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One Hundred Great Jewish Books: Three Millennia of Jewish Conversation
An introduction to one hundred great Jewish books, arranged as a concise and thought-provoking guide to the Jewish conversation across many centuries. Each of the entries features one work in its historical and cultural context, provides a summary of content and author, and reflects on its relevance for today’s readers.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
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About the author
Lawrence A. Hoffman
71 books17 followersDr. Lawrence A. Hoffman was ordained as a rabbi in 1969, received his Ph.D. in 1973, and has taught since then at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, in New York. From 1984 to 1987, he directed its School of Sacred Music as well. In 2003, he was named the first Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual. He teaches classes in liturgy, ritual, spirituality, theology and synagogue leadership. For almost forty years, he has combined research, teaching, and a passion for the spiritual renewal of North American Judaism.
Rabbi Hoffman has written or edited over forty books, including My People's Prayer Book (Jewish Lights Publishing), a ten-volume edition of the Siddur with modern commentaries, which was named a National Jewish Book Award winner for 2007. His Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights Publishing) and his Art of Public Prayer (Skylight Paths) are widely used by churches and synagogues as guides to organizational visioning and liturgical renewal. In 2011, he received a second National Jewish Book Award for co-authoring Sacred Strategies: Transforming Synagogues from Functional to Visionary (Alban Institute).
His articles, both popular and scholarly, have appeared in eight languages and four continents, and include contributions to such encyclopedias as The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion, The Oxford Dictionary of Religion, The Encyclopedia of Judaism and The Encyclopedia of Religion in America. He syndicates a regular column which appears, among other places, in The Jewish Week and The Jewish Times; and writes a blog entitled "Life and a Little Liturgy."
For many years, Rabbi Hoffman served as visiting professor of the University of Notre Dame, and has lectured at such places as the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Southern California, and the Yale Divinity School.
In 1990, Dr. Hoffman was selected by the United States Navy as a member of a three-person design team, charged with developing a continuing education course on worship for chaplains. He is a past-president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the professional and academic organization for liturgists, and in January 2004, received that organization's annual Berakhah Award, for outstanding lifetime contributions to his field.
In 1994, he co-founded "Synagogue 2000," a trans-denominational project to envision the ideal synagogue "as moral and spiritual center" for the 21st century. As Synagogue 3000, it has launched Next Dor, a national initiative to engage the next generation through a relational approach featuring strong communities with transformed synagogues at their center.
He founded and is Academic Coordinator of the Tisch Fellowship Program.
Rabbi Hoffman has written or edited over forty books, including My People's Prayer Book (Jewish Lights Publishing), a ten-volume edition of the Siddur with modern commentaries, which was named a National Jewish Book Award winner for 2007. His Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights Publishing) and his Art of Public Prayer (Skylight Paths) are widely used by churches and synagogues as guides to organizational visioning and liturgical renewal. In 2011, he received a second National Jewish Book Award for co-authoring Sacred Strategies: Transforming Synagogues from Functional to Visionary (Alban Institute).
His articles, both popular and scholarly, have appeared in eight languages and four continents, and include contributions to such encyclopedias as The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Religion, The Oxford Dictionary of Religion, The Encyclopedia of Judaism and The Encyclopedia of Religion in America. He syndicates a regular column which appears, among other places, in The Jewish Week and The Jewish Times; and writes a blog entitled "Life and a Little Liturgy."
For many years, Rabbi Hoffman served as visiting professor of the University of Notre Dame, and has lectured at such places as the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Southern California, and the Yale Divinity School.
In 1990, Dr. Hoffman was selected by the United States Navy as a member of a three-person design team, charged with developing a continuing education course on worship for chaplains. He is a past-president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, the professional and academic organization for liturgists, and in January 2004, received that organization's annual Berakhah Award, for outstanding lifetime contributions to his field.
In 1994, he co-founded "Synagogue 2000," a trans-denominational project to envision the ideal synagogue "as moral and spiritual center" for the 21st century. As Synagogue 3000, it has launched Next Dor, a national initiative to engage the next generation through a relational approach featuring strong communities with transformed synagogues at their center.
He founded and is Academic Coordinator of the Tisch Fellowship Program.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 10, 2022
The title of this book is self-explanatory. The author's selections aren't tremendously traditional; about 3/4 are from the 20th century, and about 1/4 are novels. I have read about 20 percent of the books and parts of a few more, and none of the choices that I have read seem obviously wrongheaded. However, the book is marred by trivial factual errors; for example, it writes that the Russian Civil War was between the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks, while in fact many of the anti-Communist "Whites" were monarchists and other nonsocialists. Another essay claims that Hasidic women are rarely seen in public, which would be a surprise to anyone who sees them scurrying around Manhattan in little pillbox hats.
April 19, 2020
Very good overview of Jewish literature.
March 10, 2021
good, basic overview meant for people who already know a thing or two about the books. hard to believe thomas friedman is included with such greats...
January 14, 2024
Excellent read! I picked up this treasure from the used bookstore. I am looking forward to reading the materials suggested in this book.
April 18, 2014
A collection of one hundred authoritative short essays on some of the great works of Jewish literature in - mainly - historical and sociological context. I am reminded of the experience of reading the New York Review of Books; these essays educate readers enough so they can be conversant in the various topics without having to read each volume in its entirety. They also help readers to pick and choose: Which ones are musts for me? Compiled, they constitute a broadly inclusive overview of Jewish thought through three millennia.
July 28, 2014
This nice review of some of the most important Jewish books doesn't just help assemble a reading list, but also encapsulates the history of Jewish thought through the ages. In 3 pages per book, it is concise and representative of the books covered. Hoffman's clear and interesting prose is a pleasure to read. I highly recommend this, and now plan to read a number of the books he summarizes.
June 17, 2013
A great reference if you're looking to update your bookshelves or for Jewish books you "have" to read.
January 7, 2015
Good overview. Learned new things.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews