Biblical Literacy

July 1, 1997
The Hebrew Bible has played an important role in American society as Judaism's primary text and as Christianity's Old Testament. Today, however, fewer people are as well versed in scripture, so the author, a lecturer and rabbi of Los Angeles's Synagogue for the Performing Arts, has written this readable introduction. Not a concordance or commentary but a personalized study guide or overview for the Jewish or Gentile reader, it is a less successful sequel to Telushkin's popular home references, Jewish Literacy (Morrow, 1991) and Jewish Wisdom (Morrow, 1994). Although the book does not merit reference status, some patrons might be helped by the selective summaries of and thoughts on weekly Bible readings or the enumeration of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) that guide the observant Jew. Telushkin's book has the potential to increase a reader's Jewish literacy either as an introduction or companion to study of the Hebrew Bible.--Andrew B. Wertheimer, Spertus Inst. of Jewish Studies, Chicago

October 1, 1997
Telushkin conducts us through the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, offering insights--his own as well as those of other Jewish philosophers and rabbis--and exploring what is happening in each book. Biblical truths that many a reader may have glossed over before stand out, thanks to this superb book, and, more important, misunderstandings are cleared up and previously mistranslated words correctly rendered. The appended listing of 613 traditional laws of the Torah, given in the order in which they occur, adds great value and arguably makes the book a necessity in religion collections. Telushkin's work makes us appreciate the gifts the world has received from the Jews even more as it sheds invaluable light on Jewish thought, religious history, and biblical exegesis. Anyone interested in understanding what created Western civilization will find it useful. ((Reviewed October 1, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)