Basic Judaism by Milton Steinberg

Basic Judaism Reviews

• 
  Joan

  As a human, it compelled me. As a woman, it left me feeling isolated.
• 
  Camilla

  I'm torn about this book. On the one hand, it did its job excellently--it's the first book I've found that managed to comprehensively but briefly explain the many (often opposing) facets of Judaism. On the other hand, the author managed to turn a very interesting subject into a snooze fest. I'm normally not bothered by dry, more academic writing, but this seemed a bit too dry for an introductory book. I'd recommend it for the information, but there are probably more fun ways to get the info.
• 
  Cassidy

  Written in 1947 (!) this book is probably more controversial than the author intended (when it comes to contrasts between “traditional” and “modernist” Jews). Never the less, a poetic, beautiful, and brief documentation of Judaism. I wrote down about two dozen quotes over the course of the 170 pages.
  
  Specifically interesting to read given it’s a present day-ish account, but written while Israel was still pre-state. Couldn’t help but saying “if you only knew what’s ahead”!
• 
  Rikka Filkins bos

  I am a Jew by choice. While I read (and continue to read) many books on both the Jewish tradition and on the faith itself, this is probably the "one" that made clear to me that Judaism was to be my life's journey. I've lent my copy out several times, mostly to non-Jewish friends, and they seem to find it helpful in grasping what Judaism is. Highly recommended.
• 
  Zachary

  As someone who has considered conversion for 10+ years, I found this was a really great place to start in my exploration of Judaism. I was moved to tears on at least 3 occasions in reading this book, which says a lot considering I have only been moved to tears on a handful of occasions by books in the past.
  
  I have always felt drawn to Judaism but have ignored that for years for one reason or another, always trying to meet others' expectations for my relationship with spirituality before my own, constantly trying to please those around me, to meet up to their expectations. It was only seeing the joy that the conversion process has brought a close friend that gave me the courage to begin my own journey. And this book was an excellent start.
  
  I recommend it for anyone looking to learn more about Judaism, whatever your reasons.
• 
  George Garrigues

  Oh, good lord! (If you'll pardon the expression.) I began it but was immediately put off by the overly formal, overly stilted, overly self-observant use of language.
  
  I mean, "The ancient rabbis were wont to speak . . . " wont to speak? People don't write like this any more.
  
  "But first to the book qua book." Qua? That's a sound a duck makes.
  
  "The simultaneous love of God and man: here is Judaism's first postulate and final inference, its point of departure and its destination, the root of it and its fruitage." Fruitage? Sounds fruitcake to me.
  
  Like many pontifical writers, Milton Steinberg often digs up former centuries' use of the subjunctive mode to make his stuff seem really important: "But if the tradition be not self-validating . . . " Be? Methinks the author has been reading too much scripture.
  
  So, no . . . I did not get past Chapter 2.
• 
  Eric

  I had to keep reminding myself when this book was published -- 1947. And that it was written by a rabbi. I wanted to read it to get some more perspectives on Judaism, as my wife is Jewish. Despite it being a short book, it was a slog. It's pretty academic, and very much from a believer's perspective, so there were times where I found it pretty arrogant. There were a few interesting tidbits that I came away with. Like that some locusts are kosher (and I really have to wonder now which ones). And that until the recent past, in many places, Jews took care of their own legal issues, separate from the court systems of the country they were in. But I could've probably learned those tidbits elsewhere with a less painful slog.
• 
  J.T.K. Gibbs

  A book to read and reread. The style is a bit stilted, but well worth reading! The explanations are succinct and reflect the variety of Jewish expression.
• 
  Riven

  The language is too flowery to be easily understood.
• 
  Christopher Li

  Interesting book.
  
