DESCRIPTION

"With such insights as that the Hebrew Bible is a document of compromise and with such descriptions as that the early rabbinic movement was slow, informal, chaotic, and marginal, this wide-ranging introduction is a significant tour de force. In just a few carefully crafted chapters, Hayes manages astutely to convey something of the rich diversity of Judaism through the ages as well as drawing attention to key ideas, identifying its basic practices, and describing its major figures. With its multiple study resources this volume should quickly find its way onto basic reading lists for courses in the field." George J. Brooke Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis University of Manchester, England" "A clear, balanced, and nuanced mix of background narrative and textual exegesis characterize Hayes's topical approach to major events, personalities, and trends of classical Judaism (biblical and rabbinic) and its legacy through the ages. An erudite and reader-friendly introduction to the matrix of Judaism, providing an exploration on the great cultural and religious ideas of the Jewish People. An enriching and exacting read." Zev Garber Professor Emeritus and Chair of Jewish Studies and Philosophy Los Angeles Valley College.