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Biblical Literacy: The Most Important People, Events, and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible – A Complete Encyclopedia of Old Testament Stories and Laws
As he did so brilliantly in his bestselling book, Jewish Literacy, Joseph Telushkin once again mines a subject of Jewish history and religion so richly that his book becomes an inspiring companion and a fundamental reference. In Biblical Literacy, Telushkin turns his attention to the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament), the most influential series of books in human history. Along with the Ten Commandments, the Bible's most famous document, no piece of legislation ever enacted has influenced human behavior as much as the biblical injunction to "Love your neighbor as yourself." No political tract has motivated human beings in so many diverse societies to fight for political freedom as the Exodus story of God's liberation of the Israelite slaves--which shows that God intends that, ultimately, people be free.
The Bible's influence, however, has conveyed as much through its narratives as its laws. Its timeless and moving tales about the human condition and man's relationship to God have long shaped Jewish and Christian notions of morality, and continue to stir the conscience and imagination of believers and skeptics alike.
There is a universality in biblical stories:
The murder of Abel by his brother Cain is a profound tragedy of sibling jealousy and family love gone awry (see pages 11-14).
Abraham',s challenge to God to save the lives of the evil people of Sodom is a fierce drama of man in confrontation with God, suggesting the human right to contend with the Almighty when it is feared He is acting unjustly (see pages 32-34).
Jacob's, deception of his blind father, Isaac raises the timeless question: Do the ends justify the means when the fate of the world is at stake (see pages 46-55).
Encyclopedia in scope, but dynamic and original in its observations and organization, Biblical Literacy makes available in one volume the Bible's timeless stories of love, deceit, and the human condition; its most important laws and ideas; and an annotated listing of all 613 laws of the Torah for both layman and professional, there is no other reference work or interpretation of the Bible quite like this Stunning volume.
The Bible's influence, however, has conveyed as much through its narratives as its laws. Its timeless and moving tales about the human condition and man's relationship to God have long shaped Jewish and Christian notions of morality, and continue to stir the conscience and imagination of believers and skeptics alike.
There is a universality in biblical stories:
The murder of Abel by his brother Cain is a profound tragedy of sibling jealousy and family love gone awry (see pages 11-14).
Abraham',s challenge to God to save the lives of the evil people of Sodom is a fierce drama of man in confrontation with God, suggesting the human right to contend with the Almighty when it is feared He is acting unjustly (see pages 32-34).
Jacob's, deception of his blind father, Isaac raises the timeless question: Do the ends justify the means when the fate of the world is at stake (see pages 46-55).
Encyclopedia in scope, but dynamic and original in its observations and organization, Biblical Literacy makes available in one volume the Bible's timeless stories of love, deceit, and the human condition; its most important laws and ideas; and an annotated listing of all 613 laws of the Torah for both layman and professional, there is no other reference work or interpretation of the Bible quite like this Stunning volume.
628 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 1997
103 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Telushkin
49 books170 followersJoseph Telushkin (born 1948) is an American rabbi, lecturer, and best selling author. His more than 15 books include several volumes about Jewish ethics, Jewish Literacy, as well as "Rebbe", a New York Times best seller released in June 2014
Telushkin was raised in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Solomon and Hellen Telushkin. He attended Yeshiva of Flatbush where met his future co-author Dennis Prager. While at Columbia University, they authored Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism and Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism.
While at University, Telushkin was an active leader of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. As part of his position, Telushkin visited the Soviet Union where he met with dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov. He was eventually listed by the KGB as an anti-Russian agent.
An Orthodox rabbi by training, Telushkin serves as a spiritual leader of Los Angeles’ Synagogue for the Performing Arts, founded in 1972 by Rabbi Jerome Cutler. He is an associate of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and a former director of education at the non-denominational Brandeis-Bardin Institute. Telushkin is also a Senior Associate with CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and is a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Book Council. He has been on the Newsweek's list of the 50 most influential Rabbis in America since 1997.
Telushkin is the author of sixteen books on Judaism. His book, Words that Hurt, Words that Heal, inspired Senators Joseph Lieberman’s and Connie Mack’s Senate Resolution #151 to establish a National Speak No Evil Day in the United States, a day in which Americans would go for twenty-four hours without saying anything unkind or unfair about, or to, anyone. His book, Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History, is one of the best-selling books on Judaism of the past two decades. More than two decades after its publication, the book remains a foundation text for Jews, non-Jews, and prospective converts alike. The first volume of A Code of Jewish Ethics, entitled A Code of Jewish Ethics: You Shall be Holy, which Telushkin regards as his major life's work, was published in 2006. The second volume, entitled, A Code of Jewish Ethics: Love Your Neighbor, was released in 2009.
