‘Essentials of Judaism’ will please life-long Jews and those studying for conversion

By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin in Pikesville, Maryland

Essentials of Judaism is a 558-page volume from Urim Publications, an independent publishing house established in 1997 in Jerusalem and New York (Brooklyn), specializing in high-quality Jewish-interest books. It publishes approximately 15 books annually on subjects such as Jewish thought, law, spirituality, modern biographies, Bible commentary, and children’s literature. Tzvi Mauer and Moshe Heller established it.

This 2026 volume was written by Chashi Freedman and Chaim Iram, with a Foreword by Benjamin Ish-Shalom. It is both an introduction and a guided tour through the landscape of Jewish belief, practice, history, and values.

Professor Ish-Shalom accurately describes the work as “the first attempt of its kind to provide access to an entire Jewish world.” The book earns the compliment. The authors created a text that speaks simultaneously to the intellectually curious reader, the seeker of religious inspiration, and the conversion student searching for a reliable and comprehensive guide.

The book is, as the professor describes, “user-friendly.” Freedman and Iram write lucidly, well-organized, and highly informative, without resorting to oversimplification. Complex theological concepts, legal traditions, and historical developments are presented carefully and patiently. Readers unfamiliar with Hebrew terminology or Jewish customs are never made to feel excluded. The tone is warm and explanatory rather than academic or dogmatic. It is very easy to use. For example, it contains an index of over 20 pages, with each page containing two columns of references, so that readers can use this guide to find the subject they are seeking.

The amount of material is also impressive. In thirteen sections, each containing as many as eight chapters, the authors inform readers about Jewish identity, beliefs, history, the written and oral Torah, daily Jewish routine, prayer, blessings, the Shabbat, holidays, the State of Israel, morality, love, family, and the laws of keeping kosher.

The authors maintain a balance between tradition and modernity. They present Judaism as a living civilization, not a collection of rituals or historical memories. The discussions reveal the moral and philosophical ideas underlying the Jewish practices, helping readers understand not only what Jews do but also why these practices have endured for centuries.

Conversion candidates, in particular, will likely find it invaluable because it anticipates the questions many newcomers ask but are sometimes hesitant to voice. However, even knowledgeable readers may discover fresh insights.

Essentials of Judaism stands as a significant contribution to Jewish educational literature. It is comprehensive without being cumbersome, scholarly without being inaccessible, and traditional without becoming rigid. For anyone seeking a clear and meaningful entry into the world of Judaism, this book more than lives up to its title.

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Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin is a retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.  He is the author of 67 books.