Israel Books

Malcolm Hay, a profoundly good man, wrote this book to document, once and for all, the history of Christian anti-Semitism (or: "Jew-hatred").

The whole history is here, folks. We have to start with the difficult facts that (1) all early Christians, including Jesus and St. Paul, were Jews, and (2) the entire "Christian Bible" had been written by Jews. Given these primary facts, it would seem insane, or preposterous, to allege that these very same Christians, and their children) would become the biggest Jew-haters in the world.

But it did indeed happen. At the beginning, everyone was Jewish -- Jew and Christian alike. But the differences in faith obviously created a schism. And so the "Christian Jews" were faced with the eternal problem of defining their own, separate, identity -- and various articles of the Jewish faith got tossed overboard. Just as one example, circumcision: mandatory for Jews, it was first discarded by St. Paul during his successful attempt to convert the Roman and Greek pagans (who, for obvious reasons, had no desire to endure this useless and painful surgery as adult males). That was just the beginning. In the end, circumcision became a way to identify persons of differing religions -- Christians were not circumcised, while Jews and Muslims were.

Are human beings petty, or not? Malcolm Hay asks many of these questions as he moves beyond the early schism, and begins discussing such major Jew-haters as St. John Chrysostom. This marvellous "saint" preached and wrote a whole series of "Homilies Against the Jews." I could quote them here, but it would be too offensive for community standards. But I will note one curious fact, that hardly anyone else seems to have noticed: the Roman Catholic Church has finally disowned those "Homilies Against the Jews." If you go to a good religious library, you can often find the old edition of Chrysostom, which contains all those nasty volumes. The newer edition simply cuts the homilies against the Jews, without a word.

As we move forward into history, into the Middle Ages, we begin to see people (i.e. Jews) being burned alive.

But I'm not going to tell you the entire story. You need to get this book and read it yourself.

And then look over your shoulder to see the latest world religion which has based itself on hating Jews.

Yes, this is an excellent book. And the prefaces by Thomas Sugrue and by Walter Kaufmann are good too.

As a Pagan, I've wondered about the horror some people have had for human rights. This goes for plenty of groups that have attacked others mainly in order to enslave them, kill them, and above all, deprive them of truth, justice, and human rights.

Pagans are not immune from behaving badly. But I wanted to see just what Christians did, and when they did it. And while Christians managed to kill most of the European Pagans they came across in short order, many Jews were not so, um, lucky: quite a few survived to be further oppressed.

Well, how did this all happen? Malcolm Hay asks this question after relating some of the horror of what happened to the Jews during World War 2. Where had this hatred and contempt come from? Why all the anti-Jewish propaganda? Was this contrary to Christianity? An integral part of it? Which Christian leaders were truly the most to blame for it? As a Christian, Hay clearly wants to know how to make sense of all this.

Hay starts with the Gospel according to St. John, which refers to "the Jews" in a very negative way, and more important refers to them in general. He then goes to the fourth century, and looks at some of the language used about the Jews by the leading Christians. That includes St. John Chrysostom, who is still very highly regarded by Christian writers. However, "the violence of the language used by St. John Chrysostom in his homilies against the Jews has never been exceeded by any preacher whose sermons have been recorded." This hatred is traced through the Dark Ages down through the centuries, to the present.

I think this confirms that a main source of the problem was from the time when Christianity first became powerful. And I think it raises the question of whether hatred was the main message of Christianity at that time.

We then see how this hatred became part of the culture, so that violence could erupt without any real provocation at numerous times. We see St. Bernard's indifference to Crusader attacks on Jews. We see outbreaks of blood-libels. Of the Inquisition. And mistreatment by one Pope after another. And of the viciousness against Jews displayed by Martin Luther. And the Dreyfus affair.

I think the most interesting part of the book is the description of how this culture contributed to slanders and injustices perpetrated against Zionists in the first half of the twentieth century. This book was written in 1950, and it is worth reading about the antisemitism of many Europeans towards the Levantine Jews (many of whom were of European origin). I think this helps one to see how European antisemitic attitudes supported some of the most racist Arabs and have helped perpetuate Arab intolerance for all non-Arabs and non-Muslims, not just for Jews.

