Book review: 'The Book of Jewish Knowledge'

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. As far as I know that’s not a Jewish adage, but is one that’s accurate and which the publisher of “The Jewish Book of Knowledge” learned and understood well.

When I opened the book, my first thought was “stunning.” Everything about it screams high quality from the paper, the pictures, the charts, the cover, and even the binding. Yes, I checked.

But before cracking the book itself, first I had to get to it. It comes as a beautiful presentation, in a fitted box, a high-end sleeve into which it is housed, and even a branded bookmark. It’s...