In 2013, Telushkin was invited by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres to speak before the commission in Geneva.
In 2014, Telushkin released "Rebbe: The life and teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Rabbi in Modern History" which appeared on all the major best seller lists including New York Times Best Seller list, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly.
Telushkin tours the United States as a lecturer on Jewish topics, and has been named by Talk Magazine as one of the fifty best speakers in the United States. He wrote the episode 'Bar Mitzvah' on Touched by an Angel guest starring Kirk Douglas.
Telushkin was raised in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Solomon and Hellen Telushkin. He attended Yeshiva of Flatbush where met his future co-author Dennis Prager. While at Columbia University, they authored Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism and Why the Jews?: The Reason for Antisemitism.
While at University, Telushkin was an active leader of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. As part of his position, Telushkin visited the Soviet Union where he met with dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov. He was eventually listed by the KGB as an anti-Russian agent.
An Orthodox rabbi by training, Telushkin serves as a spiritual leader of Los Angeles’ Synagogue for the Performing Arts, founded in 1972 by Rabbi Jerome Cutler. He is an associate of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and a former director of education at the non-denominational Brandeis-Bardin Institute. Telushkin is also a Senior Associate with CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, and is a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Book Council. He has been on the Newsweek's list of the 50 most influential Rabbis in America since 1997.
Telushkin is the author of sixteen books on Judaism. His book, Words that Hurt, Words that Heal, inspired Senators Joseph Lieberman’s and Connie Mack’s Senate Resolution #151 to establish a National Speak No Evil Day in the United States, a day in which Americans would go for twenty-four hours without saying anything unkind or unfair about, or to, anyone. His book, Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History, is one of the best-selling books on Judaism of the past two decades. More than two decades after its publication, the book remains a foundation text for Jews, non-Jews, and prospective converts alike. The first volume of A Code of Jewish Ethics, entitled A Code of Jewish Ethics: You Shall be Holy, which Telushkin regards as his major life's work, was published in 2006. The second volume, entitled, A Code of Jewish Ethics: Love Your Neighbor, was released in 2009.
In 2013, Telushkin was invited by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres to speak before the commission in Geneva.
In 2014, Telushkin released "Rebbe: The life and teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the most influential Rabbi in Modern History" which appeared on all the major best seller lists including New York Times Best Seller list, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly.
Telushkin tours the United States as a lecturer on Jewish topics, and has been named by Talk Magazine as one of the fifty best speakers in the United States. He wrote the episode 'Bar Mitzvah' on Touched by an Angel guest starring Kirk Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 22, 2020
I've seen the Hebrew Bible explained by true believers of several kinds, or critics of various sorts. But never have I seen it examined with such open curiosity. With Rabbi Telushkin as a guide, I was struck as never before by the Bible's painful honesty. It faithfully records the pain of inhumanity and the cost of each moral victory. But I seem to need an unblinking guide like Telushkin to really expose this.
The book takes three passes through the Hebrew Bible. First Telushkin highlights people and events. Then he explores the development of values and ideas. Third he details the rise of Jewish law through the Torah. I want to give quotes from two of these sections.
In examining Genesis 22, Telushkin considers how Isaac and Sarah felt about Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son:
"Does he [Isaac] have trouble trusting his father after this incident? Or trusting God?
And then there is Sarah. The woman has waited almost her entire life to have a child, and Isaac's birth was her supreme joy. Yet her name is not mentioned once in this chapter. How does she react when she hears what happened? Do Abraham and Isaac tell her, or do they make a pact to keep the incident secret?
Again, we do not know, although the late Rabbi Abraham Chen points out a peculiar, seldom noted detail in the text. When Abraham returns from his trip, the Bible notes that he stays in Beersheva. Yet the second verse in the next chapter (Genesis 23:2) records that Sahah died in Kiryat Arba, and that Abraham came there to mourn for her. Although the text never explicitly says so, the implication is that Abraham and Sarah were living apart when she died. If so, did Sarah move away from him when she heard what Abraham had almost done?" (p. 41)
Concerning the development of values in the Bible story, we have this concerning the problem of theft:
"... The Bible's primary concern, however, is with aiding the victim. The first demand it makes of a theif is that he return the stolen goods to the victim. In addition, the theif is to be punished with a hundred percent fine, payable to the victim, not the state (Exodus 22:3). ... It is evident that biblical law is primarily concerned not with punishment of the thief, but with gaining restitution for the victim." (p. 447-448)
The book takes three passes through the Hebrew Bible. First Telushkin highlights people and events. Then he explores the development of values and ideas. Third he details the rise of Jewish law through the Torah. I want to give quotes from two of these sections.