All in all, it is a superbly written book. It's depressing to read it, of course. One wonders what is wrong with a species that can do so much damage to itself almost effortlessly.

I give this book five stars because it is an extreme form of honesty. For that it deserves to get as much credit as it can get from anyone who longs to have the opportunity to read the truth about anything. I find the book difficult to read, but people whose minds have absorbed the awesome responsibility assumed by the United States at the end of World War II for maintaining a peace which surpasses the decency of any former age ought to see if they can relate to the author's position on this work as a classic example of how historical ethics can subsequently be applied to anything which tended to favor the worst kinds of behavior.

There is something in this book, and in Isaiah, about an ox and something too absurd to relate in a review as an actual sermon that has been preserved for hundreds of years. ...The problem with reading this book (for those who would consider such an activity to be anything other than a distraction from the daily activities of our mundane world) is the problem that anyone who seeks a foundation for an honest society might still express: among whom would an honest society be more likely, or even possible?

Europe and the Jews is the definitive description of the birth and growth of anti-semitism in Europe, leaving the reader with a deep and disturbing understanding how the world can sit by and allow the systematic murder of millions of innocent people. The book is written clearly and with a surprisingly appropriate touch of irony. This book is an excellent companion to the "Hinges of History" books written by Thomas Cahill. It is a scholarly work that is extensively documented -- it would have to be considering the material covered, but it never becomes dry or impersonal. Mr. Hay never lets the reader forget he is describing the fate of millions of souls over the centuries. The lessons in this book should give us the courage to expose and resist those that would commit genocide anywhere in our world.

Lynn Austin is a wonderful writer who has been able to bring the history of the Bible to life while maintaining true to historical fact. It is amazing how you can visualize the trials and events that shaped the lives of these people from so long ago.

I've been nothing less then impressed with this series since book #1. And after book #4, "Faith of My Fathers," I'm still highly impressed. Taking the story of Manasseh, Lynn Austin seemingly took it, and split it into two parts. And she was quite clever with the delivery. Some might assume that this came to an abrupt ending, leaving the reader clueless. If you know your Bible, there's nothing clueless about it. This is what I'd call the II Kings version of the story. Yet in The Bible, Manasseh's story continues in II Chronicles. And it worked that way with a lot of the kings. In a lot of cases, most of the kings we read about in The Bible concerning The Northern and Southern Kingdoms were split into two different sections, II Kings, and II Chronicles. From Jehoshaphat, to Joash, to Amaziah, to Jotham, to Hezekiah, to Manasseh! ALL THESE KINGS and more were split up into the two sections. Ok, there's the Bible history lesson! What about this story? Read on!

Ahaz, Manasseh's great-grandfather, was one of the most worthless kings in all of the history. And Manasseh wasn't too far behind him. He was the son of one of the greatest kings to ever reign, Hezekiah. If you don't know the whole story and read this, you'll wonder if anything good ever came out of Manasseh. Lynn Austin, being the author, and better yet, the voice of reason, gives Manasseh a reason to be bitter, and to do what he did. But Austin gives Manasseh a childhood friend in Joshua, who's as clumsy as an Ox! His nickname is Ox. But something happens. And from nicknames to nonsense, there is a reason that these two former best friends are now bitter enemies. King Manasseh is nothing but a master of disaster, and he raises hell throughout the land! He has people executed, and he destroys what he father put together. Joshua wants nothing more then to get even.

If you're wondering if some of the things in this are extreme, they are indeed. What's worse, they really happened. But the good news is that certain people didn't forget the faith their fathers held so dear. I think that's where the title comes from. Because when times get so tough, the question is simple. Are we going to run to God, or run away from God? I'd personally suggest not running away from the great Yahweh! But I think when things get tough, you want to be a rebel just as much as Manasseh. But what do you do? Where do you turn? And for the record, by the time THIS story comes to a close, he still has a chip on his shoulder.

