The Library

Reading Lists

An annotated shelf for building a Jewish library, organized by subject, depth, format, and denominational lens.

67 entries

Reference · Essential · 2008

Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History (Revised Ed.)

By Joseph Telushkin

The single best one-volume reference for the New Jew — 350+ short chapters across Tanakh, history, holidays, theology, ethics, ritual, contemporary issues.

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Reference · Deeper · 2006

A Code of Jewish Ethics, Vol. 1: You Shall Be Holy

By Joseph Telushkin

Encyclopedic treatment of Jewish ethics, sourced and accessible.

Practice · Essential · 1972 (reprint 2022)

To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life

By Hayim Halevy Donin

The classic practical guide to kashrut, Shabbat, holidays, prayer, and lifecycle.

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Practice · Essential · 1980

To Pray as a Jew

By Hayim Halevy Donin

Companion volume on the siddur — what each prayer is, when it is said, how to say it.

Practice · Essential · 1991 (rev. 2007)

Living a Jewish Life

By Anita Diamant

Practical handbook from a leading liberal Jewish voice.

Practice · Essential · 1985

How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household

By Blu Greenberg

The classic on Shabbat, kashrut, holidays in the home.

Practice · Essential · 1997

Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism

By Anita Diamant

Written for converts; equally useful for ba'alei teshuva.

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Theology · Essential · 2014

Judaism's Ten Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers

By Arthur Green

Short, beautiful introduction to ten central Jewish ideas.

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Theology · Deeper · 1986 (rev.)

Finding God: Selected Responses!

By Rifat Sonsino & Daniel B. Syme

Survey of the major Jewish positions on the nature of God.

Theology · Deeper · 2003

Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow

By Arthur Green

Green's gentle Kabbalistic theology for contemporary readers.

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Theology · Deeper · 2024

The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism

By Irving (Yitz) Greenberg

Greenberg's magnum opus — the Jewish journey through modernity, the Holocaust, Israel, and the next era of Judaism.

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Theology · Deeper · 1965 (rep. 2006)

The Lonely Man of Faith

By Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Soloveitchik's reading of Adam I and Adam II — the dignified master vs. the covenantal partner.

Theology · Deeper · 1955

God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism

By Abraham Joshua Heschel

Heschel's great work; radical amazement; divine pathos.

Theology · Deeper · 1951

The Sabbath

By Abraham Joshua Heschel

The indispensable meditation on Shabbat as the cathedral in time.

History · Essential · 2016

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn

By Daniel Gordis

The single best one-volume history of the State of Israel.

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History · Essential · 1958

Night

By Elie Wiesel

The indispensable Holocaust memoir.

History · Deeper · 2023

Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict

By Oren Kessler

Essential for understanding the origin of the modern conflict.

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History · Deeper · 2012

Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine

By Sami Adwan, Dan Bar-On, Eyal Naveh

Two narratives side by side — the Israeli and the Palestinian. Use with care.

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History · Deeper · 2025

When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David

By Doron Spielman

Archaeology and the Jewish indigenous connection to Jerusalem.

History · Deeper · 2014

David: The Divided Heart (Jewish Lives)

By David Wolpe

Wolpe on the most consequential character of the Tanakh.

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History · Deeper · 2022

Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation (Jewish Lives)

By Daniel Matt

The prophet from Tanakh through Talmud, Kabbalah, and folklore.

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Talmud · Essential · 1976 (rev.)

The Essential Talmud: An Introduction

By Adin Steinsaltz

Steinsaltz's masterful introduction to the Talmud's structure, methodology, and significance.

Talmud · Deeper · —

Introduction to the Talmud

By Aharon Steinsaltz

The full-size history, personalities, and background companion.

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Talmud · Essential · 2023

How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book

By Liel Leibovitz

Light, accessible introduction to Talmudic ethics.

Talmud · Essential · 2014

A Reference Guide to the Talmud

By Adin Steinsaltz

The indispensable reference for ongoing Talmud study.

Holidays · Essential · 1988

The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays

By Irving (Yitz) Greenberg

The single best volume on the Jewish holidays as a theological system.

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Holidays · Essential · 1996

The Bar and Bat Mitzvah Manual

By Helen Leneman

Practical guide for late Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

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Holidays · Lighter · 2005

Bar Mitzvah Disco: The Music May Have Stopped, but the Party's Never Over

By Roger Bennett, Jules Shell, Nick Kroll

Cultural artifact — the late 20th-century American Jewish bar mitzvah, in photos.

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Hebrew · Essential · 2017

Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks

By Phyllis Black

The pragmatic adult primer.

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Hebrew · Essential · —

Shalom Uvrachah Primer

By —

The standard Hebrew school primer; works for adults too.

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Hebrew · Deeper · 2013

Old Testament Hebrew Vocabulary Cards (Second Edition)

By Miles Van Pelt

The most useful flashcard set for Biblical Hebrew vocabulary acquisition.

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Hebrew · Deeper · 2018

Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook: A Graded Reader with Exercises

By Karl Kutz, Rebekah Josberger

Companion to a Biblical Hebrew grammar.

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Cantillation · Deeper · 2002 (rev. 2017)

Chanting the Hebrew Bible: The Art of Cantillation

By Joshua R. Jacobson

The definitive comprehensive guide to cantillation.

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Cantillation · Essential · 2000

The Art of Torah Cantillation, Vol. 1: A Step-By-Step Guide to Chanting Torah

By Marshall Portnoy & Josee Wolff

The standard learner's guide.