  -christian denominations are religious communions held together entirely by special convictions, and has to carefully define beliefs or lose identity. jews are not jut congregants of church but also a historic people and culture.
  - in jewish religious literature, god as apartness from the world, his otherness; as well as his nearness and inness. Very similar to how allah is concieved in islam.
  - human effort is still needed along with prayer, and then gold will respond and act to fullfill those if other conditions are satisfied. Jewish minimalists maintain prayer sways the physical world only through human agencies. Maximalists insist that quite apart form man it impinges directly on reality. My interpretation of islam leans more towards the jewish minimalist view of prayer. Most modernists are minimalists, most traditionalist jews are maximalists.
  - Whys for religious practice 1. judaism as a way of life 2. Sanctification of life 3. ritual as discipline 4. ritual as pedagogy 5. ritual as participation in the historic. 6. ritual as fellowship 7. ritual as an aesthetic 8. ritual as survival mechanism.
  - Unlike some other traditions, judaism does not assert of its clergy that they possess spiritual powers, conferred either by ordination or vocation, which are inaccessible to the laity. no difference exists except in training. rabbis are also not "called" by a mystical experience of illumination, and he differs only in that he is more learned than the laity. generally in practice, each rabbbi is a free autonomous spirit, deferring only to tradition and own conscience. It is now different though, the training is different, obligations are changed, but the basic attributes of moral qualification, freedom and agency as well as primarily being teachers of tradition.
  - judaism has a threefold hope: 1. a hope, expectation of its ultimate deliverance and vindication
  2. a hope for the individual soul, that it will not be swalloed by death but somehow attain fulfillment 3. hope for society, assurance that it will in the end be regenerated into something fairer with evils purged.
  - Traditionalist affirms 3 outcomes of man's career: 1. recompense 2. immortality(man contains something independent of the flesh and surviving it, his consciousness and moral capacities, his essential personality, a soul. ideas of the afterlife are very divergent, many don't belief in a heaven or hell)3. resurrection. (even after assignment to heaven, hell, purgatory, or any other place, its not over. on some day, bodies of all the dead will arise and god will pronounce judgement whether bliss or damnation. (Jewish modernists accept less than these)
  -God's kingdom is not in the future only. It is already at hand and perceptible. God's kingdom is more than a promise.
  -Holy days and festivals ordained by tradition:
  1. the sabbath, memorial of creation and of the exodus from egypt, day of rest for man and beast, for bond and free alike. Concluded by the havdalah, picturesque ceremonial of division wherein the gladsome and sacred day sent away with savor of wine, spices, candle.
  2. new year, rosh hashanah: inauguration of a new year, anniversary according to legend of the worlds creation.
  3. yom kippur(the day of atonement), a solemn whhite fast, during which from dusk to dusk faifhtul partake neither food nor drink.
  4. Sukkoth(round of 9 names, first 8 celebrate completeion of harvest, the last marks the completion and rebiginning in the synagogue of the annual cycle of the reading of the torah book)
  5. passover, pesah: twofold reminder of advent of springtide and liberation of israel from egypt
  6. pentecost, shavuoth: part agricultural festival b/c time of grain harvest and bringing in fruits, part historical b/c commemorates revelation at sinai
  7. hannukah: recollection of victory won by maccabees in cause of freedom.
  
  Quotes I find interesting:
  -" judaism claims no superiorities whatsoever for jews, at least none that are inherent to them. it does assert that they enjoy certain advantages, the nature of their religious heritage.... But these are social, cultural advantages which have to be accepted and exploited by the individual, or they are of no account. "
  - "judaism indeed is totally unaware of race. ...Anyone accepting the jewish faith becomes "a child of abraham our father" and "a son of israel" of equal worth with all others. Anyone may become a jew; but no one has to do so in order to be saved, whether in this world or the next.
  - "highly as the tradition esteems prayer-indeed, because it values it so highly-it insists that it be discreetly used. prayer to be efficacious must be sincere. It must bespeak genuine, not pretended aspirations."
• 
  Jack R.

