In an attempt to gain an integrated view of Judaism this book addresses certain themes including the understanding of space and place rites of passage and attitudes toward women in religion and scripture These themes are specifically selected to be of interest to students of religion anthropology and Judaism The overall approach of the book is phenomenological providing a detailed picture of Jewish beliefs practices and symbols from the perspective of a member of one of the Jewish communities or movements The chapters are written from an internal perspective offering a unique understanding of the ways that different Jewish sects interact with their various religious traditions The book demonstrates both the diversity and continuity found in modern Jewish communities and illustrates the constant interplay of tradition and innovation within Judaism