Close Encounters

Beginning with the premise that there is no universally accepted Jewish concept of God, Issacs introduces a variety of Jewish approaches to understanding God. He presents the ways in which the Bible, rabbinic literature, mysticism and prayerbooks view God, and he examines the perspectives on God of ancient, medieval and modern theologians and philosophers. Issacs, a rabbi and an author of numerous handbooks on Judaism, has an ability to break down difficult concepts into succinct segments, creating an accessible reference guide for the lay reader. The book's comprehensive scope ranges from classical proofs of the existence of God to answers to children's questions about God. Its most serious omission, however, is any mention of modern Jewish feminist theology. English transliterations of Hebrew words are not as accurate or consistent as they could be, leading to possible mispronunciations. But overall, this is a valuable, well-organized guide that could be a catalyst for further study. (Nov.)