In examining Genesis 22, Telushkin considers how Isaac and Sarah felt about Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son:
"Does he [Isaac] have trouble trusting his father after this incident? Or trusting God?
And then there is Sarah. The woman has waited almost her entire life to have a child, and Isaac's birth was her supreme joy. Yet her name is not mentioned once in this chapter. How does she react when she hears what happened? Do Abraham and Isaac tell her, or do they make a pact to keep the incident secret?
Again, we do not know, although the late Rabbi Abraham Chen points out a peculiar, seldom noted detail in the text. When Abraham returns from his trip, the Bible notes that he stays in Beersheva. Yet the second verse in the next chapter (Genesis 23:2) records that Sahah died in Kiryat Arba, and that Abraham came there to mourn for her. Although the text never explicitly says so, the implication is that Abraham and Sarah were living apart when she died. If so, did Sarah move away from him when she heard what Abraham had almost done?" (p. 41)
Concerning the development of values in the Bible story, we have this concerning the problem of theft:
"... The Bible's primary concern, however, is with aiding the victim. The first demand it makes of a theif is that he return the stolen goods to the victim. In addition, the theif is to be punished with a hundred percent fine, payable to the victim, not the state (Exodus 22:3). ... It is evident that biblical law is primarily concerned not with punishment of the thief, but with gaining restitution for the victim." (p. 447-448)
December 7, 2022
This book was assigned reading for the Old Testament class I took as an undergraduate in the early 2000s. I think I read 11 pages before I stopped reading it for class. I liked it well enough to keep it and picked it up again ten years later and read a few more. I started it completely over and have read it in sections between other books for the last three years. It has been a great source in the de- and reconstruction of my Christian faith which has led me to challenge much of the widely accepted Christian interpretation of the Bible and the accompanying ideologies. I so appreciate the depth, flexibility, and openness of Jewish ideology, theology, and discourse and appreciate Rabbi Telushkin’s knowledge, candor, and critical analysis. This is a book that will remain on my shelves.
December 10, 2018
On the one hand, this sizable book of about 600 pages or so of core material does include material from the Hebrew Bible, so it does live up to at least part of its claims in the title. However, this book is evidence that all too many conservative (and orthodox) Jews see the Hebrew Bible through the perspective of the Talmud, and so while this book is ostensibly about understanding the Bible, in reality the book presents interpretations of the Bible text that often come from less than authoritative sources, at least for those who take a dim view of the supposed "oral law" that the Pharisees and their successors have fraudulently used to reinterpret and contradict the scriptures. Even so, this book does offer at least some insights, especially concerning the frequent tension that exists between the legal and narrative portions of the Bible, and the way that the permissiveness of the law is countered by the unsparing details of the narrative that demonstrate, among other things, that eldest children are not necessarily the best suited for serving as heirs of the family and that polygamy never ends up happily for all of the people involved.
This book is divided into two large parts with a lot of chapters and sections within them. The first part of the book, which takes up most of the material (almost two thirds), looks at the people and events within the narrative sections of scripture. The author looks at chronological order within the Hebrew scriptures, spending a lot of time on the Torah (56 of the lessons), and then less time on the former and latter prophets and the writings. For example, there is only one discussion of the Proverbs, only six on the psalms, and none on the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles because the author doesn't like its pious approach. The author then moves on to laws and ideas in the second part of the book with chapters on the five books of the law and then a third part on the 613 laws of the Torah by appearance, in which the author attempts to state all of the laws of the Bible that the Talmud stated (but did not elaborate) were present in the Torah. After this there are two appendices that show the Books of the Hebrew Bible in order of their appearance in the book as well as a somewhat late chronology of major biblical events and characters that assumes an Exodus within the reign of Ramses II.
Like any good book (and a many a bad book) about the Bible, and despite its flaws this is a good book, it says a lot more about its author and his perspective than it does about the Bible itself. Yet the book finds the author at least wrestling mightily with aspects that the author does not like about the scriptures, like some of its laws relating to the marriage of seduces to those they seduce or the declaration that the inhabitants of the promised land were under the ban, or laws regarding bastardy. Sometimes the author quotes Talmudic passages that seek to contradict the laws stated, demonstrating that he views the Talmud as a higher law than the written scripture, and a few times a sense of self-criticism and self-awareness comes in, as when he views the law in the Torah that forbids either taking away or adding to what the law says, something he admits is a problem for the writers of the Talmud and their later followers (like himself). To be sure, this book would have been vastly better with more self-awareness and self-criticism and far less of the dodgy use of human reasoning that we find in the Talmud, but if you are Jewish or have a high degree of sympathy for it, this is certainly a worthwhile book to read, despite the author's profound ignorance of and hostility to the New Testament.