But there is one final installment, and it happens to be "Among The Gods." I think it should be pretty good. That's probably going to be Lynn Austin's II Chronicles part of this story. I already know the end, but I can't wait to read her novelization of it! She's a great storyteller. So far, I have yet to be disappointed.

ms austin is the first female author i,ve ever read, but after reading this series on the kings of judah it's completely opened my mind to all writers;the only regret is she didn't continue on with more books in the series.

Faith of my Fathers is the 4th book in Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series. After King Hezekiah's death, his son Mannasseh becomes king at age 12. Fear grips Mannasseh's heart as he begins to question God as to why his father died when he faithfully served God. Years later, as he goes to visit his mother's grave in the cemetry he comes upon a man who calls himself a "priest" and begins to accuse everything Mannasseh has grown up with and had been taught. The accussations make Mannessah call upon the prophet Isaiah and his palace adminstrator Eliakim--Mannessah's boyhood friend Joshua's father. During their conforntation King Mannessah accuses Eliakim and Isaiah of conspiring aganist him, using Isaiah's own prophecies aganist him. Eventually Eliakim and Isaiah are executed leaving Eliakim's family in great danger. Joshua and Mannasseh, once best friends have become bitter rivals. Joshua must now find a way to flee Mannasseh's terror while keeping his family safe.

I found this book to be the best out of the first four. And since they keep getting better and better I am guessing the fifth and last book to be more amazing! Lynn Austin does a wonderful job depciting the terror of Mannaseh's reign. He is simply insecure and believes everyone is plotting aganist him. Instead of turning to Yahweh he starts turning to the stars, mediums, etc. for answers. He even begins promoting orgies for worship and sets up Asherah poles and places for women to "offer" themselves to the idol goddess. I have never shed a tear in the first 3 books of this series but the beginning of the book when Eliakim and Isaiah were being falsely accussed and then executed drew a tear from me. It's amazing to see how even when confined to the darkness of a prison and facing death the next morning, these two men trusted God to the very end. I also found it exciting to read about Joshua's plans and such for smuggling himself and his family out of the country. Especially near the end he decides to smuggle the ark of the covenant and Mannasseh's brother--Prince Amariah to Eqypt.

With a host of new characters and some old ones as well this is definatly worth the read. I'm looking forward to reading "Among the Gods" and hope Lynn Austin decides to write more biblical fiction in the future. :-)

I was stunned by the quality of Shamir's writing. No dry review can convey the richness of his descriptions of the Palestinian landscape and people, and their brutalisation and dispossession by Israel. This is up with the best travely writing, and the best literature ever. The eye and mind just effortlessly gulp up his writing. He is controversial, not just because he exposes the injustice of the occupation, but because he goes to the heart of the matter ( where few dare look), identifying the locus of Israel's power in the financial power of US jewish elites. I think this is obviously correct, but he goes even further; he identifies some facets of jewish culture and religion which he considers malign. I think this should not be off limits, considering the amount of coverage given to those who claim that there is something inherently violent in Islam. But I don't accept his answer - that jews convert to Christianity. I think it's time we all outgrew religion, of any kind. This latter trend in his writing, is not so evident here as in his later writing where it intrudes too much for my taste.
Even if you violently disagree with Shamir, few could fail to be impressed by his writing. At one point, he even draws an analogy with the tv science fiction series, Babylon 5 (my all-time favourite), which shows, to me, that he has a profound sense of what's valuable.Babylon 5 - The Complete Television Series (5-Pack)

A rich and deeply felt examination...

Details life in the Occupied Territories with sensitivity, insight and a fine eye for moral ambiguities. Highly recommended!

It's books like this that remind you some things definitely need to be put into book form to be properly appreciated. I remember reading it sitting outside of a Starbucks several nights in a row and having revelation after revelation alter my perception of the world - and for the better, I knew as one who experiences an epiphany.

The beautiful essays in this book show the heart of someone who truly loves Palestine and its people and makes the reader share that love. I'm ashamed to think of how I used to fall for the portrayal, by "the masters of discourse," of the Palestinians. Shamir, through this book, most certainly helped wise me up.

Shamir has been accused of being anti-Semitic, but actually this formerly Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity is not against any innocent people, be they Jewish or non-Jewish. He is against the ideology of Judaic Supremacism, and God bless him for that.

