The Jews are known as the People of the Book." Even though a library on Judaism would fill mnay miles of bookshelf space there has been no single comprehensive hands-on volume that provides an up-to-date overview of Jewish practices & beliefs. Until now. For the Jew & non-Jew alike ESSENTIAL JUDAISM explains not only what Jews do & believe but why. In the process it answers such questions as; what happens at a synagogue service? What do the prayers & rituals mean? What is the Jewish calendar? & many more. With insight & clarity George Robinson illuminates the Jewish life cicle at every stage from birth & circumcision to bar/bat mitzvahs to weddings & mourning. He places over four thousand years of learning & belief in a practical context for living a good Jewish life in today's world."