Israel Books

This book change my life-The ego must be dealt with to move forward on your spirtual path.Expections must be viewed so you will not set your self up for failure!!! 5 stars KUDOS!!!

Reading and working with Unbound is an exciting adventure, an expedition of the soul in which you forever unbind your spirit and learn to soar. It is a journey of discovery. Unbound has the uncanny ability to change your life forever. There is a mystery and a power in these ancient words, a profound wisdom that penetrates your being. I have never been the same since reading Unbound and I continue to read and re-read it. I have read it with a group of friends where we read a chapter a week and then "worked" on the focus exercises. It is the most amazingingly powerful book I have ever read and I feel lucky to have discovered it. Unbound is like a good loaf of bread. It will feed your soul no matter at what stage of life you find yourself, it will rise to meet you wherever you are, it will fill you.

I have not found the discipline to read this book in order or all the way through yet, but I pick it up and read bits of it, for the last year or so. The thing is, practically each sentence has some kind of magical expansive quality to it. --Just like it says in the introduction--it's true! There is a very special quality to the words.

I guess it's a "channeled" work. It definitely has the stamp of such work, as it does not seem like it was written by an ordinary person at all.

This is a tremendously interesting, opening, expanding, and yes, even fun, book (though I may have an odd sense of "fun").

When someone gave me a copy of this book I flicked through the pages and picked out the chapters which appealed to me at the time. It was a bit deep and confusing for me as am a mere beginner in understanding the spiritual world. Once I read this book I was hooked! - The content is real, powerful and life transforming. It teaches you to understand and recognise the power of the Ego and how this impacts your life - And how to learn to use it to your advantage for the future. Superb and highly recommended
Hope it will be available in print again soon.

This is a wonderful book that should be read by those who are truly ready to begin a different path and to consciously make their lives more joyous and productive. Everytime I read this book, it gives me a greater understanding of myself, and centers me over and over again...It is definitely a one of a kind book...

Dear Deborah, Your book is wonderful - from conception to finished product. It makes me wish my children were under twelve. In fact, it's the only thing that makes me wish my children were all under twelve. Kol HaKavod, as we say in Hebrew.
Judith Labensohn, B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator, Neot Kedumim, Biblical Landscape Reserve, Israel

very helpful in planning our simchah in Israel

This is a fine piece of work from the viewpoint of thoroughness, style, presentation and philosophy. Now we can plan our grandson's Bar Mitzvah next summer in Israel.

The Jerusalem Post Internet Store chose this book as Product of the Week, June 1, 1998. It says: '"The Ultimate Family Sourcebook" fills a long standing need for families all over the world who want to celebrate their child's special day. Suitable for all denominations of Judaism and those without formal affiliation, this book includes English speaking reliable contacts, web sites, e-mail addresses and fax numbers. In short, everything you need to plan a trouble-free event."

"To those who know how difficult it can be to plan a bar/bat mitzvah at the corner synagogue, it may sound completely absurd to try planning one half a world away. But for parents who believe that their child's coming of age would be enhanced by holding the festivities in the Promised Land, there's a new book written by two mothers who have done just that." "Aside from an exhaustive list of synagogues, schools, and kibbutzim all over the country that cater to English-speaking guests of various financial means and religious affiliations, the book covers every base imaginable." "Even if you weren't thinking of holding your child's celebration (or your own; there's information for adult bnai mitzvah, too) in Israel, take a look through this book. It may just inspire you to change your plans." Abigail Klein Leichman, The Jewish Standard/Jewish Community News, April 10, 1998

I totally agree with the other 5 star reviews.
Even without a background in military history, it felt like I was there myself. I have seldom read a less sentimental yet emotionally more touching book. Especially the final chapter, the actual conquest of the Old City and Temple Mount had me reach for the tissues. And that famous picture on the cover is just perfect.
It is true, knowing Jerusalem as a tourist does help, and this book takes you there again. I will remember what I read the next time I walk up to the Lions' Gate.
The only thing that bothered me slightly was the rather obvious lack of proper editing. Maybe in a future edition? The book is certainly worth it.
Oh, and a warning: I recommend this strictly to loyal friends of Israel!

Motta délivre une excellente narration minutée des opérations de sa brigade parachutiste. Mais le langage est très technique et ceux qui manquent de connaissances militaires peinreront parfois à suivre. Le livre manque surtout d'une introduction qui situe l'action de la brigade parachutiste au sein des forces du commandement centre et de cartes détaillées.

Mordechai Gur was the commander of the Israeli forces in the battle for Jerusalem in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war. His account of the war also relates part of the political background of the war, including the decision to take the Old City of Jerusalem only after Israel had been attacked by Jordanian forces. Gur gives a detailed account of the battle including the heroic struggle against the entrenched Jordanian forces in Ammunition Hill, and the dramatic taking of the Old City, the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. It was Gur who in the first rush of excitement electrified the people of Israel with his cry ' The Temple Mount is in our hands'. Gur was a strong, quiet soldier, a heroic person who served his country and people well in a distinguished military career. The taking of Jerusalem was the climax of that career and he tells the story in an accurate, and reliable way without great frills but with a deep and restrained feeling .

