2. General Resources for the Whole Syllabus
Books
Cohn-Sherbok, Dan, Judaism, Belief and Practice (UK, US and Canada: Routledge,
2003; E-Library, Taylor & Francis 2005).
Excellent resource covering the first four sections of the syllabus in detail. It has a
Companion Website, Routledge Companion Website:
http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/0415236614/companion/default.asp with
recommendations for each of the sections and useful resources to enable further
exploration for students.
Blech, Benjamin, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Judaism: A Guided Tour Through the
Beliefs, Laws and Traditions of Judaism
Donin, Hayim, To be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life
(US: Basic Books, 1991)
Forta, Aryeh, Judaism: New Edition (Examining Religions) (Heinemann, 1995)
Forta, A., Judaism: A Dictionary (Stanley Thornes, 1996)
Forta, A., Examining Religions: Judaism Core Student Book (2nd Edition)
(Heinemann, 2001)
Gilbert, Martin, Letters to Auntie Fori: The 5,000-year History of the Jewish People
and their Faith (London: Phoenix, 2003) (Short Letters on the whole history of
Judaism which Gilbert wrote to his aunt when she asked him to explain elements of
Jewish history, faith and belief to her. It is succinct, historical, literary, experiential,
entertaining, and very accessible)
De Lange, Nicholas, An Introduction to Judaism (New York: Cambridge University
Press, 2000)
Mintz, S., AQA GCSE Religious Studies A: Judaism Student Book (Nelson Thornes,
2009)
Pilkington, C. M., Teach Yourself Judaism (Hodder & Stoughton, 1995)
Stein, Isaac, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice (New York: Jewish Theological
Seminary of America, 1979)
Taylor, I., Foundations in RE: Judaism (core edition) (Nelson Thornes, 2000)
Encyclopaedia Judaica edited by Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik (Detroit:
Macmillan Reference USA, 2007).
Excellent resource on all aspects of Judaism
3. Websites
Jewish Virtual Library, a division of the American-Israeli Cooperative – a very useful
well researched resource
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/
Judaism 101/Jew: Frequently Asked Questions: Very good site which has gradations
of difficulty – basic, intermediate, advanced in terms of the information which it
offers on all topics.
http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
My Jewish Learning: Excellent resource and very accessible material
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/
Internet Jewish History Sourcebook from Fordham University: Wonderful resource
of texts, diaries, official documents, extracts from Jewish literature through the ages.
Very useful for giving bite-size pieces to students from primary materials in relation
to aspects of Jewish history or Jewish religious practice and observance.
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/jewish/jewishsbook.asp
Section 1: The Irish Jewish Communities and the Jewish Home
Websites
Jewish Ireland: Information on the history, development, beliefs and practices of the
Jewish community in Ireland with links to the Jewish communities in Ireland
http://www.jewishireland.org/
Website of the Jewish Community, Belfast
http://www.jewishbelfast.com/
Website of the Jewish Community, Cork
http://www.corkhebrewcongregation.com
Website of Liberal Judaism in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland
http://www.liberaljudaism.org/communities-rabbis.html
Jewish Communities and Records of Jews in Ireland (has not been updated since
2006/2007 but gives some contacts and details of synagogues either extant or non-
functioning in Ireland.
http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/ireland/dublin.htm
Jewish Links Page which gives information on contemporary events, online
magazines, and newspapers of some Jewish communities internationally. This could
be a useful resource for the first section of the syllabus.
www.jewishlink.net/news papers.html
4. Ireland’s Other Diaspora: Jewish-Irish Within/Irish-Jewish Without from the
European Jewish Magazine Golem
The author, Ronit Lentin, is the Head of the Sociology Department and course
coordinator of the M Phil in Race, Ethnicity and Conflict in Trinity College, Dublin.
She was coordinator of the Global Networks project in the Institute for International
Integration Studies (IIIS), and member of the Trinity Immigration Initiative research
programme, where she focused on migrant-led activism. She was born in Haifa,
Palestine, and grew up in Israel, moved to Ireland in 1969.
