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Reading List

The following is a recommended list of core texts for those wishing to learn about Judaism. The Rabbi will recommend particular books depending on the interests of an individual, but the core text for the course is 'The Honey and the Sting, which offers a wonderfully comprehensive and warmly written overview of Judaism from a Reform perspective.

  • Affirmations of Liberal Judaism (Liberal Judaism Website)

  • Anita Diamant, Living a Jewish Life

  • David J. Goldberg and John D. Rayner, The Jewish People: Their History and Their Religion, 1987

  • Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah, Compelling Commitments, 2007

  • Hebrew-English Tanakh, Jewish Publication Society (JPS) or Koren edition

  • Haggadah b’chol dor va-dor (Liberal Judaism Website)

  • History of Westminster Synagogue & the Czech Scrolls

  • John D. Rayner, Principles of Jewish Ethics

  • Jonathan Magonet, The Explorer's Guide to Judaism, Hodder & Stoughton, 1998

  • Julia Neuberger, On Being Jewish, London, 1995

  • Lawrence A. Hoffman, Entering Jewish Prayer

  • Liberal Jewish Values and Practice leaflets (Liberal Judaism Website)

  • Louis Jacobs, The Book of Jewish Belief, 1984

  • Louis Jacobs, The Book of Jewish Practice, 1984

  • Machzor Ruach Chadashah (Liberal Judaism Website)

  • Pete Tobias, Liberal Judaism: A Judaism for the 21st Century, 2007

  • Rabbi Hayim Donin, To Be a Jew

  • Simon Schama, The History of the Jews, 2013

  • Walter Rothschild, The Honey and the Sting, 2016

  • Westminster Synagogue's Daily and Sabbath Prayer Book

  • Westminster Synagogue's Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Festival Prayer Books

  • W. Gunther Plaut, The Torah: A Modern Commentary, 2005

Useful Websites for further Learning

My Jewish Learning - for information and articles on all aspects of Jewish learning from customs and history to the weekly Torah portion.

The American Reform Judaism Movement - this website is also a treasure trove on Jewish life including videos on how to perform rituals, songs, links for children and so much more.

Sat, 30 August 2025 6 Elul 5785