Many readers will be familiar with Michael Oren's excellent recent work entitled `Six Days Of War' which relates to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Perhaps the most significant event of that conflict was the actual battle for Jerusalem which saw Israel once again in control of the whole of Jerusalem, including east Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Areas so long occupied by Jordan.

Monumental events that have since held intense, international, political and religious significance. Even today Jerusalem is central to the Middle East 'peace process' and the stumbling block to virtually all negotations. The momentous events described here eventually resulting in Jerusalem going on to be officially declared as the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel during August 1980. A fact yet to be recognised by most of the international community.

Israeli Lt. General Mordechai Gur, the first to break through and reach the Temple Mount provides an excellent, firsthand account of the events leading up to, during, and following the 1967 battle for Jerusalem and the actual taking of the Temple Mount during the conflict.

This is a highly personal, intense account of the actual fighting. You feel as if you are there with the troops on the ground. Those familiar with the streets and environs of Jerusalem & the Old City will be even more so.

The progress of the actual battle against the well-armed and well-trained Jordanian forces is documented throughout and the momentous sentiment expressed towards the end when suddenly at the Western Wall is almost palpable.

An exceedingly well written, moving account which proceeds at a rapid pace hardly pausing for breath from once incident to another. Highly recommended.

This is a very entertaining book about the desperate battle for Jerusalem during the Six Day War of 1967. The author was overall Israeli commander of this battle and his style of writing gives the reader a you-are-there feeling as the battle is planned and fought. If you like alot of action, you will enjoy this book. There is not a dull page. What I really appreciate about this narrative is the way it brings out the reality of combat. Seldom does anything go as planned. Mistakes are made and confusion is usually present. Among the bullets and bombs almost every human emotion is presented. War is terrible, but there is a time for glory.
Basically, the battle is in stages. Various strategic points must be taken by the Israelis from the Jordanians in a precise order. The reader is taken from one point to the next and is introduced to the major Israeli combat units and leaders in the process. A nice map of Jerusalem at the time of the battle is at the front of the book, so the reader can easily follow the flow of action.

There is little to add to the some of the excellent reviws previously listed. The documentation and bibliography is impressive as well as the author's willingness to discuss alternate interpretations of key historical events. The book is well written; but it is the numerous and well-drawn maps that I found particularly impressive.

My hobby is wargaming; and for those that share this hobby, this book is a gem. Think of it; 35 possible scenarios complete with maps ranging from Ancient Egyptian vs Ancient Syrian to Mondern Israelis vs Arabs...and even Armageddon itself. This can be considered either a "future" or a "fantasy" battle based upon your preferences. All of these battles could be gamed upon one large map or playing area stretching from Megiddo in the West to Mts Tabor, Gilboa, and Moreh in the East,\.

I had to do a presentation on megiddo for a class. This book was the most useful and interesting one that I had at my disposal.

History is a slight of hands artist of sorts. It tends to focus ones attention on the flashy action center stage while more important events are often happening in the wings. Its spotlight brings out in high relief the massive endeavor of the pyramids, the power and grandeur of the Roman empire, the longevity of Chinese culture, or the blood rituals of the Aztecs. In doing so it tends to neglect the margins, places where cultural synthesis and mere survival of local polities brings the real issues of life during the time into sharper focus. Eric Cline is a master at redirecting ones attention to precisely these issues of history. In The Battles of Armageddon he chronicles the "life" history of a region that was for most of that history on the margins of the action in the Middle East and in the world.

The Jezreel Valley and ancient Megiddo, the Armageddon of Revelation, are brought to center stage in this well researched and thoroughly entertaining book. Here the armies of the world have fought battles deciding the course of human history, and here too it is suggested that the final battle between good and evil will be fought in the future. All tolled, some 34 major battles have been fought in this valley, often if not usually between combatants who are foreign to the area.

In documenting the drama of conflict that has played itself out on this valley floor, Professor Cline has examined a wide variety of data recording human events in the area. He discusses the records of ancient Egypt, the Biblical texts, the cuneiform documents of Anatolia, Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia, the written material of both the Moslem and the Christian participants of the Crusades, French documentation of the Napoleonic wars in the Middle East, the Allenby diaries, letters, etc. for the World War I conflict with the Ottoman Empire, and the more recent evidence for the Arab-Israeli conflicts in the area. In short, he addresses an impressive collection of data and with it constructs an absorbing "biography" of the region, and in doing so brings the history of the world itself into sharper focus.