Reading this book is so rewarding that I can't even come up with words to explain how I feel about it. Divinely inspired, for the most part, I scarcely think are words of hyperbole.

With every word, every phrase, Israel Shamir displays his love
of the holy land. I've read lots of books on the Middle East,
but this is - by far - the most compelling. I really cannot
express how important this book is to me, so I'll include a
quote from Nick Pretzlick, which I agree with wholeheartedly:

"Israel Shamir is in love with the Holy Land. He has a
passion for the land and its people; he believes the
two are umbilically linked. For him there is only one
viable solution to the conflict that has ravaged the
region for so long and that is the one state solution.
Shamir is a humanist and although he is scathing about
Palestine's enemies - the Jewish elite - he takes
pride in and writes lovingly about the courageous
Jews, who resist Israeli crimes.

Flowers of Galilee is a collection of essays, so full
of affection - such an elegy of love - that, reading
it for the first time, I felt impelled to delay the
turning of pages, preferring instead to linger over
images - to savour the sentiments.

Shamir does not pull any punches. He challenges
conventional thinking, but he does so with honesty,
affection and such thorough understanding and
knowledge that his outspokenness is reasonable and
rational. Flowers of Galilee is an eye opener - a
learning experience. It is also enchanting."

A quarter-century after his death, Yadin is still the best-known and probably still the most important archaeologist Israel has produced. (He was also, in his other life, Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces and Assistant Prime Minister under Menachem Begin.) This marvelous book was published when I was a college senior pursuing a degree in Classical Studies, and I happened to be immersed in Josephus -- the only written source for the Jewish civil war, of which Masada was the climax -- when someone first called my attention to it. Perfect timing! The doomed defense of Masada against Flavius Silva's siege, and the suicide of the defenders rather than surrendering, was, of course, one of the most dramatic and vividly emotional events in Rome's history -- at least to us, nearly twenty centuries later. But the plateau had been inhabited for generations before that, especially by the Herodians, who built a fortified refuge at the north end. Yadin's expedition in the early 1960s thoroughly investigated Herod's three-level palace, complete with wall paintings and floor mosaics (and an enormous horde of First Century coins), as well as the physical remains of the Roman siege and the Jewish defense. Among those remains was a small collection of potsherds, on one of which was written the name "Ben Ya'ir." I imagine its discovery made the finder's hair stand up on end, for Eleazar ben Ya'ir was the leader of the Zealots, and these ostraca were almost certainly connected with the very last defenders, those who killed all the others on Masada and then killed each other, until the last survivor killed himself. This is a popular treatment of the expedition's discoveries, but the level of scholarship is still profound. It's also heavily illustrated, with nearly a hundred color plates and numerous maps and plans. If you're interested in Israel's archaeology (as opposed to "Bible archaeology," whatever that means), this is a book you will want to own.

If you are at all interested in bibical history, then this book is for you. Mr Yadin writes extremely well and there are innumerable pictures to support the text

This is an excellent book about the "dig" at Masada and the history of that dominant piece of rock in the Judean desert. I have been there and "kicked the tires" in May 2007 and was interested in expanding my knowledge of what has transpired there over the centuries. Excellent historical, archaeological narrative and pictures and as the Israeli Soldiers say when taking their oath on the rock..."Never Again".

Yigael Yadin is a gifted author who narrates history with captivating excitement. I have read several books and articles on the subject of Masada over the past several years and would recommend this as the most informative and understandable of them all. The before, during and after, excavation photos are amazing and contribute volumes in giving the reader the "Masada Experience." This book is valuable for both the novice and the scholar. It's an excellent introduction to what Masada is all about for the novice. The scholar will find Yadin's love of history details and his awesome photo illustrations compelling and helpful for instruction as well as understanding.

the book was in fine shape just as it was said to be
thank you

I bought this book years ago in a book store. Probably soon after it was first published. I thought I had lost it in a move and was planning to buy a used copy but, found the original. It is pack full of useful information for a small farm. From the barn to the garden to the kitchen. From raising your own milk cow to making your own yogurt; from gardening to storing the harvest. Lots of good info that I have used as a referenced for the last 30 years. I am so glad I found it again.