This book is divided into two large parts with a lot of chapters and sections within them. The first part of the book, which takes up most of the material (almost two thirds), looks at the people and events within the narrative sections of scripture. The author looks at chronological order within the Hebrew scriptures, spending a lot of time on the Torah (56 of the lessons), and then less time on the former and latter prophets and the writings. For example, there is only one discussion of the Proverbs, only six on the psalms, and none on the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles because the author doesn't like its pious approach. The author then moves on to laws and ideas in the second part of the book with chapters on the five books of the law and then a third part on the 613 laws of the Torah by appearance, in which the author attempts to state all of the laws of the Bible that the Talmud stated (but did not elaborate) were present in the Torah. After this there are two appendices that show the Books of the Hebrew Bible in order of their appearance in the book as well as a somewhat late chronology of major biblical events and characters that assumes an Exodus within the reign of Ramses II.
Like any good book (and a many a bad book) about the Bible, and despite its flaws this is a good book, it says a lot more about its author and his perspective than it does about the Bible itself. Yet the book finds the author at least wrestling mightily with aspects that the author does not like about the scriptures, like some of its laws relating to the marriage of seduces to those they seduce or the declaration that the inhabitants of the promised land were under the ban, or laws regarding bastardy. Sometimes the author quotes Talmudic passages that seek to contradict the laws stated, demonstrating that he views the Talmud as a higher law than the written scripture, and a few times a sense of self-criticism and self-awareness comes in, as when he views the law in the Torah that forbids either taking away or adding to what the law says, something he admits is a problem for the writers of the Talmud and their later followers (like himself). To be sure, this book would have been vastly better with more self-awareness and self-criticism and far less of the dodgy use of human reasoning that we find in the Talmud, but if you are Jewish or have a high degree of sympathy for it, this is certainly a worthwhile book to read, despite the author's profound ignorance of and hostility to the New Testament.
June 16, 2012
This is a terrific resource for learning about the entire Hebrew Bible. It goes way beyond the five books of the Torah and covers the Writings and Prophets in detail, and is one of the only books I've seen that does this. It also lists the 613 mitzvot one by one, with an explanation. For getting a handle on the Writings and Prophets and browsing through all the mitzvot in one place, this book is invaluable.
However, due to the nature of its focus, it's denser and less varied then Telushkin's other huge masterwork, Jewish Literacy. That huge book is a pleasure to dive into and, even for its several hundred pages, read in a few sitting. Biblical Literacy can be a slog to get through and is probably better suited to the study of specific books, chapters, writings, etc.
However, due to the nature of its focus, it's denser and less varied then Telushkin's other huge masterwork, Jewish Literacy. That huge book is a pleasure to dive into and, even for its several hundred pages, read in a few sitting. Biblical Literacy can be a slog to get through and is probably better suited to the study of specific books, chapters, writings, etc.
January 12, 2009
I have a simmering disdain for organized religion. That said this book is amazingly good, it covers the old testament and nicely summarizes the chapters while taking out the tedious who begat whom parts and ends each chapter with a section detailing issues of debate in the religious community and the consensus on these by religious scholars.
This book will increase your understanding of the tenets of the Judeo-Christian faith. I would highly recommend it to believers and nonbelievers alike since it will help you understand what the Bible really says and is delivered in a wonderfully unbiased style.
It will also help your knowledge of biblical trivia so you can impress your friends while watching Jeopardy.
This book will increase your understanding of the tenets of the Judeo-Christian faith. I would highly recommend it to believers and nonbelievers alike since it will help you understand what the Bible really says and is delivered in a wonderfully unbiased style.
It will also help your knowledge of biblical trivia so you can impress your friends while watching Jeopardy.
November 26, 2018
Joseph Teluskin scholarship and the ability to wtite for the layperson is shown in BIBLICAL LITERACY.
For this Episcopalian with a strong affection for the religion of her mother, Telushkindoes what he sets out to do without any interdenominational “noise”.
This fine book is recommended for anyone wanting to know more of the Hebrew Bible ( TaNaK), whether they be non-Jews or Jews wanting a great insight into the faith.