http://www.hagalil.com/golem/diaspora/irland-e.htm
Stuart Rosenblatt’s work on Jews in Irish history
http://www.jewishireland.org/genealogy.html
Online Documentary on the Jewish Community in Ireland
A one-hour documentary is available online which gives some insights into the
Jewish community in Ireland and how they contributed to the development of Ireland
and Israel: http://www.shalomireland.com/
Jewish Community, Limerick
Different documents about the Jewish community during their time in Limerick, held
by the Library at the following address:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/LocalStudiesFiles/J/JewsofLimerick/
Jewish Community, Limerick
If you are seeking further information on this topic, look at this website from
Limerick City Council:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/jews%20of%20limerick%2038.pdf
A Stroll Through Jewish Dublin
Online documentary on Jewish Dublin available at the following web address:
http://www.theirishstory.com/2012/02/27/a-stroll-through-jewish-
dublin/#.UMRh6Y5hra4
Jewish Community, Limerick
Different documents about the Jewish community during their time in Limerick, held
by the Library at the following address:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/Library/LocalStudies/LocalStudiesFiles/J/JewsofLimerick/
Jewish Community, Belfast
BBC Documentary (1983) in four parts about the Jewish community in Belfast: Odd
Men In: A Personal Portrait by Harry Towb, and a YouTube tour of the Jewish
cemetery in Belfast
http://www.youtube.com/user/JewishBelfast
Interview with Adrian Levy, member of the Jewish Community in Belfast:
<http://www.jewishbelfast.com/index.php?cmd=viewsong&viid=12>
5. Louis Lentin (Film Producer and Member of Aosdana)
Aosdana:
http://aosdana.artscouncil.ie/Members/Literature/Lentin.aspx?Cnuas=1 [accessed 23
November 2011]
Grandpa… speak to me in Russian, Louis Lentin
http://www.imrstr.dcu.ie/currentissue/Vol_3_Issue_1_Louis_Lentin.pdf
Lentin’s works as director, producer and writer
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2310417/
Alan Shatter (Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, and member of Fine Gael)
Political Profile
http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-
hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=30&MemberID=1028&ConstID=90
Some important issues which the Minister has to deal with on any day
http://www.kildarestreet.com/search/?pid=6&s=section%3Awrans&pop=1
David Marcus (Author, broadcaster, life-long supporter of Irish language fiction)
David Marcus dies, RTE news
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0509/marcusd.html
Obituary from The Guardian newspaper
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/12/obituary-david-marcus
Information from the Munster Literature Centre
http://www.munsterlit.ie/Writer%20pages/Marcus,%20David.html
Women and the Jewish Home
A reader asked: What are the most significant Jewish rituals for women? Here,
Rebbetzin Feige Twersi explores three: baking bread and separating the dough;
lighting Shabbat candles; and ritual immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath).
http://www.aish.com/f/rf/48931682.html
The role of women in Judaism
Women’s Mitzvot (commandments), women’s holiday, women in the synagogue,
Lillith (character in Talmud and rabbinical folklore)
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm#Mitzvot
Kashrut
A section on keeping the laws of Kashrut from the New South Wales Board of Jewish
Education in Australia. Simple classifications of foods with links to other websites
included
6. http://www.bje.org.au/learning/judaism/kids/kosher.html
Jewish family life and customs
This pamphlet has been produced by the Family Law Group of the Board of Deputies
to give information to solicitors and others concerning the requirements of practising
Jews in the United Kingdom.
http://www.bod.org.uk/content/FamilyLifeCustoms.pdf
Podcast
Stuart Rosenblatt: Keeper of the Faith produced by Clare Cronin and funded by the
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's Sound and Vision funding Scheme.
First broadcast Saturday 9th October 2010. It is an Irish radio documentary from
RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One. This recounts Stuart Rosenblatt’s
genealogical research into Jewish communities in Ireland which is contained in 16
volumes, tracing 44,000 people under 95 headings. Fascinating account into the
origins of Jewish communities in Ireland and their present challenges.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/radio-documentary-stuart-rosenblatt-series-jewish-
genealogy-ireland.html
Books
Benson, Asher, Portraits of Life by the Liffey (Dublin: A&A Farmar Ltd., 2007)
Eliash, Shulamit, The Harp and the Shield of David: Ireland, Zionism and the State
of Israel (Abington and New York: Routledge, 2007)
Hyman, Louis, The Jews of Ireland: From Earliest Years until 1910 (Irish University
Press, 1972)
Keogh, Dermot, Jews in Twentieth Century Ireland: Refugees, Anti-Semitism and the
Holocaust (Cork: Cork University Press, 1998)
Miller, Frederic P. , Vandome, Agnes F., McBrewster, John, History of the Jews in
Ireland (Germany: VDM Publishing House, 2010)
Ó Gráda, Cormac, Jewish Ireland in the Age of Joyce: A Socioeconomic History
(Oxfordshire and New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2006)
Rivlin, Ray, Jewish Ireland: A Social History (Dublin: The History Press Ireland,
2011; updated version of Shalom Ireland published in 2003)
Excellent historical resource tracing the arrival of immigrants from Tsarist Russia in
the 1880s, their early years in Ireland; the educational, social, political, cultural,
artistic, sporting and professional contributions of Jews to Irish life, right up to the
present day.
