The Torah: A Beginner's Guide

Description

There is no question that the Torah is one of the most influential documents in Western civilization. It is the source of widely known characters like Joseph, Moses, and Noah, and timeless stories such as the Garden of Eden and the Exodus. Jointly authored by professors of Judaism and Christianity, The Torah: A Beginner's Guide takes a unique approach, exploring the interplay and dynamics of how these two religions share this common scripture. Drawing on both scholarly and popular sources, Kaminsky and Lohr examine the key debates, while simultaneously illustrating the importance of the Torah in western jurisprudence, ethics, and contemporary conceptions of the family, morality, and even politics.

Joel S. Kaminsky is a Professor in the Department of Religion at Smith College in Massachusetts, where he teaches courses on the Hebrew Bible and on ancient Jewish religion and literature. Joel N. Lohr lectures on the Bible and Old Testament at the Department of Religious Studies at Trinity Western University, Canada.

An excellent introduction. Kaminsky and Lohr demonstrate how Christians and Jews can read Scripture fruitfully together.-- "David Novak - J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Chair of Jewish Studies, University of Toronto" I am glad to welcome and commend this study guide for beginners. The authors have been able to show how the Torah continues to be a generative force for Jews and Christians.-- "Walter Brueggemann - William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Th" This serene exposition of the first five books of Jewish and Christian Scripture is most welcome.-- "Matthew Levering - Professor of Theology at the University of Dayton, Ohio"