  A lucid, concise, and engaging "systematic" (if such a word can be employed) treatment of "basic" Jewish belief shared by the "Tradition" since the religion's inception. Obviously, Steinberg's summary is very much a product of mid-20th-century American Jewish thinking-- his characterization of Judaism as an anti-totalitarian faith bespeaks to the book's publication in 1947-- with its clear demarcation between "Traditionalists" (Orthodox) and "Modernists" (Conservative and Reform) Judaisms, both of which are more reflective of Ashkenazi thought and practice than Sephardic. Additionally, because the book was written too-early to grapple with the full implications of both the Holocaust and formation of Israel, "Basic Judaism" is further relegated to a specific contextual product for it does not speak on the two moments which most define Judaism as a whole today.
  
  Yet, if one keeps these issues in mind, Steinberg is helpful in grasping key Jewish theological distinctives that so many other introductions ignore or underexplain: the notion of God, the Good Life, the Messiah, etc. Jews did and do believe these concepts and the religion's internal diversity does not prohibit Steinberg from successfully refining a consensus on a given topic (Jews are monotheists, for example, and even in today's world they almost always posture their beliefs vis-a-vis that monotheism). Edgar Bronfman's Why Be Jewish? fixates on his secularizing, moralizing obsession of the religion, while Norman Solomon's Judaism: A Very Short Introduction is deeply unfocused so as to paint only the roughest picture of historical and contemporary Jewish life and thinking. To those two, Judaism is practice without substance, and Steinberg explicates that substance which inspires the practice!
• 
  Madeleine Lesieutre

  This is really helpful for someone who knows very little about Judaism. Steinberg breaks the book up into helpful sections, and it’s not a big commitment; it’s a fairly short read. Some of the most interesting things to me were the latitude of beliefs within Judaism, the lack of effort to convert others, the thoughts on Jesus, and the thoughts on whether it is good to come up with reasons for a specific rule (as opposed to just answering “God said so”). For instance, Steinberg gives the example of food restrictions. Jews are not supposed to eat certain meats, and for meats that they can eat, it has to “be slaughtered in a prescribed manner and by a qualified person licensed to that purpose.” While some traditionalists argue that God ordained all of this and therefore it needs no further explanation, the author says that plenty of Jews are willing to speculate why. Steinberg suggests that the abstinence from certain meat has a hygienic purpose and a humanitarian purpose. This book does a bit to explain the existence of God, and a lot to argue the benefits of the beliefs and rituals. In terms of the latitude of beliefs within Judaism, some religious Jews don’t observe the dietary rules at all. Meanwhile, someone with “no theology at all may abstain from forbidden foods out of respect for the historic practices of his people.”
  
  I would go on, but I don’t just want to write down all of the cool facts in my review; that’s what reading the book is for!
  
• 
  Marcelo Gonzalez

  This is a mid-year contender for the best book I've read this year (70 so far).
  
  The most impressive aspect of this book isn't the accuracy of Milton Steinberg's claims, though no one could dispute their veracity; it is the beauty and reverence of his nearly poetic prose that stands out, a quasi-poetic style unquestionably worthy of the topic at hand.
  
  Steinberg delves into the major aspects of Judaism and spends equal time fairly describing the divergence of each without preference to any. I intentionally read to see if I could discover his personal leaning and I was no more sure after finishing than if I had simply guessed upon first hearing his name.
  
  Nearly 70 years after it's first publication, this book is no less poignant than the day it was penned.
• 
  Kale

  Informative. I didn't have much knowledge of Judaism so consequently I found a pretty good starting book.
  
  I rate it 5 stars because it got to the point (not 800 pages), let me think on my own and Milton Steinberg stabbed at the subject with different points of view. That being Traditionalist vs Modernist views of being Jewish; how that affects the lives of Jewish members.
  
  I see myself as Agnostic, however they had an interesting take on Jesus. I think it's the main reason why the book is under 4 stars. So, heed my warning if you're unwilling to hear alternative views on Jesus.
  