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Cantillation · Deeper · 2017

The Magic of Hebrew Chant Companion: The Big Book of Musical Notations and Incantations

By Shefa Gold

Renewal-flavored chanting practice.

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Mysticism · Essential · 2005

Kabbalah of Creation: The Mysticism of Isaac Luria

By Eliahu Klein

The Lurianic system in English prose.

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Mysticism · Essential · 1999

Reincarnation and Judaism: The Journey of the Soul

By DovBer Pinson

Pinson's accessible synthesis of gilgul through the Lurianic and Chabad lens.

Mysticism · Essential · —

Hebrew Alphabet Letters And Their Spiritual Meanings (Gematria/Kabbalah)

By —

Quick reference for the mystical letters.

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Philosophy · Deeper · 2014

Maimonides – Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith & Ethics (SkyLight Illuminations)

By —

Curated Rambam excerpts with facing-page commentary.

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Philosophy · Deeper · 2008

Maimonides: The Life and World of One of Civilization's Greatest Minds

By Joel L. Kraemer

The definitive biography.

Philosophy · Deeper · 12th c.

The Kuzari: Torah classics in english edition of sefer Kuzari

By Yehudah HaLevi

HaLevi's classic philosophical dialogue defending Judaism.

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Tanakh · Essential · 2014

The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition

By Berlin & Brettler (eds.)

The single best one-volume study Bible — full Tanakh with running commentary.

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Tanakh · Deeper · 2018

The Steinsaltz Humash, 2nd Edition (Hebrew/English)

By Adin Steinsaltz

Steinsaltz's accessible Chumash with running commentary.

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Tanakh · Deeper · —

The Steinsaltz Nevi'im (Hebrew/English)

By Adin Steinsaltz

Steinsaltz on the Prophets.

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Tanakh · Deeper · —

The Steinsaltz Ketuvim (Hebrew/English)

By Adin Steinsaltz

Steinsaltz on the Writings.

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Tanakh · Essential · 2024

The Koren Shalem Humash With Rashi and Onkelos

By Koren

The most beautifully designed Chumash with Rashi and Onkelos.

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Siddur · Essential · 2020

Koren Shalem Siddur, Sepharad

By Koren / Sacks

The most beautifully made Modern Orthodox siddur in English.

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Siddur · Essential · —

Koren Shalem Siddur Nusah Sepharad (Hebrew and English Edition)

By Koren / Sacks

Sacks commentary edition; Sepharad nusach.

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Siddur · Essential · —

The Koren Sacks Birkon: A Hebrew/English Grace After Meals

By Koren / Sacks

The recommended pocket Birkon for Birkat Hamazon.

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Siddur · Essential · —

Weiss Edition Siddur Tehillat Hashem with Psalms (Compact)

By Kehot

The standard Chabad siddur, compact format.

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Siddur · Essential · —

Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha Siddur — Jewish Hebrew/English Transliterated Prayerbook

By —

Transliterated siddur for learners.

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Siddur · Essential · 2007

Mishkan T'filah: A Reform Siddur: Complete (Transliterated)

By CCAR

The standard Reform siddur, complete edition.

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Siddur · Essential · —

Mishkan T'filah: Shabbat: A Reform Siddur

By CCAR

Shabbat-only Mishkan T'filah.

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Siddur · Essential · —

Siddur Lev Eliezer Shabbat Sephardic Large Hebrew/English Linear Transliteration

By —

Sephardic Shabbat siddur with line-by-line transliteration.

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Thought · Essential · 2021

The Telling: How Judaism's Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life

By Mark Gerson

Modern meditation on the Pesach Haggadah.

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Thought · Deeper · 2000

A Guide to Jewish Prayer

By Adin Steinsaltz

The structural and historical introduction to the siddur.

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Contemporary · Essential · 2024

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew

By Emmanuel Acho & Noa Tishby

Candid dialogue on antisemitism.

Fiction · Essential · 1967

The Chosen

By Chaim Potok

Two Brooklyn boys, Modern Orthodox and Hasidic, mid-20th c. American Jewish life.

Fiction · Essential · 1939

As a Driven Leaf

By Milton Steinberg

Talmudic-era novel of Elisha ben Abuya between Hellenism and Judaism.

Fiction · Lighter · 2017

A Horse Walks into a Bar

By David Grossman

Israeli novel; Man Booker International Prize.

Fiction · Lighter · 2007

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure

By Michael Chabon

Adventure novel of Khazar-period Jewish swordsmen.

Fiction · Lighter · 1995

The Lions of Al-Rassan

By Guy Gavriel Kay

Historical fantasy reimagining Reconquista Iberia; Kindath (Jewish-analogue) physician.

Comparative · Deeper · 2018

Creating Christ: How Roman Emperors Invented Christianity

By James S. Valliant & Warren Fahy

Provocative critical history.

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Comparative · Deeper · 2005

Caesar's Messiah: The Roman Conspiracy to Invent Jesus

By Joseph Atwill

Polemical reading of Christian origins.

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Comparative · Deeper · 1945

No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith

By Fawn Brodie

Classic biography of the founder of Mormonism.

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Comparative · Deeper · 2020

The Book of Mormon for the Least of These, Volume 1

By Fatimah Salleh, Margaret Olsen Hemming

Critical re-reading of the Book of Mormon.

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Holidays / Pesach · Lighter · 2024

One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe

By Dara Horn (story) & Theo Ellsworth (art)

Graphic novella for Pesach.

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