A History of Judaism

'A definitive study' (Financial Times) of Judaism, from its origins to the presentJudaism is by some distance the oldest of the three Abrahamic religions and, despite the extraordinarily varied forms it has taken and diverse beliefs it has contained over three millennia, it has been generally understood by both Jews and gentiles as a single entity. There have been many histories of the Jewish people but remarkably few attempts to relate the history and evolution of Judaism itself. In this book, the first comprehensive, single-volume work of its kind in English, Martin Goodman explains how Judaism came to be and how it has developed from one period to another, as well as the ways in which its varieties have related to each other. Ranging from the religion's inception to the many denominations of contemporary Judaism, this book addresses one of the world's great religions on a grander scale than any predecessor.

“A History of Judaism is a definitive study. Goodman's singular learning is admirable, and the way he has synthesised an astonishing array of source material should be applauded--Gavin Jacobson, Financial Times An absolute godsend ... Goodman has done both Jews and non-Jews a great service with this book, encapsulating most of Jewish thought over four millennia into one extraordinarily readable volume--Julia Neuberger, Literary Review A one-volume tour de force. Amply supported by footnotes and illustrated by a dozen maps, Goodman meets the substantial challenge of charting the twists and turns, tributaries and backwaters of Judaism's many streams over 2,000 years - and succeeds--Harry Freedman, Jewish Chronicle A History of Judaism is beautifully written and meticulously annotated, and includes maps and illustrations. Goodman holds the book with authority and impeccable even-handedness, engaging the reader with his erudition, but also seasoning the narrative with some of the great and most influential Jewish lives. I could hardly recommend it more--Charles Middleburgh, Church Times In this remarkable book, the distinguished Oxford scholar Martin Goodman compresses the entire history of Judaism - from Josephus to Jewish Renewal - into a thoroughly readable synthesis, paying special attention to Jewish diversity and based upon up-to-date scholarship. Henceforward, all students of Judaism should begin here--Jonathan D. Sarna, Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University A magisterial journey along the highways and many of the byways of Jewish thought. Firmly anchored in his area of expertise, the renowned historian of late antiquity Martin Goodman ventures beyond, from ancient times to modern, in a compelling display of scholarly virtuosity. A History of Judaism is a major achievement--David Myers, Professor of Jewish History, UCLA and President of the Center for Jewish History Covering an astonishingly wide geographic spread, Martin Goodman's authoritative and nuanced history places Jewish communities in their many contexts and analyses their religious and intellectual developments from antiquity to modern times. This thoughtful book allows the reader to follow the thread of Judaism in its multiple manifestations through the ages-- Sarah Stroumsa, Professor of Jewish Thought and of Arabic Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Martin Goodman writes with the intimacy of an insider and the breadth of an incisive scholar. At once lucid and authoritative, expansive and nuanced, his book is the finest introduction to Judaism written in recent years--Steven J. Zipperstein, Professor of Jewish Culture and History, Stanford University Martin Goodman's A History of Judaism is a boundlessly edifying work, combining a glittering career's worth of erudition with the drive for clarity and the expressive gesture of a master educator. Everyone will find a great deal to learn from - and think about - here--Jeremy Dauber, Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture, Columbia University With admirable erudition, Martin Goodman offers an entirely fresh perspective on how Judaism combines both past and present. This book will surely become the standard work on this vast subject--David Biale, Professor of Jewish History, University of California, Davis This insightful book is the work of a major historian of Judaism. Goodman's bold and original thinking, excellent historical judgment, and elegant style are all on display here. A History of Judaism is an introduction for the twenty-first century, incorporating new knowledge for our own times--Professor of Jewish Studies, Manchester University”

An absolute godsend ... Goodman has done both Jews and non-Jews a great service with this book, encapsulating most of Jewish thought over four millennia into one extraordinarily readable volume -- Julia Neuberger Literary Review
A History of Judaism is beautifully written and meticulously annotated, and includes maps and illustrations. Goodman holds the book with authority and impeccable even-handedness, engaging the reader with his erudition, but also seasoning the narrative with some of the great and most influential Jewish lives. I could hardly recommend it more. -- Charles Middleburgh Church Times

Martin Goodman is Professor of Jewish Studies at Oxford and President of the Oxford Centre for Jewish and Hebrew Studies. He is a Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford and the British Academy. His Rome and Jerusalem, published in 2008, was acknowledged as a landmark in the study of the Jewish people in the Roman Empire, and has been translated into six languages. In 2002 he edited the Oxford Handbook of Jewish Studies, which was awarded the National Jewish Book Award for Scholarship.

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