Taylor, Marilyn, 17 Martin Street (Dublin: O’Brien Press, 2011)
7. Novel about a Jewish family in Dublin at the time of the Emergency. There are
accompanying teaching Guides and opportunities for engagement are on the O’Brien
Press website at http://www.obrien.ie/author.cfm?authorid=58
Taylor, Marilyn, Faraway Home (Dublin: O’Brien Press, 1999)
Fact-based novel based on the lives of two Jewish children sent on a kindertransport
from Austria to Millisle refugee Farm on the Ards Peninsula in Co. Down)
DVD
Katrina Goldstone and Louis Lentin, No more Blooms: Ireland's attitude to the Jewish
refugee problem 1933-46, a Crescendo Concepts documentary for RTE, broadcast 10
December 1997.
Section 2: Beliefs and Moral Teachings
Books
Cato, V., Judaism in Today’s World (Hodder Murray, 2001)
See Cohn-Sherbok for extensive treatment of the beliefs and moral teachings of
Judaism
Geldart, A., Judaism: Foundation Edition (Examining Religions) (Heinemann, 2000)
Hands, K. & Smith, P., AQA GCSE Religious Studies A: Judaism: Ethics Student
Book (Nelson Thornes, 2009)
Kitov, Eliyahu, The Book of our Heritage: The Jewish Year and its Days of
Significance (Jerusalem and New York: Feldheim Publishers, 1978)
Küng, Hans & Homolka, Walter, How to do Good and Avoid Evil: A Global Ethic
from the Teachings of Judaism (Vermont: SkyLight Paths, 2009)
Taylor, I., Judaism with Jewish Moral Issues (GCSE RE for you) (Nelson Thornes,
2001)
Websites
Tikkun Olam (Repairing, mending , transforming the world):
On the subject of Tikkun Olam, there are a number of articles and projects which are
in the online magazing Tikkun which is at the following address:
http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/
8. Section 3: Sacredness of the Jewish Faith
Websites
Sanctification of Time
Good articles which emphasizes the importance of the sanctification of time over
place in Judaism and therefore the importance of the calendar year in that regard.
http://www.explorefaith.org/neighbors/key/places_j.html
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1817/jewish/Sanctifying-
Time.htm
News report outlining briefly some elements of Rosh Hashanah; speaks of the
preparation, the special foods in honour of the days, the days of Awe and soul-
searching, the significance of the Kingship of God,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlr-QfT938Q [accessed 12 September 2011]
A continuous loop of photographs of Aron’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony with musical
accompaniment and no texts or words. It would require some preliminary
explanations about the signficance of the rituals and symbols within the ceremony
before using it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqpyZQSgVnY&feature=related
Books
Gent, F., Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Living Festivals) (RMEP, 1990)
Mayled, J., Jewish Festivals: teachers’ book (Living Festivals) (RMEP, 1994)
Michelson, J; Taylor, I., Religions and Beliefs: Judaism (Nelson Thomas, 2006)
Penney, S., Judaism (new colour edition) (Discovering Religions) (Heinemann,
1995)
Section 4: Holy Places
Websites
The Temple
Information on the Temple history and structure, priestly roles and functions,
information on the areas of the Temple
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/The_Temple.html
9. The history of the Temple, structure and layout, artefacts, archaeological context,
priestly functions, from a Biblical-historical perspective
http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEIntroduction.htm
The Temple Institute website is an ongoing project of the International Department of
the Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel. It gives a lot of information on the Temple
including photographs, interviews,
http://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm
Synagogues: This website is very accessible and gives good information on different
shuls, synagogues, across the world. Information on structures and videos of
synagogues from different parts of the world are on this website.
