The First Tithe [Hardcover]

Israel Eldad (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9654160153 | ISBN-13: 978-9654160155 | Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Israel Eldad was the spirit of the Lehi Underground.... Eldad's ideological writings laid the foundation stones of the movement for national freedom. - Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir The First Tithe takes you where no reader of thrillers, lover of history or analyst of Mideast politics and terrorism has yet gone into the minds of the Zionist revolutionaries, from the secret meetings of the commanders of the Jewish underground planning to expel the British from the Land of Israel in the 1940s, to prison cells where freedom fighters plan to turn their trials into theater and to escape. The First Tithe is the memoir of one of the leaders of the fiercest Jewish underground army in 2,000 years. It is the story of bank robberies, bombings and the assassination of a British cabinet minister. Israel Eldad reveals the history and revolutionary theories behind the blood and fire that created modern Israel and the national spirit that maintains it. No lover of suspense, friend of Israel or person who seeks to understand the roots of terror can do without The First Tithe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Author, Israel Eldad, was one of three members of the Central Command of the Lehi Underground (the Stern Group ). Eldad escaped from the Nazis, escaped from British prison and detention, and hid in underground safe houses as he helped direct the war for Israel s independence. Eldad was one of Israel's leading philosophers and writers until his death in 1996. The Translator, Zev Golan, is the author of Free Jerusalem: Heroes, Heroines and Rogues Who Created the State of Israel; The Shofars of the Revolt (in Hebrew); and God, Man and Nietzsche: A Startling Dialogue between Judaism and Modern Philosophers. He lives in Jerusalem, where he worked closely with Israel Eldad until the latter s death.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 420 pages
• Publisher: Jabotinsky Institute in Israel (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9654160153
• ISBN-13: 978-9654160155
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,351,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A combination of philosophy and auto-biography, June 23, 2008

By 

J. Weisbrod - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First Tithe (Hardcover)

The First Tithe allows readers to understand the Jewish war of liberation from the perspective of Dr. Israel Eldad. Eldad was not only one of the leaders of the Hebrew underground but was actually the revolution's spiritual guide and ideological director. These memoirs grant access into Eldad's psyche and treat readers to his analysis of the personalties and political events of the time (as well as the role he played in shaping those events). Also exposed in this book is the formation of the author's world view and how he arrives at many of his political conclusions. The First Tithe is sharper and deeper than most other works on the Jewish struggle for freedom from British rule but its depth may be somewhat overwhelming for readers who are new to the subject matter.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stern Group, January 26, 2010

By 

M. A. Ramos (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First Tithe (Hardcover)

The First Tithe is a true memoir by Israel Eldad, born Israel Scheib, who was one of the three leaders of the Lohamei Herut Israel in the book referred to as the Lehi organization (its English translation: Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) was founded by Avraham Stern in 1940. Lehi is a far right group in its ideology that did much for the independence of Israel. For the first time this memoir is in English translated from the original Hebrew by Zev Golan. As you read this book you can tell that he is writing from his heart and with passion.

Though this English version of Israel Eldad's memoir gives us his narrative of his time in the underground starting with his escape from the Nazi's grasp where he makes it on forged papers to what will become Israel, to being arrested by the British and imprisoned as he taught class, his subsequent escape and the interesting remembrance of his time actively evading capture as he worked in the underground. Israel Eldad also lead the Irgun, one of the most radical Zionist groups during the Israeli war for independence. Those readers not familiar with this period of Israel's history may find the book a little hard to read at first. But I encourage the reader to complete the memoir.

The author tells his story as he recalls it including the political maneuvering, infighting, and compromise among the various figures and movements in Israel's resistance and of his hatred of the British Occupiers, Goy. When the Jews were fighting the British and Arabs for their freedom and a homeland, the true fighter that brought independence for Israel had to fight some of their own people. Including the collaborators with the British, the Hagana and its offshoot the Palmach which were under the direction of Weizman. Part of this group and active in hunting members of the underground was Ben Gurion.

What I find most astounding is that when Israel gained its independence in 1948, that the underground who gained this independence with their blood handed over political power and governance to the very group who was trying to stop this independence and aid the British. In 1948 Ben Gurion became the first prime minister of Israel and Weizman became its president.

At times some readers will have a hard time distinguishing if the author is a freedom fighter or terrorist; this will depend on your own origins and political points of view. Regardless on where you stand you will read the moral issues that were involved in making the decessions that were made. But there is no questioning his resolve and passion for an independent Israel. This book will give you great insight into the thoughts of one of the leaders of the most radical underground group for freedom. You may not agree with all of Israel Eldad's politics or methods, but his goal was a free and indepedent Kingdom of Israel that would include Jerusalem.

I would like to also note that parts of the original book were not translated and kept in the book as they translator thought that without knowledge of the Hebrew language, Talmudic and Midrashic sources the reader would not understand those sections. I think this was a mistake to leave those sections out as it would add a deeper understanding of the author and his basis for the decisions he made . This is part of the reason that if I could I would have rated this 4.5 stars. But I appreciated the addition of Zev Golan's notes for many have forgotten this history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, informative book on the birth of Israel., October 20, 2008

By 

Ryan Ritchie (Simi Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The First Tithe (Hardcover)

What a great book on a topic that is virtually unknown to the western world. "The First Tithe" is the story of the Israeli Declaration of Independence that was made on the of 14 May 1948, the day the British Mandate expired. "The fire will brand our faces, Our eyes like the sun of Givon, The shadow of our flag like the wings of eagles, Will strike fear in the Arabs of Zion". What followed next was the an invasion of the new state by troops from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, starting the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, known in Israel as the War of Independence.

Through underground resistance, revolutionary activities, and even assassination, came the fruition of the modern state of Israel, called by Eldad "the Kingdom of Israel". A remarkable story told by a escapee of the Nazi's, a forefather of Israel, Mr. Israel Eldad; who led the "Fighters for the Freedom of Israel". Translated by Zev Golan, this is a must read for anyone interested in Israel and the Middle East.