  Other than that, I definitely recommend it to people like me with limited knowledge on the subject of Judaism.
• 
  Andie Aldred

  This is the first book i’ve read on my journey to start converting and it was probably the most important book I will carry through this process. Steinberg does a great job at presenting the most factual information about Judaism while trying to do justice to all of the forms of the religion that exist. Very good read (although extremely dense in most cases), would absolutely recommend to anyone just trying to learn!
• 
  Ronnie

  I really like this one! It's description of the practice side of things is very brief, but it's an excellent outline and introduction of Jewish thought and ethics. I still think Milton Steinberg overuses "wherefore" just a bit though.
• 
  Craig Barner

  I read "Basic Judaism" as I traveled through Israel, contributing to the enjoyment of my sojourn. As I walked the shores of the Dead Sea and the streets of Jerusalem's Old City, I found myself meditating on the generations of Jews who lived and propagated a faith and tradition steeped in ancient teachings and who had experiences that no other people has shared.
  
  I thoroughly enjoyed "Basic Judaism." Rabbi Steinberg's presentation of Judaism is lucid and detailed, but never tedious. He crystalizes the core beliefs and practices of Jews in terms of observance, reason, salvation and other issues. I have read the Tanakh, which is also known as the Old Testament, and other books on Jewish faith and experience. From them I had a decent perception of what Judaism represents and teaches. "Basic Judaism" contributed significantly to my understanding. The book has a primer quality, but it is much more than a dry primer. Steinberg is analytical in his presentation but also thorough and loving.
  
  People of other faiths would benefit by reading "Basic Judaism" because there are several superb discussions on topics common to all religions. For instance, "Basic Judaism" has an excellent discussion on prayer and whether it is efficacious.
  
  Steinberg criticizes Christianity, but there is nothing wrong with that. Christians should encourage well-intentioned criticism as a way to strengthen dialogue with Jews and to develop their own religious observance. Some of Steinberg's criticisms of Jesus, however, struck me as superficial. For instance, Steinberg knocks Jesus for His occasional ill temper, such as His cursing of the fig tree in the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Every holy man shows personality traits, including "negative" ones. This criticism by Steinberg struck me as "criticism for the sake of criticism."
  
  An interesting element to "Basic Judaism" is that the often contrasting outlooks of traditionalists and modernists within Judaism are given. This provides a fascinating look at disagreements and is an intellectual treat. Indeed, "Basic Judaism" as a whole is an intellectual treat.
• 
  Denise

  I really liked the summary points of specific beliefs and entities. The theological discussions could at times be tedious but that is what theological writing tends to do. The writing needs to explain something not all will understand. He does use a specific theological language so if a person does not have such a background it could be difficult to read. "Non-Jews" refers to others who at least believe in God or know theological language.
  
  Even with this being an older book (1947), it still is completely useful today. I have other books to read on Judaism that I hope to compare and contrast with this one.
• 
  Joe

  Excellent, excellent introduction to Judaism. Explores and explains many aspects of Judaism from a variety of different perspectives. I especially like how the writing itself is so reflective of some of the ideologies of the religion; it's not always cut and dry, but neither are the principles being reflected. Some things are clearly written in proverbial stone, but everything else is left up to you to think about, decide, and experience for yourself. Timeless.
• 
  Brock

  Excellent introduction to Jewish cultural and religious thought for non-Jews and even for secular Jews. Is often used as a textbook in a conversion to Judaism program but is an excellent book outside of that context.
• 
  Zack

  Really a fantastic book though not what I expected. I don't know why but I expected something more technical but this was so spiritual and immersive. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a good window into Jewish spirituality and practice.
• 
  Elliot Cooper

  Excellent overview of Judaism as a religion and the differences and similarities between the traditionalist and modernist POVs. I loved the way Rabbi Steinberg's voice was so clearly imprinted in his writing style. Learned some new things and reinforced much existing knowledge.
• 
  lugosi 🎱

  Great overall view is Judaism. Love the poet structure of teachings in this book. There are many great lessons and lines this book delivers. Definitely a starting book for those looking into Judaism!
• 
  Adam

  Good, clear introduction to Judaism. Covers aspects such as: Prayer, philosophy, afterlife, Jesus etc.
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  Matt West

  Good intro to Judaism. Short and sometimes a little dated (it refers to Islam as Mohammadism), it gives a good overview of some of the basic tenets of Judaism.