![[rainbow row of Hasidim]](hasidim.gif)
Jewish FAQ Menu
Updated: January 17, 2005
These are some of the FAQs I have found most useful for quick
answers to questions about Judaism and Jewish life. Please check
here first before writing to me with your basic Judaism Q's...
Beginners and newbies, start with...
![[cover]](book/idiots.gif)
The Complete
Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism
Not exactly a FAQ per se, but this new 1999 book is still a great
introduction to Judaism for beginners. It uses the familiar "Idiot's"
series format to explain the basics in very user-friendly
language.
Click here to order from Amazon.com...
A great FAQ which answers a lot of common questions that
Christians ask about Jews and Judaism, from a traditional
Jewish point of view. This FAQ is part of the Ask Lazer
Archive, which features DOZENS of great FAQ's on
various Jewish topics.
This excellent Hebrew-to-English vocabulary list is geared toward
Torah learning, i.e., Jewish religious studies. It won't tell you
how to order a hot dog in Tel Aviv, but it will briefly define
common Hebrew terms you might run across in Jewish newsgroups,
articles, novels such as The Chosen, etc. Bookmark it for
instant reference.
If you don't find the word you are looking for there, try the
Online Glossary posted by the Jewishgen.org discussion
groups.
Reincarnation and the Holocaust FAQ
Part 1 By Yonassan Gershom.
Discusses issues directly related to the content of his
two books, Beyond the Ashes (1992) and From
Ashes to Healing (1996). It contains some clarifications
about which Jewish groups believe in reincarnation, some
misconceptions and media distortions about his work, the
similarities and differences between Hasidim and New Age
teachings, the concept of the Jewish soul, etc.
Part 2discusses general issues
of beliefs about karma and how they relate to the Holocaust,
such as: who comes back as who, antisemitism in certain New
Age circles, the souls of the perpetrators, thoughts on
healing the karma of the Holocaust, Jewish teachings on
forgiveness, etc.
Part 3 continues the discussion
about karmic issues from Part 2, with answers to questions
regarding the reactions of specific groups and individuals
-- Jewish and non-Jewish -- to this work, some controversial
Orthodox beliefs, the Holocaust reincarnation-theme novel
Night of Broken Souls by Thomas Monteleone, etc.
This FAQ on the "Judaism 101" site answers the questions most
often asked about Jewish mysticism in plain English, written
from a traditional point of view. While you are there, check
out the rest of the website for other good Jewish FAQs.
Hasidism.info -- FAQ on Hasidism (Chassidism) FAQ
PART 1-A covers
some basic background about the origins of Hasidism, some of the
different Hasidic groups today, Rebbe Nachman's Breslov movement (and
why Breslov is not Bratzlav), etc.
Part 1-B discusses how Hasidim are
portrayed in the media, Chaim Potok's book, The Chosen, some
recommendations& criticisms of books and movies, explanations of some
bloopers and misrepresentations by Hollywood, etc.
PART 2 covers some common questions
(and misunderstandings) about Hasidic garb, customs, mannerisms, roles
of men and women, etc.
PART 3 of the Hasidism FAQ has
questions about Hasidic beliefs, how one becomes a Hasid, observing
the Sabbath, some medical issues, Hasidic music, occupations, belief
in angels, etc.
Link to the excellent FAQ produced by the soc.culture.jewish
newsgroup on Usenet. Their FAQ is very extensive and covers most of
the common (and not so common) questions about basic Judaism, Jewish
culture, Israel, history, the Holocaust, different denominations,
holidays, dietary laws, practices, etc, etc, etc. It is arranged in
a very convenient hypertext tree with several index levels, which lets
you quickly zero in on exactly what you need to know without having
to download the whole thing (which is humungous!). There are also
excellent reading lists which go with their FAQ, and a great link
launcher to hundreds of Jewish-related websites on topics from Adoption
to Zionism. Everything you always wanted to know about Jews but were
afraid to ask...
Excellent FAQ on Jewish vegetarianism by
Dr. Richard Schwartz, Ph.D, author of Judaism and Vegetarianism and Judaism
and Global Survival. Dr. Schwartz is an Orthodox Jew (he davens at Young Israel
of Staten Island) whose excellent research answers many common questions
regarding how to be both an observant Jew and a vegetarian. His basic
approach is that vegetaranism is the highest form of kashrut (Jewish
dietary laws) and therefore compatible with Orthodoxy (as well as all
other branches of Judaism).
Any suggestions?
If you know of a good Jewish FAQ that you think should be
included here, please send the URL address to: gershom613@yahoo.com
