Customer Reviews

The Illustrated History of the Jewish People

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I think in the West, we sometimes are not aware of Jewish history after the Old Testament, but this book, presents 8 chapters of Jewish history, at least 7 in the last two millennium. Each of the esteemed authors presents a unique perspective and analysis on the time period they covered, such as "Herod's reforms", or the "impact of Christianity". The chapters on the relationship of Jews with Muslims, and the slow march into the Modern World were most interesting. The book concludes with a discussion of Arab-Israeli relationships that helps in understanding some of the current tensions.

There are some remarkable pictures, such as a coin from Jerusalem when under Persian Rule, an Ivory pomegranate from King Solomon temple, or pictures of the refuge ship the SS St. Louis waiting for news in Havana's Harbor. A map at the start of each chapter helps place the history in a larger regional context.

I might have enjoyed a little more explanation of some of the ideas of the time, such as the Philosophies of Hillel, the laws of Moses Maimonides, the radical thoughts of Spinoza, or some of the mysticism of the Kabbalah.