I found Cline's willingness to entertain alternative proposals for events of the Israelite conquest of the Levant particularly impressive. He does not seem wedded to any particular theme or version of early Biblical history, a fact which gives one confidence in his critical judgment with respect to early documents, both Biblical and extra-Biblical. Where he is uncertain of the order of or veracity of events or their documentation, he is willing to say as much. There is no effort to make the evidence appear more concrete than it is. He also seems to have no preferred "side" in the Arab-Israeli conflict at least as a historian and archaeologist--whether he has one as an individual is his own business. The author also sticks to historical information and its interpretation and only introduces archaeological data where it is pertinent to the discussion. He doesn't burden the amateur enthusiast with more detail than they are willing or able to imbibe. In short he doesn't slow down the "story" of the Jezreel which makes the volume more readable.

Although I certainly found the earlier history of the Valley of interest--my degree is in ancient history--I actually found Professor Cline's treatment of the era of the Crusades more engaging because I learned more. I also enjoyed the discussion of General Allenby's possible foreknowledge of the war between Thutmose III and the Canaanites at Megiddo an excellent demonstration of good historic detective work. (It was definitely a good illustration of the value of a thorough knowledge of history.) The bibliography of The Battles of Armageddon is a veritable who's who of historical and archaeological research since the 19th century, including authors of topical works, of edited collections and encyclopedias, and of journal articles. For anyone with a specific interest this would definitely be a good starting point for the pursuit of information on tangential topics. I will probably use it to help fill in my knowledge of the Crusades. Without doubt this book would appeal to anyone with an interest in history, particularly that of the Levant or of peripheral areas in general, or in political and military history. One might even use it to teach world history, as so many of the main "players" in the events of human activity have passed through this valley and left their mark on it. Definitely a work worth reading.

Professor Eric Cline's book here is one of the best works on the bloody and conflict ridden history of the City of Megiddo and its accompanying region, the Valley of Jezreel. Cline demonstrates how easily the name Megiddo had already been corrupted into Har Megiddo(or Mount of Megiddo) by the Roman era. This explains how it was later transcribed as 'Armageddon' by John The Apostle, who wrote the Book of Revelations. Cline documents the more than 30 battles which have raged in or around the Megiddo and the Jezreel Valley and chronicles many of the most decisive wars in history that occured here such as Napoleon's defeat of the Ottoman Turks at Aboukhir(July 1799) in the vicinity of..you guessed it! Megiddo, Sheshonq I's(the Biblical Shishak) assault against, and capture of, the Ancient Israelite cities of Beth Shan, Taanach and Megiddo in 925 BC which are all located in the same general area, Pharaoh Tuthmose III's stunning victory over the Prince of Kadesh at Megiddo in 1458 BC, and how more than three thousand and three hundred years later, the First World War British General Edward Allenby proceeded to virtually copy Tuthmose III's battle plan at Megiddo, catching the Ottoman Turks completely off guard in September 1918. The happy result, for Allenby, was the complete destruction of the Turkish Army in Northern Palestine and Syria, just 2 months before the end of World War One.

Professor Cline's excellent prose helps to explain why this book won the Biblical Archaeology Society's Award for the best New Book on Archaeology in 2001. Cline's view of the main reason why John decided to locate the Final Battle between Good and Evil at Armageddon--the same site where the last 'good' king of Judah, Josiah, fell in battle against Pharaoh Necho II in 609 BC--is quite persuasive. Equally intriguing is Cline's observation that the battle at Armageddon between Good and Evil was actually the penultimate(second last) battle in this series since a thousand years after this aforementioned battle, the Forces of Good and Evil will arise once again to do battle for the last time. However, this time the location was Jerusalem itself, as John writes in Revelations.

Cline's book makes an invaluable contribution towards our understanding of the strategic location of Megiddo as the gateway into both Syria and into the heart of Israel/Palestine; hence, its troubled history. As an Aside, Cline also documents the desperate struggles between Modern day Israel and the Arab states for control of this same area during the Wars of 1948 and 1967 where a breakthrough by the latter would have spelled disaster for the Jewish state.

For anyone interested in battles, ancient and contemporary, this book is for you. Cline invites those interested in the site of Armageddon as well as military history buffs into the world and circumstances of the Jezreel Valley. Destined to be a classic on ancient battles.

Nobody gets it like Kay Koplovitz. Women in record numbers are breaking away from the constraints of corporate life to seek fulfillment in business on their own terms. Kay captures the spirit of that movement in her book. A must-read for every woman who aspires to create her own destiny.

Women can learn how to play the entrepreneurial game for bigger stakes: the author went from selling cable TV series to running her own major cable TV franchise, and in Bold Women, Big Ideas tells the aftermath of her venture. She learned some tough lessons on venture capitalists and where they choose to invest their money (with male business owners), creating her own venture capital forum in the process, designed to help women develop networks to get the money they need. Bold Women, Big Ideas is packed with important business insights.