http://www.synagogues.com/
Religious Education Online website: If you want to do a comparative study of places
of worship of different traditions, this website shows you the sacred places of
Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism. It includes assessment,
classroom activities, videos, preparation for visits to any of these places
http://pow.reonline.org.uk/judaism.htm
Context of other sacred places affiliated to other religious traditions in Ireland:
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland:
http://islamireland.ie/
Christian
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin:
http://www.dublindiocese.ie/
Church of Ireland/Anglican Church, Ireland:
http://www.ireland.anglican.org/
Irish Sikh Council of Ireland and information on Sikh community in Ireland:
http://www.irishsikhcouncil.com/
Dublin Buddhist Centre
http://www.dublinbuddhistcentre.org/
Hindu Cultural Centre, Ireland
http://www.hindu.ie/
10. Section 5: The Holocaust
Key Resource in the Irish Context for Holocaust Education
Holocaust Education Trust Ireland
A range of educational resources for primary and secondary teachers and students
Teacher education programmes
Support and outreach programmes for schools
Annual Holocaust Lectures
Commemorative booklets for the Annual Holocaust Memorial Day
Podcast of conference papers on antisemitism and Holocaust denial from November
2010
http://www.hetireland.org/
Books
Bartov, Omer ed., The Holocaust: Origins, Implementation, Aftermath (London and
New York: Routledge, 2000)
Browning, Christopher, The Origins of the Final Solution: The Evolution of Nazi
Jewish Policy September 1939-1942 (Jerusalem: Yad Vashem, 2004)
Dawidowicz, Lucy, The Holocaust and the Historians (Cambridge, Massachusetts,
London: Harvard University Press, 1981)
Evans, Richard, The Third Reich at War (US: Penguin, 2009)
Gilbert, Martin, The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy (London: Harper Collins
Publishers, 1987)
Hilberg, Raul, The Destruction of the European Jews, 3 vols (New York, London:
Holmes and Meier, 1961-1985), i (1985)
Lipstadt, Deborah, Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and
Memory (USA: Penguin Books, 1994)
Levi, Primo, Moments of Reprieve, trans. by Ruth Feldman (London: Penguin
Books, 2001)
Rees, Laurence, Auschwitz: The Nazis and the ‘Final Solution (London: BBC
Books, 2005)
Wiesel, Elie, Night, trans. by Stella Rodway (London: Penguin Books, 1981)
True stories/Testimonies/Diaries
The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
Fateless – Imre Kertez
If this is a Man – Primo Levi
11. The Diary of Petr Ginz – Edited by Chava Pressburger
I Was a Boy in Belsen – Tomi Reichental
Final Witness, My Journey from the Holocaust to Ireland – Zoltan Zinn-Collis
Fiction:
Faraway Home and 17 Martin Street – Marilyn Taylor
The Book Thief – Markus Suzak
Websites
Holocaust Education Trust Ireland: Resources on the Holocaust and its connection
with Ireland, lectures, podcasts, projects for primary and secondary students, speakers
for schools, detailed information on forthcoming activities supporting teachers in
teaching the subject of the Holocaust
http://www.hetireland.org/
HETI Holocaust Memorial Day booklets:
http://www.hetireland.org/index.php?page=memorial_publications
Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority:
Excellent resource with specialist pages for education. There are lots of possibilities
here for exploration for teachers and students in terms of online documentation,
extracts from diaries, photographs, music, historical chronologies, video testimonies.
Problem is that there is such a vast amount of information. One would need to spend
some time on the site to see what might most suitable.
http://www.yadvashem.org
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Excellent resource with plenty of online
materials to be explored on any aspects of the Holocaust
http://www.ushmm.org/
Resources for Teachers Very sound pedagogy underscoring the activities outlined on
this website
http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/
Resources for Students Gives lots of possibilities of exploring aspects of the
Holocaust with varied methodologies which are very engaging for students
http://www.ushmm.org/education/forstudents/
The Holocaust Explained: Comprehensive Homework and online education tool on
the Holocaust from the London Jewish Cultural Centre:
http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/
Facing History and Ourselves
http://www://www.facinghistory.org/sites.facinghistory.org/files,journey/html
12. Taskforce for International cooperation for Holocaust Education Remembrance and
Research
http://www.holocausttaskforce.org/education.html
Shoah Foundation (Anti-defamation League): http://college.usc.edu/vhi
The Crusades: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/crusades.stm
The Inquisition: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Inquisition.html
Films
Schindler’s List (complicity/Righteous/Nazi regime)
Life is Beautiful (concentration camp)
The Pianist (survival under the Nazis)
In Darkness (Righteous)
Defiance (Resistance)
Section 6: Sacred Writings and Commentaries
Books
ArtScroll Tanakh Series (New York: Mesorah Publications, 1976)
Carmell, Aryeh, Judaism: Its Program, Meanings, Goals (Jerusalem: Jerusalem
Academy Publications, 1991)
Charing, D., The Torah: Discovering Sacred Texts (Heinemann, 1993)
Cohn Sherbok’s book, Chapters 2 and 3, have good sections on the Bible,
Monotheism and Law
Chasidah, Yishei, Ishei Ha Tanakh, Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities,
Anthologised from the Talmud, Midrash, and Rabbinic Writings (Mesorah
Publications, 1964)
Draycott, P., (ed), Judaism 11-16 (Teaching RE: Religious Traditions) (CEM, 1996)
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Mesorah Publications, 2010)
13. Neusner, Jacob, Invitation to the Talmud (US and UK: Harper Collins Publishers,
2003)
Pearl, Chaim, Rashi (London: Halban, 1988)
Pilkington, C. M. Judaism: an approach for GCSE (Hodder and Stoughton, 1991)
Sherevshesky, Esra, Rashi, the Man and his World (NJ: Aronson, 1996)
Ziotnick, Dov, The Iron Pillar, Mishnah: Redaction, Form and Intent (New Jersey:
Ktav Publishers, 1988)
Website
Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Documents from The Avalon Project, Lillian
Goldman Law Library, Yale Law School
(Outlines of different types of laws which could be suitable for contrast or comparison
with Jewish laws)
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/medmenu.asp