I found this book at yard sale years ago. Someone wanted to borrow it and i could not part with it even on a loan. Glad to see that its still avail. What do you want to know about homesteading? Its in here plus some. I've not seen another book like it ever. You will not be disappointed.

I know this isn't a true "self-help" book, but for a new homesteader (or those just thinking about it) it is! Anything I could think of to want to learn how to do, I found it in this book! In fact, a freind of mine had an olive tree and didn't know what to do with the olives. He didn't want them to just go to waste. He found the answer in this book. It showed him how to cure them, 2 different ways...I truely beleive that most of what you'll find in this book, would have been lost information had it not been writen down in "The Homesteaders Handbook" A definate must have!

"After too many years looking for an answer, a man marries the most beutiful woman in the world, with her, he's got most of the things he's ever wanted in life. Except money"... Josh and Joan, a happily married couple, decided to take a week of and fly to Las Vegas. There, they met Ibraham, an Arab billionaire, which proposed Joan to spend a night with him, in exchange of a million dollars. Joan and Josh felt desperate and empty, they did not know what to do. Finally they both decided to accept the proposal. After that night, Josh and Joan werent the same, everything seemed to go wrong. They decided to separate, and Joan left with Ibraham.Later on, she realizes that the only man she belonged to was Josh,she discoverd how deeply in love she was with him, and returned to Josh. This novel shows how ambition can destroy your life. It taught me that everyone should be happy with what they have, and try to make the best out of it. Who cares if you have all the money in the world, all the cars you've ever wanted if you dont have love.Love is life, and it's free.

I am a fan of Robert Redford so I enjoyed the movie, but it was NOTHING compared to this book.

Jack Engelhard while telling an interesting story is super adept at weaving in moral dilemmas which make his readers THINK!!!

Bottom line...the book is better than the movie by far.

BTW...I have read ESCAPE FROM MOUNT MORIAH...I just wonder if it weren't for Adolf Hitler, Jack could well have become a rabbi...a very distinguished rabbi.

REALLY GREAT BOOK, Jack!! You and Cassell write about different Atlantic Citys. Yours is the Atlantic City of today:slick and tinseled...as opposed to Cassell's shabby but colorful.

Love lost and regained... maybe... at what price.

I quest for novels like this (The Bathsheba Deadline: An Original Novel was one, too), which are inspired and masterfully presented, but which do not leave the reader in the hopeless state of wanting to jump off a cliff, or off a skyscraper or high bridge, whichever arrives first.

Not only that, the story surged contemplations on various vital issues of life games... politics, religion, culture, all of what Engelhard ascribed to King David (the protagonist, Josh's man) as "lover, poet, warrior, sinner, king"... (I flipped instantly to page 61 when looking to verify that list, ha!)

Each character in this novel is precisely, profoundly, psychologically on target, with Joan, Josh, and Ibrahim being the prime trilogy in that observation:

--- Joan must have written her part, as the author accused of her in his introductory remarks, because her psychology of the feminine, as it is breaking down and rebuilding itself, are true to that psyche and hormonal balance which limits, defines, and elevates that gender, a gender which each human has within.

--- Ibrahim must also have written his part, because, as it appears to me, he is an embodiment of the pure strength and raw beauty of princely power, and of the potently rich addiction of profanity, both within his Amalekite blood.

--- Of course, Joshua, as bred by the author, constantly works the phenomenal growth potential inherent in his Jewish ancestral blood, as he relentlessly responds to the dynamic demand of consciousness shifting through the kaleidoscopic, mesmerizing, eternal process of thesis, antithesis, synthesis.

As I was reading somewhere in chapter 27 of INDECENT PROPOSAL, a thought came to mind:

"THIS IS A NOVEL."

I've never said that before, in that way, and in the most precise sense of the term "novel." For me, INDECENT PROPOSAL has delineated the term. Regarding that novel, I mean that term in the full, brightest sense of an inspired, artistic, structural accomplishment enhanced by the ability to entertain and enthrall a reader within the circular cohesion of a story format.

The complicated twists leading to the denouement of this story were awesome.