I have been thinking for a while about what the next step would be in the much maligned feminist movement, unrepentant former bra-burner that I am. I think I've come upon it in Kay Koplovitz's new book, Bold Women, Big Ideas. Not everyone, myself included, will dream up patents for new biotech (or any other tech for that matter) processes. But sometime in an independent, creative woman's life, she may want to produce something besides the children she's birthed (no disparagement here, I have one myself), something that will cause the revenue stream to flow in, rather than continuously siphon it out. This book is the roadmap to that place, with everything you always wanted to know about making a solid business plan to finding the venture capitalists and convincing them to fund your new baby. Koplovitz serves as the best model herself, a bold woman who had the big idea of USA Network when the cable industry was in its infancy. She shares with her readers her own mistakes and insights learned from those mistakes ("if you're not an owner, it's not your business"). I was inspired, reading about the other fascinating women with big ideas and how they learned to allow their personalities to emerge when pitching their product to the men with the money. And it is the men who usually have the money, guarding it for the most part, from women's businesses, or, perhaps worse, assuming that where a woman's business may not necessarily be in the home, the home should be what her business is about (a la Martha). This is the book that the men who form the tight circle around the money don't want us to read.

As one of the many people Ms. Koplovitz mentions in this book, I found it to be as honest, up front, inspiring and instructive as she is in person. Its appeal is in its focused, quick moving style that engaged me from the first paragraph.
In a comfortable, easy voice, Ms. Koplovitz openly shares her own experiences, good and bad, and also presents case histories of three other women entrepreneurs. I found it easy to identify with so many of the challenges discussed, and so helpful to read about her own story as well as those of the other women CEO's, and their quests for success in the venture capital and entrepreneurial arenas.
Over the years, she has also had business dealings with some of the more "colorful" characters in the contemporary business scene. Her anecdotes about Barry Diller, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Sumner Redstone, Larry Ellison and many more, are fun to read as well as insightful.
The message Ms. Koplovitz urges is clear. It's time for women to stop banging their heads against the ceiling, and move towards the open skies of entrepreneurship. This is an accessible, forthright book that avoids unnecessary complexity and addresses issues relevant to all women in the workplace. I recommend it highly.

I liked this book because it reveals the dirty little secret that men play power games in business at the expense of women. More important, it takes a good look at how women are doing amazing things to take business power for themselves. I liked what I saw. Koplovitz pulls no punches. She names names -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. And there are alot of names.
Koplovitz decribes how, after twenty some years of high flying success, she was pushed out of USA Networks, a company she built from nothing to several billlion dollars. She was a CEO without equity despite her repeated offers to buy in. The boys said no. That was O.K. because they let her run the show. And she made them a fortune. But when Barry Diller, a member in good standing of the incestuous old boys network, ended up owning USA, he pushed her out so that he could play with his new toy. Koplovitz makes this tale a good read. But the book is alot more.

Koplovitz is convincing that she is not bitter. She describes her catastrophe as a wakeup call. The glass ceiling turns out to be lead if you want to own a piece of the men's game. So she has set out to make it happen for herself and for other women who want to own big dollar companies based on the kinds of risks that earn big payoffs. She takes us along on her journey to find money for women with great business prosects.

This is more than a serious "how to" book for anyone who wants to raise venture capital, although Koplovitz offers several chapters that read like a "to do" list if you want to win the hearts (and money) of venture capitalists. The book also inspires. It includes terrific stories of women who were sucessful participatnts in the Koplovitz brain child, Springboard 2000, a kind of boot camp to give hard driving women the unique presentation skills that rake in ventrue capital. Koplovitz initiated Springboard 2000 after she was appointed by the President as chair of the National Women's Business Council, a sub-cabinet department in Wasington D.C. She tells how hard it was to get ventrue captialist-- mostly men-- to participate in the Springboard forum where women presented their business plans. But the ventrue capitalists came and this is the tale of how the women conquered. Koplovitz's success to date suggests that hers is the best revenge-- that is, living well as the owner of her own business, Broadway Televison Network (BTN), and watching scores of other women push into the business and money game where it won't just be for men any more.

As long as men and women strive to civilize their society the problem of tolerance will remain, because the urge toward intolerance will not go away. The achievement of Dr. Cohen-Almagor's work is that it adds to our knowledge and awareness of this central problem of politics. His arguments are made in the context of classical liberal thought, of practical politics, and of jurisprudence.

A rare blend of philosophical skill & political sensitivity, of detached analytical and critical attitude and deep ethical concern and commitment to liberal democracy.

Raphael Cohen-Almagor maps the course of the struggle against Meir Kahane in the Israeli courts and legislature. But he places it firmly in the context of the traditional controversy over the limits of toleration, providing us with a rigorous examination of the damage principle as it applies to speech and expression. He forces us to face the question why, if we refuse to tolerate the damage done by thefts, assault, fraud or murder, we should tolerate the potential damage that can be brought about by aggressive or violent speech. His work blends together political philosophy, contemporary history, and constitutional theory. It deserves the close attention of students of all three disciplines. But it should fascinate and provoke also all those who wish to confront what is probably the principal dilemma of the modern democratic practice.

