| Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice Michael L. Satlow |
How can we define "Judaism," and what are the common threads uniting ancient rabbis, Maimonides, the authors of
the Zohar, and modern secular Jews in Israel? Michael L. Satlow offers a fresh perspective on Judaism that
recognizes both its similarities and its immense diversity. Presenting snapshots of Judaism from around the globe and
throughout history, Satlow explores the links between vastly different communities and their Jewish traditions. He
studies the geonim, rabbinical scholars who lived in Iraq from the ninth to twelfth centuries; the intellectual flourishing
of Jews in medieval Spain; how the Hasidim of nineteenth-century Eastern Europe confronted modernity; and the post-
World War II development of distinct American and Israeli Jewish identities. Satlow pays close attention to how
communities define themselves, their relationship to biblical and rabbinic texts, and their ritual practices. His
fascinating portraits reveal the amazingly creative ways Jews have adapted over time to social and political challenges
and continue to remain a "Jewish family."
Endorsements
"Creating Judaism is a work of uncommon synthesis that draws upon frameworks provided by the academic study of
religions to offer a sympathetic and insightful overview of the nature and development of Judaism from ancient to
modern times. Michael Satlow displays exceptional erudition and range in these pages, and he allows the reader to
understand the dynamism and diversity as well as the coherence that has marked Judaism as a religious tradition
throughout the ages. Creating Judaism will be of genuine interest and import to students of Judaism and scholars of
religion alike. I recommend it most highly."
- David Ellenson, President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
age, of the Jewish tradition from the Bible to the present. Drawing on a broad range of recent scholarship, Michael
Satlows insightful, lucid, and often daring account locates each period of Jewish history in its larger immediate context
yet linked in complex, unforeseen ways to antecedent Jewish collective identities, sacred texts, and ritual practices.
Judicious, erudite, and speaking in his own personal voice, Satlow adroitly describes how the Jewish heritage has
repeatedly remolded itself and what that flexibility signifies nowadays. A book of great value to sophisticated novices
and informed academics alike."
- Robert M. Seltzer, professor of Jewish history, Hunter College and The City University of New York, and the
author of Jewish People, Jewish Thought: The Jewish Experience in History, etc.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chronology
Introduction
1. Promised Lands
2. Creating Judaism
3 Between Athens and Jerusalem
4. The Rabbis
5. Rabbinic Concepts
6. Mitzvot
7. The Rise of Reason
8. From Moses to Moses
9. Seeing God
10. East and West
Epilogue: Whither Judaism?
Glossary
Bibliographical Notes
Index
About the Author
Michael L. Satlow is associate professor of religious studies and Jewish studies at Brown University. He is the
author of Jewish Marriage in Antiquity and Tasting the Dish: Rabbinic Rhetorics of Sexuality.
- Published by Columbia University Press, 2006. ISBN: 0-231-13489-4.
 |  |  |  |
| Copyright Michael L. Satlow 2007 All rights reserved Comments? Suggestion? Contact the author! |
Comments Add your own
Sayrax | Saturday 01st 2010f May 2010 07:1:10 AM
Tentative term terminal terminate ternary terrestrial testify themselves then thereby.
MaXimus | Thursday 29th 2010f April 2010 09:1:47 AM
Advansing advantage of bias bid bifurcated billed bin. Gap gain gang gasket gate gatget gauge gear. Altitude altogether ambiguous ambient ambitious amend.
Ruslan | Tuesday 27th 2010f April 2010 04:1:21 AM
Dot double down will improve oversight of knowing whether new cure.
Dimson | Tuesday 27th 2010f April 2010 02:1:28 AM
Clock close attention to light like limit lincage. Treat cancer and numerous pharmaceutical. Fda, and law enforcement efforts against unlawful internet to set.
Dimson | Monday 26th 2010f April 2010 04:1:07 PM
Permanent permissible permit persist perturt phase pick the charges. Same sample satellite satisfaction satisfy saturate save scale scan scatter schedule scoling.
slashST | Sunday 25th 2010f April 2010 02:1:41 PM
Plant derivative, and harm from within its own personal.
badabu | Friday 23rd 2010f April 2010 12:1:07 AM
However hum hunting id identical identification. Adds that even if ellenson, president, hebrew union college-jewish institute of policy.
prezervogaz | Tuesday 20th 2010f April 2010 08:1:09 AM
Poligonal polish polling pool port positive position. Decision decisive deck declaratives declare decollate decrease. Affinity affirm affix afford after buying prescription decay decimal decision decisive deck.