They had me fluctuating between seeing the book as a novel in the sense of bright-side brilliance...

... (especially during the reader's joy in experiencing the growing anticipation between Josh and Joan that the New York scene they had planned as a renewal of their love might work a healing magic for this pair of desert-crossed lovers)...

... then seeing the book as a novel of dark-side brilliance (on par with the literary classics, many of which I honestly can't condone as contributing to the mental health of the human race)...

... then flipping maybe a couple more times between the bright and dark... finally ending with the conclusion that INDECENT PROPOSAL has honored the grace of art and redemption of soul.

All of which brings me to noting how much I was impressed and edified by seeing parts from Escape from Mount Moriah: Memoirs of a Refugee Child's Triumph, Engelhard's childhood memoirs, bleeding, literally, into PROPOSAL. Now, of course, I see why ESCAPE stepped up to me to be read just prior to PROPOSAL, and why I was compelled to buy both in the same order on Amazon.

A question which remains after having read INDECENT PROPOSAL is:

Why did the movie move away from the intriguing, if discomforting, thematic landmine within the original novel.

Of course, the introductory essays to this original version of the novel made the opening reading of the first chapter all the more riveting, especially knowing ahead of time that this book contrasts so obviously with the movie.

As Englehard detailed generously in his intro remarks, the attempt to translate a novel into a movie is always limited by the forms of text Vs film. Also involved, as I know from my own perspective, is the fact that reading a novel aloud takes around 7 hours; whereas a movie's average run is under 2 hours. In any case, a balsamic touch for condensation is required for an honorable translation.

In this case, the movie script did not go balsamic with the essence of the original novel. It did ingeniously exploit one of the surface concepts of the book, while ignoring the deeper issues in the novel, eclipsing them with a concept of "every woman's fantasy." That fantasy may have been true for the screenwriter, but is not true for me, and not true for 90% of the female population, in my opinion.

Truly, the translation from novel to screenplay was confusing.

There was a reason that the female lead in the original novel was a high-spirited, gorgeous, blond Gentile. There were reasons that it was an Arab prince, an enormously wealthy Sheik, who tempted a Jewish man and his wife. There were reasons for the setting of the story being in Atlantic City's gambling cassinos, with the Jewish man being unlucky in his gambling addiction due to the intensity of his need, with the Arab prince owning the dark luck his wealth and ancient blood empowered. Where did all those reasons go.

As others have said, Engelhard has accomplished something timeless, eternal, and primal in this book. To acknowledge the publisher, Huberman's understatement, it holds universal messages.

Possibly, when this book was written on Engelhard's kitchen table, and later when it was made into a blockbuster movie, the human race was not ready to be entertained by the primitive sides of politics and truth. At that time, we were buying the romantic ideal, paying for redemption through rose-tints.

In the long run, truth designs a much bolder, richer story. Jack Engelhard has presented that story with literary finesse, with gritty depth and enthralling prose.

I love movies as well as books, yet I wonder if a movie could ever capture what this author can bring to life in an original novel.

Long may he write.

In some ways movie producers today have been getting away with politically and culturally adventurous plots. Maybe they're closer now to portraying the type of bold and rich which resides in the true novelist's soul.

Every minute of every day is a choice and a second chance (I said that).

Linda Shelnutt

Check out also Engelhard's Kindle novel, The Girls of Cincinnati
And see the works of John W. Cassell for novels of the same caliber which also embody the qualities praised in this review.

Oh, boy! This book is really something else. Although the movie gets the general idea of the plot, the characters are totally different from the book. Woody Harleson is a dark, moody and sacrastic European Jew obsessed with his blonde trophy wife. He lives in Philadelphia that he so deliciously hates. When the twosome go to Atlantic City (Vegas would be too happy a place), they meet, Robert Redford? Nooo! An evil oil prince from some desert kingdom. And this time it's not about money...

Bowley does a great job with this book! Lots of good archaeological/historical connections, relevant and well-organized information, and a good pace.

I enjoyed the book immensely (I was the copyeditor), and I've already recommended it to friends as a great textbook for classroom use.

