Religion: What Jews Believe

What do modern Jews believe? To answer this question briefly for U.S. Christians and for Jews themselves, Rabb Philip Bernstein, president of the Centra Conference of American Rabbis, wrote an article for LIFE last fall. Now expanded and published in book form, with wood cuts by Quaker Fritz Eichenberg, Wha the Jews Believe (Farrar, Straus & Young; $1.25) is a lucid and readable primer of Judaism from a cheerfully humanistic point of view.

Ten Adult Males. In marked contrast to Christianity's promises of salvation, Jewish religious thought concerns itself primarily with the here & now, says Bernstein ; the Jew's chief reward...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!