From School Library Journal
Grade 10 Up—This comprehensive set encompasses the time from the beginning of the Diaspora, in around 135 C.E., to the present. The first volume, "Themes and Phenomena of the Jewish Experience," contains 100 fascinating scholarly articles such as "Jews and Judaism in Ancient World Literature" and "The Lost Tribes of Israel." The other volumes, covering "Countries, Regions, and Communities," are what will most likely be useful for high school reference. The dozens of articles are listed by region, and then country (e.g., "Jews in Thailand"), and each one includes a few pages of accessible information. The statistics preceding each country entry are extremely useful, as are the three- to four-page historical and contemporary overviews. Some countries are covered more extensively than others through additional essays, such as "Holocaust Art in Belgium," "Jewish Women in the Early American West," and "Intermarriage in Scandinavia." The inclusion of relatively few black-and-white photographs and maps is a slight drawback; the failure to list the affiliations of the contributors is a more serious oversight. Still, the full scope of the Jewish experience outside Israel has never been so thoroughly organized. The excellent bibliography, glossary, and index help make this much-needed set a fine choice for browsers and report writers alike.—
Lisa Silverman, Sinai Temple Library, Los Angeles Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Those looking for information on Jews in Israel or Jerusalem will not find it here. This is a set focused on Jews and Jewry from practically everywhere in the world except the Holy Land. In other words, it deals with the diaspora—the worldwide dispersion of Jews from their homeland since the sixth century BCE. The volumes function together without the traditional A–Z encyclopedic format, showing a preference for essays rather than entries. Volume 1 covers overarching themes and phenomena, whereas volumes 2 and 3 cover countries, regions, and communities. The topics dealt with in the 1,250 signed essays seem overly eclectic at times, but all fit comfortably under the larger umbrella of diaspora studies. The average essay is 4 to 5 pages in length, offering just enough material to aid serious researchers without burdening the casual reader. More than 150 experts composed the essays, which range from “Contemporary Jewish Music in America” to “Intermarriage in Scandinavia.” Potentially surprising topics await readers on virtually every page of volume 1, fitting within a dozen larger sections (e.g., “History of the Diaspora,” “Women in the Diaspora,” “Persecution of Diaspora Jews”). In the remaining two volumes, focus stays almost entirely on the country level (e.g., Jews in Venezuela, New Zealand, Iran, Finland, etc.). Entries like History of Jewish wealth in Britain and Jews in Kaifeng, China are exceptions to the rule. The average country essay includes a summary of facts (Jewish population by city, languages spoken, etc.), a historical overview, and a contemporary overview, followed by a selected bibliography. Western Europe understandably receives the most attention, with 32 essays, while North America receives 21. The index and 29-page glossary are repeated in all three volumes. This set is a perfect fit for academic collections but is also suitable for larger public libraries, particularly those with a moderate-sized Jewish patron base. Also available as an e-book. --Wade Osburn