This guided tour of Israel's sacred library is a welcome gift. Prof. Bowley's scholarship, while vast, is unpretentious; and his tone is pleasingly informal. He is indeed a valuable guide for those of us who are not biblical scholars, but who want to go more deeply into our spiritual heritage. I found his treatment of the minor prophets, for example, especially useful when teaching a Sunday School class. The book, like a good friend, does two things and does them well: it warmly invites us into its world, but it does not leave us the same. With regard to the latter, a distinct virtue of the book lies in its prying us loose from the familiar. For those of us used to reading the Hebrew scriptures exclusively through Christian eyes, Prof. Bowley has done an invaluable service-helping us, through his own love for these writings, to see our tradition afresh.

For those looking to expand their knowledge of the Old Testament this book
is a must! The Old Testament is challenging document and this book helps guide you thru. I believe there is so much to learn about the Old Testament and the Instruction to Hebrew Bible- A Guided Tour Of Israel's Sacred Library helps you on your quest for more knowledge.

In this book, Bowley provides a broad yet concise survey of the Hebrew Bible. While not reading like a text book, this book offers a historical/literary study of the Hebrew Bible that includes the latest scholarship in the subject area, pays attention to translation issues, and points out ways we modern readers unknowingly hinder our own understanding of the ancient texts. The author's informal "tour guide" approach makes the book easy and enjoyable to read, inviting the reader into the sacred texts and ancient world in which they were written. I highly recommend this book, believing both the novice and the scholar will find it worthwhile.

Ms. Roraback's "Iraq in a Nutshell" as well as her entire Nutshell Note series should be required reading in our Public Schools. Ms. Rorabacks' written work will "open the eyes " of readers wishing to learn and experience the present middle east including information regarding its origin, social and cultural way of life. The "Iraq in a Nutshell" book is extremely organized, professional and informative. Ms. Roraback has a profound way of sharing information while being completely objective both politically and religiously . Our present perceptions of the middle east are generally based on both myth and strero-type. Ms. Roraback has managed to show us a new a clear image of a people and land we know little about. I highly recommended this reading. Daniel Burke, Los Angeles, Ca.

I am amazed at how clearly, concisely, and objectively this book explains the complex history and politics of Iraq in just 60 pages! As a high school history teacher I strongly recommend this book for every household, classroom, and White House bookshelf.

I have a few of these "Nutshell Notes" books and I have even visited the website, www.nutshellnotes.com and I must say that these books do a superb job of telling it like it is--no fluff, no confusion, no words that I have to look up in the dictionary every other sentence, just pure, concise information.
I also really like that the author's voice is not tainted by any particular right or left wing opinon, it is very journalistic and straight forward. You can pick it up, read for one minute or one hour and you will come away having learned something new.
I recommend these books for anyone from a seventh grader doing a school report to an adult interested in getting themself more educated in the world issues at hand. It is definitely worth $5.95, in fact, I think they should go for more!

After enjoying Amanda Roraback's Islam in a Nutshell, I allocated a portion of my day to devour another in her series of "Nutshell" books. Iraq, with its pivotal location as a hotbed of humanity, seemed the next logical destination. I turned off CNN (talking heads blah blah), unplugged the phone (telemarketer blah blah), hopped offline (porn blah blah) and began reading. Once again, my time was well spent as I journeyed into the Middle East as it was then and learned why it is now. Granted, this wonderful read went to publication just as the war commenced, so don't expect any capture of Saddam insights. Not to worry, though, as you'll be brought up to speed as to Iraq's history in a way that's as entertaining as is it informative. Roraback's objectivity remains intact, as it concludes with a valuable Arguments Against War and Arguments In Favor of War section that should be required reading for hawks and doves alike. Someday soon I will try and contact Ms. Roraback to see if she's working on a Britney Spears' Wedding in a Nutshell, but she'd probably tell me that would be redundant.

Shlomo Aloni's ISRAELI F-15 EAGLE UNITS IN COMBAT joins others in the 'Osprey Combat Aircraft' series to narrow the focus on the Israeli F-15 Eagle Unit, bought in the mid-1970s to secure Israeli air superiority in the region for decades. The history of these aircraft, their engagements, and their crews is supplemented with black and white and color photos throughout.