This book, although not particularly well written or well researched, does prove how the government of Israel targeted Rabbi Kahane. Both right-wing and left-wing governments violated Israel's own laws in order to try and stop Rabbi Kahane's rising popularity among Israel's young people. While members of the Labor party illegally negotiated with the PLO and have still not been prosecuted, Rabbi Kahane, an Orthodox rabbi, was accused of being a racist .. even though racism was not defined. The real tragedy that the book uncovers is that Rabbi Kahane, was immorally and illegally silenced because no one had answers to the uncomfortable questions that he raised. This book is anti-Kahane. For a more fair look a Rabbi Kahane's impact on Israel readers should look for Jay Shapiro's Meir Kahane: A Litmus Test for Israel's Democracy.

Living in a country like Israel, which is beset by fateful ongoing conflicts from within and without, one is torn between impulses of appeasement and revenge, diplomacy and force, empathy and despair. A particularly difficult dilemma arises when dealing with hate-and-violence rhetoric against the Other - rhetoric which, ipso facto, challenges the selfsame democratic system that allows it to exist in the first place. It is this "catch of democracy" that Raphael Cohen-Almagor examines in The Boundaries of Liberty and Tolerance: the Struggle Against Kahanism in Israel. As a layperson in the disciplines upon which he draws - philosophy, jurisprudence, political science - I approached the book with some trepidation. Much to my relief, though, I found that it to be reader-friendly yet extremely thorough in attempting to delineate the boundaries of liberty and tolerance in a democracy.

From the outset, the decision to allow a racist demagogue like Kahane to run for a seat in the Israeli legislature raised ethical issues of the most troubling kind. The decision to revoke that privilege was no less troubling: as they fought to have Kahanism outlawed, advocates of tolerance and democracy came under bitter attack for defying the very principle which they claimed to support. The book provides a reasoned, thoughtful and comprehensive explanation of the ethical questions underlying this problematic position. And as we know only too well, no country is immune from such questions; i.e. from the emergence of would-be political parties brandishing blatantly racist or xenophobic slogans, or advocating blatantly racist or xenophobic measures. The analysis set forth in the book examines the most sensitive implications of such a development, particularly the need to reconcile the sacrosanct principles of freedom of speech, on the one hand, with the obligation to stem any tangible threat to democracy, on the other. In trying to gain a better understanding of this complex paradox, I found Cohen-Almagor's lucid description of the distinction between freedom of expression, per se, and infringements of the Harm and Offense Principles particularly enlightening.

I too believe, like the author (and indeed, who doesn't?), in the solution outlined in Epilogue - education - as the ultimate means of delegitimizing and eventually eradicating racist politics. And yet, while pursuing the educational route, it also behooves us to continue grappling with the excruciating moral and legal dilemmas which these politics force upon us. I would heartily recommend Cohen-Almagor's book as a quintessential case study, capable of shedding light on one of the most problematic challenges to the democratic system.

Brothers Divided by Eli Jacobs

Jon Warren, New York Times bureau chief in Jerusalem finds himself in the middle of a civil war. Religious vs. secular, right- wing civilians vs. left-wing civilians. He is wanted to work for a secret government group called Brothers Division. And in the mean time the Iranians are plotting to kill millions of Israelites by tricking them into killing each other and when the time is right they will launch a missile and destroy the state of Israel. So back in Israel Jon is trying to prevent civil war by figuring out who is causing all of the trouble. And then suddenly Jon finds a thread sticking out of the sweater that will unravel the whole thing.

I recommend this book to children with large vocabularies because this book is very complicating and a little hard to understand. I would also recommend this book to any person over the age of 12. This book, I give this book five stars.

This is one of the best suspense novels involving mid-east intrigue that I have read. It is well written and fast-paced. The book also provides a vivid and cogent description of modern Israeli society and its internal tensions. It was nice to read a book that was both etertaining and informative.

As a journalist in the Middle East, and a former NY Times Deputy Bureau Chief in Jerusalem, I can say that Eli Jacobs has written a highly charged and surprisingly complex novel that combines terror and journalism in disarmingly simple language.

Jacobs has fashioned an all-too-true situation where terrorists and reporters must meet in the hundreds of shades of gray areas that lie between one's ideals and one's ambitions.

For those unfamiliar with the byways of terror and journalism, Eli Jacobs's book will be a real eyeopener, and for those who have already experienced these phenomena first-hand, Jacobs's work has the strong ring of truth.

Michael Widlanski, Former New York Times Deputy Bureau Chief, Jerusalem

I purchased this book in Jerusalem (03/24/02). What a great thriller. I found myself as tense in places as I was when I read The Red October by Tom Clancy. After reading the book I noticed that inside the front dust jacket it reads: Ages 10-14. Don't believe it. Read this book and look forward to the next two books of a promised trilogy.

