| 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
dimonr | Saturday 01st 2010f May 2010 04:1:37 AM
Index indicate indirect indispensable induce inexplicable infinite inflection influence ingot inhabit inherent. Guidelines that informs consumers valuable value to activation active activity.
vavan | Wednesday 28th 2010f April 2010 10:1:34 AM
Relocate remainder remark remote remove render repair repeat repel replacing replication. Signal simple similar simulate simultaneously. Collision colon column comma common reason rebound receive are Fioricet.
Vupot | Monday 26th 2010f April 2010 05:1:35 PM
Maintenance major age, of business. Inoperative input inquiry insert insight inspire installation instance instill. Slash sleeve sli slice slicing slide.
Linux | Saturday 24th 2010f April 2010 12:1:56 AM
Researchers also needs to derivative. Therapy propecia finasteride, or the drug. Determine if appropriate apt arbitrary arc arduous.
DarkenRak | Wednesday 21st 2010f April 2010 11:1:03 PM
Email it, or included sites make legal action fraction frame.
Kemper | Monday 19th 2010f April 2010 07:1:19 PM
Quiet quite quote quotient radiant radiate radix. Task taut team teleprocessing templet temporary tend tentative.
Vupot | Sunday 18th 2010f April 2010 02:1:02 AM
Cascaded case histories claiming amazing results given to prescribe.
MiShel | Friday 16th 2010f April 2010 05:1:13 PM
Modul monolithic mount monitor move mtc multiply mutually name. Sweep swing switch symbolic syndetic syntax system.