Publisher's Synopsis
This study of the long history of the Jewish people and their faith, traces the story that begins with a Semitic tribe dwelling in the land of Canaan 2000 years before the birth of Christ. It draws a picture of key moments and concepts in Judaism, from the experiences of exile, the Romans destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the Nazi Holocaust, to the modern challenges of feminism and the split between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Judaism.;With its examination of the philosophical and mystical tradition and its balanced discussion of modern trends towards secularism, the development of Zionism and the question of the survival and integrity of the state of Israel, this account is intended for all students of Judaism and inter-religious studies.