This is one of the best suspense/action novels concerning Israel that I have read. I did not want to put it down. The book also provides a vivid description of modern Israeli society and its internal tensions. After reading this novel, I felt that I had gained some insight into this strategic and often misunderstood country.

A fast reading biography of a truly unusual and remarkable man. I recommend the book highly.

Every year, during May, The United States Military Academy (West Point) has a memorial service commemorating Col. David "Mickey" Marcus. If you are anywhere near West Point, you owe it to yourself to attend the service.

A well written story of one of the most unusual American war heroes as well as a stirring account of the birth of Israel.

An unusual, rather bold title; however, 'Mickey' Marcus was an unusual, incredibly bold man. The author keeps you turning each page with disbelief that this book is covering the shortened lifetime of ONE man! His list of accomplishments would look like a who's who list, only they were all accomplished by ONLY him. No matter how avid a reader, you will find yourself saying "How could one guy pull ALL this off and How come I've never heard of him before" I usually read a biography a day. This is by all means the most unforgettable and without a doubt my highest recommendation for anyone interested in the flame within man. And once you have heard of him (for this is not a book that you could put down without finishing) you will find there are thousands of web pages honoring multitudes of his individual achievements; but, this is THE book about ALL his achievements and his biographer is a GREAT writer allowing us an intimate look at an amazing person.

I was surprised at how good this book is, and how much work must have gone into writing it. Berkman who for most of his professional life was a screenwriter did a tremendous amount of research to tell this story. As a screenwriter he increases its readability by casting a great deal of it in dialogue, though this raises questions about his 'fictionalizing' at certain points.
Nonetheless there is a strong sense of the overall reliability and authenticity of the narrative. The story is a fascinating one. Marcus was a true hero , a person of tremendous personal courage and ability. He was a fighter and a man of many accomplishments. Born to a poor Jewish family, and orphaned of his father in his early years he worked hard to win entry to West Point where he was intercollegiate welterweight boxing champion. He had a successful Army career including a stretch as head of phystical training for the Army's elite Ranger unit, and was mustered out only to become Corrections Comissioner of the City of New York. But when the Second World War began he returned to the Army .He did important administrative work but eager to contribute to the battle on the ground, parachuted into the Normandy battlefield where his sense of command and battlefield savvy were vital . For his actions he won the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Bronze Star. . At the end of the war he was with Patton's forces and was among those who visited liberated Dachau. The horrors of the concentration camp deeply effected him, and were part of his decision when later called upon by emissaries from Israel, to go and volunteer and help the Jews in their fight for a homeland.
Marcus made important contributions to the disorganized and beleaguered Jewish forces. He aided Ben- Gurion , and argued for the building of conventional forces and not simply guerilla units. He urged thus that the units of the Palmach lose their independent decision- making power and become part of the overall force of the Haganah. Marcus also made a great contribution to the Israeli forces in the battle for Jerusalem by pushing for the building of an alternative route, the Burma road to Jerusalem. It was while doing this that he was killed when a guard mistook him for an enemy soldier.
Marcus was a character of great energy, imagination, and flair. Berkman tells how he too was a person of great humanistic ideals, a fighter for freedom and human dignity.
One other central theme of the story is his relation to his wife Emma who suffered his long absences but remained the anchor of his existence. The book is filled with moving excerpts of his letters to her.
Berkman's tone in this work is upbeat and promotional. He tells the story in an exciting way. Here it is possible to wonder whether he might have done more in exposing the critical opposition to Marcus.
But the book is an overwhelmingly positive and convincing one. In the course of it not only is Marcus' story told, but we have the sense of a different time, a different world and different values. This is most apparent in Marcus description of and feeling about the Israelis he serves with. He finds them to be energetic, idealistic, youthful , innovative , and above all courageous.
Marcus himself came to beleaguered Yishuv, an underdog in its war against five Arab Armies, and made a major contribution to its victory.

This book is a fantastic biography of an amazing man. He is a man who should be loved by those who love freedom, and hated by those who despise freedom. This book intimately details the sacrifices of this war hero in both WWII and the Israeli War of Independence. Ted Berkman does a superb job in documenting the feats of this man, enabling David Mickey Marcus to serve as a role model for future generations.

