Encyclopaedia Judaica (Aa-Alp) by Fred Skolnik

By Fred Skolnik

Grade 10 Up—This long-awaited revision of the most popular reference resource on Jewish existence, tradition, and historical past updates the 1972 version by means of both including to the unique info or making a thoroughly new access. New to this book are a charted precis of transliteration ideas; an inventory of abbreviations; and entries discussing points of Holocaust examine, the improvement and effect of the country of Israel on Jewish lifestyles, and the evolution of Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Hasidic, and Reconstructionist branches of the religion. Entries on Judaism in all 50 U.S. states and significant U.S. towns were up to date. Others are unchanged even if updating could have been warranted: for instance, details at the biblical personality Noah is unaltered, regardless of loads of comparable examine, either textual and archaeological, for the reason that 1972. even though, many entries concerning spiritual legislations (halakhah) were completely rewritten to mirror its influence at the Israeli felony method. This variation involves 22 volumes in comparison to the unique sixteen. It boasts all new illustrations: greater than six hundred maps, charts, archaeological plans, and chronologies (for instance, kinfolk bushes and an 8-page chart of Hasidic dynasties) and some colour images of work, drawings, and artifacts in every one quantity. The thesaurus is unchanged. The final quantity includes a specified 270-page thematic define and a very good 632-page index that make the knowledge in each one quantity obtainable. Libraries that personal the 1st version may want to substitute it with this one.—Jack Forman, Mesa university Library, San Diego