Judaisms

What does it mean to be a Jew in the twenty-first century? Exploring the multifaceted and intensely complicated characteristics of this age-old, ever-changing community, <I>Judaisms</I> examines how Jews are a culture, ethnicity, nation, nationality, race, religion, and more. With each chapter revolving around a single theme (Narratives, Sinais, Zions, Messiahs, Laws, Mysticisms, Cultures, Movements, Genocides, Powers, Borders, and Futures) this introductory textbook interrogates and broadens readers&rsquo; understandings of Jewish communities. Written for a new mode of teaching&mdash;one that recognizes the core role that identity formation plays in our lives&mdash;this book weaves together alternative and marginalized voices to illustrate how Jews have always been in the process of reshaping their customs, practices, and beliefs. <I>Judaisms</I> is the first book to assess and summarize Jewish history from the time&#160;of the Hebrew Bible through today using multiple perspectives.<BR /> &#160;<BR /> Ideal for classroom use, <I>Judaisms</I><BR /><UL><LI>provides a synthetic and coherent alternative understanding of Jewish identity for students of all backgrounds;</LI><LI>focuses on both the history of and potential futures for physical and ideological survival;</LI><LI>includes an array of engaging images, many in color;</LI><LI>offers extensive online resources including notes, key terms, a timeline of major texts, and chapter-by-chapter activities for teaching.</LI></UL>