At a private dinner gathering in Wasington DC, before the 1996 elections in Israel, a few Congressmen, columnists, and members of Knesset listened to a warning from Jacob Gurewich, author of the recent book Chronicles of the State of Israel: "If an Israeli government will not obliterate the overture of dispensing any part of the Land of Israel-dispensing any part of the Land of Israel will obliterate such a government, and there is no doubt in my mind that there will be another war." To many, this echoed the warning of another visionary, the great Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who 77 years ago-well before the Holocaust-proclaimed to the Jews of Europe: "We are standing at the edge of an abyss. I see an avalanche on the horizon rolling toward us. We are facing an elemental cataclysmic calamity of immeasurable consequences and proportion. Either you liquidate the Diaspora or the Diaspora will liquidate you." At this same Washington gathering, Gurewich recited two poems he wrote in 1993 after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The first was "Life of Freedom or Annihilation," calling on the children of Israel to hold on to their hard-won homeland, or face destruction. The second was "They Should Be Put to Trial while They Still Live," demanding that the traitorous architects of the Oslo Accords, Peres and his ilk, be held to account for placing Israel in mortal danger by ceding territory in the heart of Israel to the terrorists who would wipe out the Jewish state altogether. "The Oslo Accords are not the road to peace," Gurewich stated then, they are the highway to terror death and destruction." Unfortunately, five years later, his vision has proven brutally true.

After reading the 60 pages of "Chronicles of the State of Israel", I looked again At the front cover of Gurewich's book. There was a picture of Jabotinsky over a Background of a Star of David and a map of Eretz-Israel on both sides of the Jordan River. I said to myself: "Alas to this orphaned nation that lost such a great leader and visionary like Ze'ev Jabotinsky."

I opened the book, and on the first page read, "The State of Israel was established on the broken necks of the Twelve who were sent to the gallows by the British hangman." So said Professor Joseph Klausner in 1947.

I turned the book over and read Jabotinsky's famous declaration many years before the Holocaust: "We are standing at the edge of an abyss, I see an avalanche on the Horizon rolling toward us. We are facing an elemental cataclysmic calamity of immeasurable consequences and proportions. Either you liquidate the Diaspora or the Diaspora will liquidate you."

I turned the pages of the book, I read in bold letters the words of Moshe Sharett, The second prime minister of Israel and a member of the Labor Party: " I said that I utterly reject Peres and see in his ascendance the most malignant form of political corruption, ... it will be a cause for national mourning and the State of Israel should render Kriah (rendering garments over the dead) if Peres becomes a minister in the government of Israel."

Ester (Cohen) Bar-Natan July 1998, Charlottesville, Virginia

One may derive incredible factual information from Chronicles of the State of Israel" (See Reviews and Commentary). In his fascinating prologue, "For Israel's 50th Anniversary," (which I would consider a wishful prophesy) Gurewich writes:..."The Arab mentality, which has led to enormous massacres among the Arab themselves, will never change, and the cycle of their hatred of Jews, of the State of Israel, and of Christians, will never be broken..."

At a private dinner gathering in Wasington DC, before the 1996 elections in Israel, a few Congressmen, columnists, and members of Knesset listened to a warning from Jacob Gurewich, author of the recent book Chronicles of the State of Israel: "If an Israeli government will not obliterate the overture of dispensing any part of the Land of Israel-dispensing any part of the Land of Israel will obliterate such a government, and there is no doubt in my mind that there will be another war." To many, this echoed the warning of another visionary, the great Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who 77 years ago-well before the Holocaust-proclaimed to the Jews of Europe: "We are standing at the edge of an abyss. I see an avalanche on the horizon rolling toward us. We are facing an elemental cataclysmic calamity of immeasurable consequences and proportion. Either you liquidate the Diaspora or the Diaspora will liquidate you." At this same Washington gathering, Gurewich recited two poems he wrote in 1993 after the signing of the Oslo Accords. The first was "Life of Freedom or Annihilation," calling on the children of Israel to hold on to their hard-won homeland, or face destruction. The second was "They Should Be Put to Trial while They Still Live," demanding that the traitorous architects of the Oslo Accords, Peres and his ilk, be held to account for placing Israel in mortal danger by ceding territory in the heart of Israel to the terrorists who would wipe out the Jewish state altogether. "The Oslo Accords are not the road to peace," Gurewich stated then, they are the highway to terror death and destruction." Unfortunately, five years later, his vision has proven brutally true.

Americans, Jews and Gentiles may be shocked and dismayed at the disturbing data brought to the surface by Chronicles of the State of Israel. Many left-oriented American Jews, as well as some U.S. government officials consider Ben-Gurion, the heads of the Jewish Agency and the leftist parties, as fitting leaders during the 40s, and after the establishment of the State of Israel.

On the first page of his book Jacob Gurewich quotes: The state of Israel was established on the broken necks of the twelve who were sent to the gallows by the British hangman. (1947, Professor Joseph Klausner.)

In his book, Gurewich says: Today, in the final analysis, looking at the horrendous Holocaust of European Jews, when an entire generation was wiped out by the German murderers, and the corrupt British Empire blockaded Israel's shores to Jews who escaped certain death in Europe and could not be able to save themselves by reaching Israel, one can declare with certainty that the British and their criminal policies extended the impact of the Holocaust. There is not the shadow of a doubt that their policies were interconnected with the massive genocide and the death camps.

