Customer Reviews

Balaam's Prophecy: Eyewitness to History, 1939-1989

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for fifty years naphtali lau-lavie put the trauma of the holocaust behind him. all his energy was concentrated on establishing his own family and on actively contributing to the state of israel as a soldier, writer, spokesman for the ministry of defence and finally as consul general in new york. writing "balaams prophecy" must have been emotionally traumatic, forcing him to recall the nightmare years of suffering in the nazi death camps, the memory of which had long been suppressed.but he is not a man lacking in personal corage and, like much of his life`s work, this book is a posistive contribution to the legacy of the jewish people. you can not read this book without weeping. it is a beautifully written, intensely moving personal memoir. lau-lavie`s testimony is unique. as spokesman and special adviser to moshe dayan and shimon peres,lau-lavie was involved in some of the most significant political processes which concerned the very survival of the jewish state, including drafting the all-important peace treaty with egypt. he describes some of these episodes with wry humor. unlike many political and religious leaders, lau-lavie`s experiences eqipped him with a broad perspective and an understanding of the viewpoints of many of the opposing forces in israel. this unique insight made him intenet on bringing the secular and religious together. balaam prophesied about the nation of israel that `it is a people that dwells alone and is not reckoned among the nations...this is a nation that rises like a great lion`. in the merit of those whose `ashes are strewn on the fields of germany and poland`, to whom this volume is dedicated, lau-lavie has played a great part towards the realisation of this prophecy. <ann rosen, le`ela, london>

Rarely does one have the privilege of sharing the nearly unimaginable horrors described by the author, and learn, through his words, how he, as well as his younger brother, saved by him, literally, from death, can make a new and remarkably productive life. The message is not only one of the horrors of the past. It is of the great hopes and achievements individuals can achieve, though the number of such as these who suffered as he did is restricted. In spite of such experiences and lifelong memories inconceivable to most of us, the message becomes universal.

Other than bless the author and his family with health and with continued fulfillment, I believe it is incumbent upon the reader to see in herself/himself the privileges and opportunities presented, in whatever circumstances, to make of what is given us, for the future of ourselves and of our offspring, the very best possible.

The writing, the "tale", are superb. I would recommend the book to every living human being.

this is an outstanding personal account of fifty years jewish history, starting with the first signs of the approaching holocaust in th late 1930`s, describing personal experiences in the nazi ghetto`s and concentration camps like auschwitz an buchenwald, and culminating in the participation of the struggle for a jewish sovereign state in british mandated palestine. apart of the authors authentic role in rescuing his younger brother, age 7 who is today the chief rabbi of the state of israel, he also played a most significant role in the political and public life of the state of israel, as a journalist and as a diplomat. this book is a true description of the jewish drama of the twentieth century.