Rating: 
Summary: Best book ever!!
Review: This is the best book ever written on this subject. Although I have a above average knowledge of the Bible, this book taught me even more. I now understand the Bible better. I made my children read this book too, and they loved it too.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable introduction and reference work
Review: Jewish Literacy by Joseph Telushkin was influenced by the Cultural Literacy series put out by E. D. Hirsch in the late 1980s. The premise behind Hirsch's work is that it's important for people in a culture to have a shared set of cultural references as well as a basic understanding of the roots of those references. Hirsh's work concentrated on the topics that "every American should know", and while containing a healthy selection of contents from around the world seems to concentrate primarily on American and Western European sources. Telushkin contributes to this line of thinking in this wonderful volume, providing the reader with "the most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its people, and its history."
And how fitting this is! While there has been some debate in recent decades about whether or not the Greeks and Romans deserve a special place in our cultural education based on their influence of our contemporary world, the one culture that has not received nearly an adequate amount of attention is that of the Jews. Considering the tremendous influence of Jewish literature, religion, and thought on the development of Western Culture in general and the United States in particular, it is a shame that such a powerful influence remains generally unknown and poorly understood by so many.
When I'd decided I wanted to learn more about Judaism, this was one of the books that was most commonly recommended. I wasn't disappointed. Telushkin writes in an easy-going, friendly, and simply fascinating manner. While perfectly useful as a reference work, this book has a notable "hard to put down" quality to it. Open up to read about one thing and you'll soon be checking other entries.
I enthusiastically recommend this book to a large number of people. Those who know nothing about Judaism or Jewish culture will find this an accessible introduction, those who know a lot will find it a valuable reference. This is the kind of book that belongs in every public library.
Rating: 
Summary: Indepth....too indepth
Review: I read this book in 2003 and I have to say that if you want to know anything about Jewish history, it's people, and it's faith, this is an execellent place to start. My only criticism is that it was to drawn-out. The author could have been more concise.
Rating: 
Summary: Very dry reading
Review: Although I think this book has a lot of good information, I found it exteremely dull to read. I often found myself falling asleep trying to get through a chapter. I think the author tries to go into too much detail. How can I best describe what I mean? Imagine that someone is telling you a story and they say this really, really long sentence with all of the facts, dates, etc. By the time they get to the end of the sentence, you are totally lost as to what the 'point' of the story was. That is what I experienced with this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Great introduction, slightly simplistic
Review: This is a good book, with several small flaws. First off this is the perfect book for any return Jew, secular Jew or anyone interested in the many facets of Judaism. For instance: How did Reform Judaism start? What was the Sanhedrin? Who was the Baal Shem Tov? Probably many Jews would stumble over the answers or be left speechless and this is where this book shines. This book details almost every facet of Judaism anyone could ever want or need to know. What is the difference between the Mishnah and Midrash? Once again this book gives short concise answers to this. From Ertez Israel to the Oral law this book outshines many like it in the sheer breadth of knowledge contained. The major flaw in this book is that it is almost useless if you are already versed in Judaism. If one wants something deeper and wants a more thorough explanation of the items contained here they will not get it. This book is written in a folksy manner, like someone lecturing a small group of interested students. Jokes protrude from the page for instance "many Europeans believed Jews had to kill every tenth patient...I wouldn't want to be the 10th guy in line at the doctor". While funny these passages detract from the text and sometimes makes the book feel more like `1000 things you didn't know about Judaism'. Nevertheless this book is an essential text for any Jewish household and an essential read for anyone exploring Judaism, thinking of conversion, in a relationship with a Jew or simply wanting to learn more about this worlds first monotheists. Seth J. Frantzman
Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening to a Christian
Review: I found the book to be very interesting. It certainly gave one Gentile a footstep into a world previously unknown. The book is an easy read and the Rabbi's wit and honesty is refreshing. I almost rated the bood a 3 because the views on Jesus and Christianity were just so far off-base.Then I realized that this view reflected the Rabbi's and probably most Jewish people. How could I criticize him for his own view. I was truly amazed and saddened by just how much two people groups who both love the God of the Hebrew Bible could know so little about each other.
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