In his prologue, Israel's 50th Anniversary: Gurewich writes: I see leaders and people in the State of Israel establishing a powerful organization that would form a stable government with the objective of preventing any more Holocausts ... a government that encompasses members from all the irrational numerous parties, interfacing with the parties/factions of the Left, Right, Religious, Secular and others...a government that would not cave in to pressures from the outside world...a government that would not keep Saddam Hussein's henchmen in its territory...a government that would not cede one inch of its land...a government that would not hesitate to preempt and/or powerfully retaliate against the Hitlers, the Saddam Hussein's-of today, and the Hitlers of the days to come-because they will come...a government that would secure the present and the future Jewish generations without relying on Messiahs and that no one on this planet shall ever imperil us"...And he concludes: Fanatics, especially those in religious factions will dismiss my idea but they will diminish...yet, the government will shield them, because democracy will be the crux of such a government ...democracy is like love, you should only say it if you mean it and exercise it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was both informative and interesting. I highly recommend it!

I'm a Polytheist. And the author is a Christian who converted from Judaism. Those are both monotheistic religions (to me, they are both atheistic religions, given that there isn't any difference to me between believing in one God or zero). So why did I read this book? Because the author and I are both Zionists! And I want to see what he has to say.

The first point that Levitt makes is that the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East would all do well if they were to cooperate. I agree. They would.

Now, is the land Arab or Jewish? I'd advise taking note of the fact that when the Levant has been heavily populated, the majority has been Jewish. Levitt says the land was given to the Jews by God. I do not accept that. But I accept the fact that this statement is taken seriously by many Jews! And that means I can understand why Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital, and why many Jews have shown great interest in the region. Levitt continues by saying that Jews have lived in the Levant for 3500 years, well before there were any Muslims anywhere. That's true, but it still is ancient history. He also says that the archaeology of the land is Jewish (all but one Levantine city existed in times when the Jews ruled). And, most important, the Jews won their war for survival in 1967 (and in 1948, I would add).

Now, what about the Muslims? Are they trying to take over America? As a descendant of Muslims, whose side would I be on if they tried it? Well, I'm not too happy about Islamic intolerance and its treatment of women. So it all comes down to whether we non-Muslims are already in a fight, or if we're the ones who are starting a fight.

After 9/11, my guess is that we're already in a fight with at least some Muslims. Levitt agrees, and he gives the incident of the fight over Notre Dame University's attempt to hire Tariq Ramadan as an example.

What about the Levantine Arabs? Are they a famous and ancient people, a nation from eons ago that merely wishes to have a State? Or are they simply people who are trying to attack the Middle East's Jews? I think the latter is the case, and Levitt agrees. It seems that Levitt is making quite a few good points!

What does the author say about Hanan Ashrawi? Well, let's just say that he seems to agree with me about her as well. And Levitt has some useful things to say about media anti-Israeli bias. As well as some problems academia has been having in teaching about Israel.

I'm not all that interested in the religious aspects of this book. However, I can't ignore the fact that many Christians have taken sides. Some favor the Muslims, even to the extent of supporting anti-Christian terror. Some favor the Jews. And the author has some ideas about which group is making more sense.

I think there is plenty that can be learned from Levitt's book. Unfortunately, many of the people who might benefit from it the most are unlikely to have much interest in reading it, let alone in taking anything in it seriously.

I really liked this book. The author gives you information the media ignore. He even tells you what the media are really like. Best of all, the information put forth in the book is right from Scripture. A must-read for all who want to know the truth!

As witnessed on his television program, Mr. Levitt was a master armchair raconteur, (he went to be with the Lord April 19), and more so when sifting through end time puzzles.

"Dateline Jerusalem," therefore supplies the reader a delightful read, especially those akin to Mr. Levitt's theological leanings, though one reviewer has already noted agreeing with Zola greatly while still disagreeing with his most important conclusion, that Jesus is Ha Maschiach.

Perhaps the greatest test of a work is it's staying power, and this work shall be enjoyable however long the Lord should tarry before entering the author's dateline city.

Importantly, positions are firmed in regards to many of the major issues of the day including insights into his testimony, the Jews, the Muslims to name just the first few chapter headings.

An essayist of the first order in an age when that rank is sadly thinning, Mr. Levitt's exit still leaves his projection of wisdom and courage yet needed for this hour.

TL Farley,
author,
When Now Becomes Too Late,
Distant Reaches

When Now Becomes Too Late { Print Edition }

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{ Prophecy : The Rapture in Brief ! }


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From keen insights into media bias, to refreshing keys to Israel's proper role in world affairs, Dateline Jerusalem is packed with hard-hitting analysis plus new and startling information. What is the Palestinian agenda? Will Israel survive in today's hostile climate? Can America win the war on terror? What End Times events are just around the corner? After giving his testimony in the first chapter, Zola devotes chapters to the Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, the government, media, education, churches, End Times and, finally, questions and answers. Brilliant book - highly recommend it!!