Building Bridges: Understanding Jews and Judaism

If you can get a copy of this book, please do so! Rausch clearly and simply explains Judaism by focusing on three topics: Judaism, The People of Judaism, and Groups and Relationships.He explains Biblical and extra-biblical Jewish ways and customs (yearly and life cycles), dispels myths (e.g., Jews are usually wealthy, concerned only about their own people, etc.), explains how modern Judaism got where it is (historical survey), and then discusses the modern divisions of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform, among others).Although this book looks at Judaism from an evangelical perspective, the book does not focus so much on evangelism as it does upon understanding (though it does not deny the call we have to evangelize).This book is a great survey, written for the common man and includes a fine glossary of terms at the end of the book. It accomplishes what it attempts, helping us to "understand Jews and Judaism." You will finish the book with a new understanding and love for your Jewish friends. Probably the best book of its type. I highly recommend it.