The Jewish Religion: A Companion

Rating:
Summary: Excellent but ...
Review: I've been using this book for years and have always found it readable, scholarly, impartial (as among the different branches of Judaism), and comprehensive. Although that remains my opinion, I was recently shocked to discover a significant error--the article on Rabbi Eliezer (p. 143) tells the famous and philosophically fascinating Talmudic story of Rabbi Eliezer's dispute with an authoritative group of colleagues over a point of law. Jacobs says that "Rabbi Eliezer held fast to his opinion even against ... a voice that came from heaven." In fact, the original Talmudic story (found at Bava Metzia 59b) recounts that the heaveny voice (G-d) was invoked by Rabbi Eliezer and said to the other rabbis (from the Steinsaltz translation) 'Why are you [disputing] with Rabbi Eliezer, for the [law] is in accordance with him everywhere?" Notwithstanding this error, the only one I have come across in many hours with this book, I heartily recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful source of Jewish learning
Review: Rabbi Louis Jacobs was a man of immense Jewish learning and understanding. This volume is rich in information about Jewish religious concepts, practices, sources of learning and even historical phenomena. At one time I carried this dictionary with me everywhere and whenever I had an opportunity would read or two entries and felt I had truly learned something.