Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism, 2e

From the teachings of the Torah to the meaning of the holidays, this work offers an introduction to Judaism. It offers an account of Judaic history from the time of the Pharaohs through painful events like the Holocaust and triumphant ones like the creation of modern-day Israel. Among the topics included are features on the concerns facing Judaism - the role of women within the religion, gay rabbis, interfaith marriages and genetic engineering. Gazing into a crystal ball, the book asks whether the present followers of Judaism can preserve the religion. Other chapters ask whether Israel makes it harder or easier for Judaism to survive while other debates centre around the differences between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.