Osprey Publishing has produced another winner written by Shlomo Aloni. All of his books (and the series for that matter) are thoroughly researched, and when possible, take accounts from BOTH sides of a conflict.

Equip some of the deadliest fighter pilots in the world with a killer fighter superior to anything flown by its opponents and what do you get? Kill ratios of 33-to-0! That is the record of the superlative F-15 in Israeli service, a record chronicled in Shlomo Aloni's latest book for Osprey.

This is Aloni's third Israeli Air Force book for Osprey and, like the previous volumes, his unparalleled access to aircrew and commanders once again shines through. After years of reading books on the IAF/DF recounting the exploits of "pilot X" and "Captain Z," it is so refreshing to read of crack pilots named Yoram Peled, Benny Zinker and Avner Naveh.

After reading the many first-person accounts of dogfights featured in the book, you almost feel sorry for the hapless MiG-21 and -23 pilots who sortied against Israeli F-15 squadrons! Aloni's book also supplies useful background on the politics behind the IDF/AF acquisition, introduction and development of the F-15.

The text is illustrated with 75 color and black & white photographs along with nine pages of color profiles by Chris Davey.

A very nice package on an awesome aircraft and its crack pilots!

By 1973, the Israeli Air Force had built a strong reputation. While its aircraft were broadly equivalent to those of its enemies, the Israelis were generally superior in training, motivation, maintenance, intelligence and command and control. This situation dramatically changed when the Israelis became the first foreign customer of the US Air Force's new F-15 Eagle, a truly superior aircraft. By 1979, Israeli F-15s were blooded in combat against the Syrians, and over the next few years destroyed dozens more Syrian aircraft with no combat losses of their own. Israeli F-15s also flew top cover in the strike against the Iraqi nuclear reactor, destroyed the PLO headquarters in Tunis, and were ready to strike during Operation Desert Storm. A new chapter in Israeli Air Force history opened with the arrival of the F-15I. Unfortunately the book does not cover the use of Israeli F-15s in Lebanon in 2006, which presumably happened after the book was written.

Author Shomo Aloni not only writes about the combat usage of the F-15 by the Israelis, but also its acquisition, deployment, non-combat losses and upgrading. It's a fascinating story, told well and with Osprey's usual outstanding color plates. What is surprising is that the normally secretive Israeli Air Force allowed this kind of information to be published about a type that is in front-line service.

My only complaint with the book is that it contains several small but annoying errors. On page 33, the date of the photo is given as 1972 which is obviously impossible since the Israelis did not have any F-15s in 1972. In several places in the book, the F-15 is described as using the AIM-9G missile. In fact, the AIM-9G was a US Navy missile that was not compatible with the F-15, and the AIM-9J was used at this time.

Despite these errors, this is a fine book.

Whether you have children or not, this book will help you plan your Israel travel. It lists many attractions, tourist sites, museums, national parks, etc., including hours of operation, phone and fax numbers, and whether there is a fee. As a professional travel planner specializing in Israel travel, I highly recommend this book to all my clients, even those traveling without children!

We used this book every day of our 2 week trip to Israel with 3 children aged 1-8. Our friends then borrowed the book for a 3 week trip with 5 children aged 6-16. The sections of the book are broken down by geography, with handy maps to assist you in setting up your schedule, whether your hotel is in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Tiberias or Eilat. The greatest benefits of the book include the phone numbers of the tourist sites as well as the hours which each location is open. The author even recommends ideal hotels and activities based on your children's ages.

This book is does an OK job describing activities for kids, but it is VERY outdated. Israel is changing rapidly and this book is in need of a new revised edition. It lists places like the Dolphinarium as a place to take kids. The Dolphinarium was turned in to a disco years ago.

You can use this book for some ideas, but double check everything before you go, the activity may no longer be there.

Barbara Sofer is one of the most knowledgable writers on everyday life in the land of Israel. In this outstanding guide she pays special attention to the attractions which will be especially appealing to families.
Israel is a small country extremely crowded with interesting sights and people.
This is an outstanding guidebook to a remarkable land.