Hanukkah-Is It Really the "Jewish Christmas"?
• Purim
• Passover
• Shavuot-The Harvest Festival
• Other Religious Events

Jewish Life Cycle Events

• A Jewish Wedding
• Let's Go to a Circumcision!
• Baby Namings and Rituals for Daughters
• Adoption
• An Invitation to a Bar Mitzvah and a Bat Mitzvah A Jewish Funeral-Saying Good-bye to Uncle Harry You Can Only Get a Divorce If You're Married

Home Life, Jewish Beliefs, and Other Interesting Matters

• Is a Kosher Hot Dog Really Kosher?
• Jewish Food
• Degrees of Orthodoxy
• Conversion to Judaism
• Intermarriage
• Religious Apparel and Dress
• Hasidim and Hasidism
• Creation, Heaven, Hell, and Life after Death
• Where, When, and How Many
• Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews
• Women and Judaism

Judaism in the World

• Israel
• Jewish Art and Music Mysticism and the Repair of the World
• Money-Stereotypes, Charity, and the Scriptures
• Perform a Mitzvah
• Controversial Social Issues
• Old Wars and New Wars The Chosen People
• Anti-Semitism
• The Holocaust

A Call for Understanding and Community

Glossary and Pronunciation Guide

Recommended Reading

Index