An accessible and fascinating exploration of the Torah
The Torah For Dummies, 2nd Edition is an easy-to-follow and insightful guide to the first five books of the Hebrew bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This helpful resource walks you through the foundations of Jewish tradition, religion, and theology, explaining Judaism's rich and ancient history and how its interpreted by modern Jews.
You'll also find discussion on translations of ancient writings, as well as explorations of the resources that preserve and expand Jewish texts and archeological discoveries that shed additional light on old doctrines.
Inside:
Understand how the Torah is structured Discover how the Torah informs the lives of followers Explore interpretations, commentaries, and more.
Perfect for practicing Jews who want to better understand their own faith, Christians wanting to know more about the Jewish roots of Christianity, followers of Islamic tradition, and those interested in the roots of Abrahamic faiths, The Torah For Dummies is a can't-miss resource for anyone interested in one of the world's oldest and most fascinating religions and cultures. It's packed with trustworthy information about the laws, teachings, and stories that guide the lives of people of faith all over the world.
By:
Arthur Kurzweil (Elat Chayyim)
Imprint: Wiley
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 2nd edition
Dimensions:
Height: 231mm,
Width: 185mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 544g
ISBN: 9781394379996
ISBN 10: 1394379994
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 10 January 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction 1 Part 1: The Torah 101 5 Chapter 1: Beginning with Torah Basics 7 Chapter 2: Encountering God, the Ultimate Author 19 Chapter 3: Examining the Treasures of the Torah 37 Part 2: One by One: The Books of the Torah 61 Chapter 4: “In the Beginning”: The Book of Genesis 63 Chapter 5: “These Are the Names”: The Book of Exodus 83 Chapter 6: “And He Called”: The Book of Leviticus 107 Chapter 7: “In the Wilderness”: The Book of Numbers 121 Chapter 8: “Words”: The Book of Deuteronomy 135 Part 3: The Torah: An Operating Manual for Planet Earth 149 Chapter 9: Keeping Your Personal Behavior in Line with the Torah 151 Chapter 10: Living by the Word of the Torah in the Community 163 Part 4: The Importance of the Torah in Judaism 173 Chapter 11: Observing the Holy Days in Torah Time 175 Chapter 12: Following Jewish Customs According to the Torah 197 Chapter 13: Walking through the Torah Synagogue Service 215 Chapter 14: The Final Commandment: Writing a Torah Scroll 237 Chapter 15: Always Up for Discussion: Analyzing the Torah 261 Chapter 16: Studying the Torah with Translations, Commentaries, and Other Resources 279 Part 5: Do You Dig Archaeology? 295 Chapter 17: The Science of Biblical Archaeology 297 Chapter 18: Biblical Archaeology: True or False?. 305 Part 6: The Part of Tens 317 Chapter 19: Ten Frequently Misunderstood Quotes from the Torah 319 Chapter 20: The Ten Commandments According to the Torah 327 Appendix: A Glossary of Torah Terms and Names 335 Index 343
Arthur Kurzweil teaches Talmud and Kabbalah courses to adults across the United States. He’s the author of The Torah For Dummies, Kabbalah For Dummies, and The Talmud For Dummies. He’s a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.
