Book description
'This handsomely produced and interestingly illustrated volume is
two works in one. The first part offers a survey of Jewish history and
literature. The second part presents what the preface describes as 'a
thematic analysis of the teachings and practices of Judaism.' Israel
Finestein, Jewish Chronicle 'Fluently written, with an admirable
fair-mindedness in surveying both history and belief.' A. J. Shermann,
Times Literary Supplement 'The intelligent non-expert gets a clear
picture of Jewish life, letters and history and it will be an
endlessly useful reference book.' Julia Neuberger, Times Educational
Supplement 'A wide-ranging account of things Jewish that one can truly
recommend to intellectually curious Gentiles, as well as to the
majority of modern secularized Jews who know relatively little about
their complex tradition.' Louis Marcus, Irish Times
Rabbi Dr. David J. Goldberg OBE is Emeritus Rabbi of The Liberal
Jewish Synagogue, London, having served the congregation as Associate
then Senior Rabbi since 1975. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue is one of the
oldest, largest and most prestigious Progressive congregations in the
world, with an eminent membership that includes many well-known figures
in the Arts, theatre, academia and public life. Educated at Manchester
Grammar School, Oxford University and Trinity College, Dublin, David
Goldberg received his rabbinic ordination from Leo Baeck College, London
in 1971. Widely known in Jewish and general circles for his radical
theological views and trenchant criticisms of Israeli policy in the
Occupied Territories, he is a regular contributor on religious and
political topics to BBC programmes and leading newspapers such as The
Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Independent, etc. He is the
author or editor of several books, including The Jewish People: Their
History and their Religion (Viking,1987, Penguin,1989), Towards the
Promised Land: A History of Zionist Thought (Penguin,1996), the Italian
edition of which won the 1999 Premio Iglesias as best book in the
Religion and Culture category (it is shortly to be reissued by Faber
Finds), and The Divided Self: Israel and the Jewish Psyche Today (I B
Tauris, 2006). A long-time advocate of Israel-Palestine peace, he was
one of the first British Jews to be invited to meet President Arafat
after the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. In 1999, he was awarded
the Gold Medal of the International Council of Christians and Jews for
his 'outstanding contribution to interfaith harmony', having been the
initiator of the first Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue meetings to be
held in the UK. In 2004 he had the Order of Officer of the British
Empire (OBE) conferred on him by HM the Queen in recognition of his
services to interfaith work.
