Sources

Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://divinity.interactivelion.com/sources/encyclopaedia-judaica-2nd-edition.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://divinity.interactivelion.com/sources/encyclopaedia-judaica-2nd-edition

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-encyclopaedia-judaica-2nd-edition,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://divinity.interactivelion.com/sources/encyclopaedia-judaica-2nd-edition},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

This is a multi volume reference now in its second edition, substantially revised and expanded from the 1972 original rather than reprinted unchanged, covering biblical and rabbinic literature, halakha, biography, communities, Israel and the Holocaust from antiquity to the present across denominations from Orthodox to Reform. That a full second edition was undertaken decades after the first, rather than a simple reissue, is itself part of its track record. This record has not independently traced every specific revision made between editions. It is a strong source for established historical, textual and biographical facts about Judaism and Jewish civilization broadly. Because it spans every denomination, a claim specific to one movement's own current practice is better confirmed against that movement's own statement rather than this general reference alone.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A standard multi volume scholarly reference on Judaism and Jewish history from an academic reference press, spanning biblical and rabbinic literature to the present across Jewish denominations.

Notes

Standard multi-volume scholarly reference on Judaism and Jewish history, covering biblical and rabbinic literature, halakha, biography, communities, Israel and the Holocaust, from antiquity to the present. Broad Jewish-studies scope across denominations from Orthodox to Reform. Use for established historical, textual and biographical facts about Judaism and Jewish civilization.

Citation

Author

Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik (eds.)

Publisher

Macmillan Reference USA

Publication Year

2007

URL

https://openlibrary.org/books/OL17207326M/Encyclopaedia_Judaica

Source Type

reference

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Israel

This source names Israel directly: "halakha, biography, communities, Israel and the Holocaust from antiquity to the present across denominations from Orthodox to Reform."

Source Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd editionMichael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik (eds.)

Claims Backed By This Source (3,552 claims)

This source backs 3,552 claims across the atlas. As facts: 2,516 well-attested, 32 scholarly debate, 15 open question. As cited relationships: 437 holds, 63 connected, 9 critiqued Here, 16 rejected Here, 7 held Differently. Plus 457 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Articles, 788 claims: 681 well-attested, 2 holds, 39 connected, 66 general references.
Rituals, 374 claims: 310 well-attested, 22 holds, 42 general references.
Historical Figures, 246 claims: 175 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 10 open question, 32 holds, 27 general references.
Figures, 203 claims: 139 well-attested, 12 scholarly debate, 21 holds, 31 general references.
Denominations, 185 claims: 104 well-attested, 39 holds, 4 connected, 4 critiqued Here, 16 rejected Here, 6 held Differently, 12 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 164 claims: 92 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 44 holds, 27 general references.
Hebrew Months, 140 claims: 98 well-attested, 4 open question, 25 holds, 13 general references.
Observance Rules, 124 claims: 83 well-attested, 11 holds, 15 connected, 15 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 124 claims: 58 well-attested, 50 holds, 4 critiqued Here, 12 general references.
Practices, 121 claims: 99 well-attested, 2 holds, 20 general references.
Sacred Sites, 106 claims: 85 well-attested, 9 holds, 12 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 102 claims: 82 well-attested, 6 holds, 14 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 75 claims: 56 well-attested, 19 general references.
Doctrines, 72 claims: 32 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate, 20 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 1 held Differently, 15 general references.
Angelic Choirs, 70 claims: 61 well-attested, 9 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 67 claims: 28 well-attested, 32 holds, 7 general references.
Open Questions, 54 claims: 38 well-attested, 3 holds, 5 connected, 8 general references.
Religious Events, 51 claims: 29 well-attested, 5 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 11 holds, 5 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 47 claims: 36 well-attested, 3 holds, 8 general references.
Religious Offices, 44 claims: 4 well-attested, 32 holds, 8 general references.
Religious Dress & Vestments, 43 claims: 24 well-attested, 10 holds, 9 general references.
Artifacts & Relics, 38 claims: 12 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 17 holds, 8 general references.
Sacred Architecture, 36 claims: 24 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 6 holds, 5 general references.
Mantras, 33 claims: 26 well-attested, 3 holds, 4 general references.
Other Writings, 29 claims: 16 well-attested, 11 holds, 2 general references.
Pilgrimage Routes, 22 claims: 18 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.
Performance Works, 20 claims: 16 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 2 holds, 1 general references.
Numbers, 19 claims: 19 general references.
Religious Organization & Structure, 19 claims: 10 well-attested, 2 holds, 7 general references.
Subcategories, 17 claims: 13 well-attested, 4 general references.
Councils and Synods, 14 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 2 general references.
Sacred Sound, 13 claims: 11 well-attested, 2 general references.
Prayers, 10 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 4 holds, 1 general references.
Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
Calendars, 7 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 general references.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 7 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 2 general references.
Spread Events, 7 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 holds, 2 general references.
Cities, 6 claims: 2 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Creeds & Confessions, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Categories, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Sacred Foods, 5 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Days of the Week, 4 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
Realms, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Textual Witnesses, 4 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 general references.
Deities, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Esoteric Texts, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Religions, 3 claims: 3 holds.
Religious Symbols, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Animals & Totems, 2 claims: 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Languages, 2 claims: 2 general references.
Organizations, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.