"This volume is the product of the inaugural conference of the Yeshiva University Center for Israel Studies which took place on May 11-12, 2008"--Preface.

Many people both religious and non-religious misunderstand Judaism. This is partly because of its evolutionary variety. But the Biblical story is quite clear in describing the Primal Temple Judaism of Moses and the great patriarchs who believed and practiced it before him. I bring to my readers an historical appraisal of this core Judaism, faithful to the Old and New Testaments. Both were produced entirely by Hebrew writers in their conversation with God. Abraham's Covenant with God for the proclamation of Messianic atonement and redemption to provide happiness to all nations was the mission. God bless Israel and establish her firmly in the final completion of this task in her homeland.

An introduction to the religion of Judaism and to Moses, one of its ancient prophets and leaders.

In Hebrews and the Temple Philip Church argues that the silence of Hebrews concerning the temple does not mean that the author is not interested in the temple. He writes to encourage his readers to abandon their preoccupation with it and to follow Jesus to their eschatological goal. Following extensive discussions of attitudes to the temple in the literature of Second Temple Judaism, Church turns to Hebrews and argues that the temple is presented there as a symbolic foreshadowing of the eschatological dwelling of God with his people. Now that the eschatological moment has arrived with the exaltation of Christ to the right hand of God, preoccupation with the temple and its rituals must cease.

Robert Hayward offers a careful analysis of surviving accounts of the Temple and its service. All the central texts are provided in translation, with a detailed commentary. While descriptions of the Temple and its service are available, discussions of the meaning of these things are less easily found. This study clearly illustrates how the Temple was seen as a meeting point between heaven and earth, its service being an earthly representation of heavenly reality. Jews regarded the Temple service therefore as having significance for the whole created world. The Jewish Temple offers a valuable collection of materials both for those looking for an introduction to the topic and for the scholar interested in grasping the meanings beyond those texts.

* State-of-the-art essays by renowned scholars * The standard reference work in the field of early Judaism

This valuable work describes the temple system in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus Christ. It examines how the temple symbolized the significance of Jerusalem's roles in the origin of two prominent world religions. Alfred Edersheim brought the temple, priests, and devotees to life through his prose. He articulately depicted the sacrifices of the Old Testament and the Jewish festivals, emphasizing the interesting acts performed. The readers can almost see the events happening in front of them, owing to the vivid illustrations.