Judaica for the holidays

Among the new holiday gift books on topics dealing with Judaismand the Jewish heritage:

The Encyclopedia of Judaism, edited by Geoffrey Wigoder(Macmillan, $75). More than 1,000 entries, written by more than 70rabbis and scholars on subjects ranging from Abraham and adultery tozionism and the zodiac, comprise this weighty but readable referencevolume. Said to be the first such one-volume English-languageencyclopedia in more than 20 years, it puts such subjects ashomosexuality in a contemporary light. More than 300 illustrationsare included, plus an index that grants easy access to the randomquestioner and a glossary of Jewish terms.

A Temple Treasury: The Judaica Collection of CongregationEmanu-El of the City of New York, by Cissy Grossman. (Hudson HillsPress, $50). Torah pointers, menorahs and prayer shawls are amongthe artifacts documented in this handsome volume, aimed at collectorsof Judaica and students of Jewish art. Included are an interestingessay by the author on the Emanu-El building, the largest Jewishtemple in the world, and one on the history of the equally sizablecongregation of Reform Judaism by its senior rabbi, Dr. Ronald B.Sobel. The book contains 42 color plates and 192 duotoneillustrations.

The Talmud, The Steinsaltz Edition: A Reference Guide and VolumeI, Tractate Bava Metzia, Part I. By Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. (RandomHouse, $40 each). Orthodox rabbi Steinsaltz was awarded the 1988Israel Prize for his modern presentation of the Talmud. Now even greater numbers will gainaccess to the Talmud via the English translation of the first twovolumes of Steinsaltz's ongoing project. A Reference Guide provideshistorical background, guidelines for Talmadic study and otherfundamental information. The central subject of Tractate BavaMetzia, Part 1 is civil law. Along with the translation, theoriginal Hebrew text is fully presented, as are commentaries inHebrew and English. The books are the first two in a projectedseries of about 15.

The Jews in America, edited by David Cohen (Collins, $45). Aninteresting look at the diversity of a particular culture and how itmelds with and splits from other groups. Though it is aimed chieflyat Americans of Jewish heritage, non-Jews will appreciate it for itsexplanation of such Hebrew terms as Rosh Hashanah, mikvah and bris.Subjects include a Hasidic yeshiva in Brooklyn, an astronaut and aJewish cowboy.