Highly recommend for public libraries.
For this Episcopalian with a strong affection for the religion of her mother, Telushkindoes what he sets out to do without any interdenominational “noise”.
This fine book is recommended for anyone wanting to know more of the Hebrew Bible ( TaNaK), whether they be non-Jews or Jews wanting a great insight into the faith.
Highly recommend for public libraries.
February 3, 2024
This is an excellent reference book. I really appreciate his having all 613 commandments in chronological order.
The Bible is very difficult for me to read so an interpretation like this is great for any home library.
The Bible is very difficult for me to read so an interpretation like this is great for any home library.
May 20, 2017
Interesting read for a Jewish perspective on scripture and its meaning.
May 3, 2018
I read commentary from this with my children every week.
June 11, 2019
Full of insights for both the religious and the non-religious about religion, tradition, and culture of ancient times.
September 2, 2022
Very comprehensive and an excellent crash course on biblical events, characters, and morals from a Jewish perspective.
January 21, 2023
Great commentary on the Tanakh (old testament). A must have for Christians trying to understand purposes of law code, ancient near eastern standards, and Jewish perspective.
October 3, 2023
Awesome book for anyone who wants to learn more about the bible. Great source for any historian... er, well, actually anyone who has any interest in the bible.
January 23, 2009
So, I read this as a companion piece side by side with my most recent venture into the old testament from my St. Joseph edition Catholic Bible. My Bible has a lot of footnootes which were useful and helpful, but not nearly as much as this Book was. I enjoyed having a Jewish perspective on Hebrew literature, and would recommend this to anyone who wants to read and study the Hebrew Bible. Wonderful insight on beautiful traditions and philosophical understanding of a people who believe themselves to be deeply in touch with a Divine Revelator. Good reference book. If you aren't open to a Jewish perspective on Judaic history, then this is clearly not for you. It may be used as a "Cliff's Notes" of the Hebrew Bible, but, like most Cliff's Notes, you'd really be missing out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2014
In search of a book to discuss the cultural relevance of the Hebrew and Christian bibles, this was highly-reviewed. Unfortunately, it was not what I ended up wanting. More a text for discussion of integral parts of the texts, the information I wanted - the sections of the Torah and Christian Bibles that are now major parts of culture only come as appendices at the very end. Still worth a read, but not what I'd been after.
October 27, 2009
I'm currently reading this as a companion to the weekly Torah portion, and I'm loving it. Addresses some of the problems and confusion I've had with certain portions (like why did Noah get so very angry with Ham and consequently with Canaan?). Excellent guide to the Hebrew bible. It even includes a list of the 613 mitzvot with citations at the end. Indispensbable reference book.
July 30, 2007
so far it's an easy read. it doesn't have as much information as i was hoping. i wanted a book that would give insight into the hebrew culture and why jewish believers think the way they do about scripture.
July 13, 2008
This book is a good way to get a synopsis of the Torah, the prophets, and the writings. It also inspired me to launch yet another blog.
http://613aday.blogspot.com/
in which I list a commandment a day as highlighted in the back of Rabbi Telushkin's book.
http://613aday.blogspot.com/
in which I list a commandment a day as highlighted in the back of Rabbi Telushkin's book.
December 19, 2021
This is an essential aid for reading the Hebrew Bible. I am happy I purchased it.
Rabbi Telushkin helps you understand what is going on in the key portions.
I heartily recommend you buy this book if you want a modern perspective into the Bible.
Rabbi Telushkin helps you understand what is going on in the key portions.
I heartily recommend you buy this book if you want a modern perspective into the Bible.
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July 10, 2007Recommended by Rabbi and a good reference.
May 4, 2009
Like his other books (Jewish Literacy and Jewish Wisdom), this is another survey book that will give you the Jewish perspective on the Hebrew Bible. A good read for beginners like me.
MW
MW
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September 23, 2010"Biblical Literacy: The Most Important People, Events, and Ideas of the Hebrew Bible by Joseph Telushkin (1997)"
March 12, 2012
A must-read for those who have no idea what the Bible is all about, as well as those looking to refresh their knowledge.
February 3, 2015
A great cliff notes version of the Bible. All the major stories, lessons, laws, prophets, etc are here. Like cliff notes, you miss a lot of the details but you get a great overview.
Read
June 30, 2010Another rabbinical book. Interesting to read but - well, we all have our issues.
Read
May 14, 2017I want to check this out from the library one of these days. I'm just putting it on my shelf so I won't forget about it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews