Israel Books

This brilliantly researched piece is true history at its best. Meticulously well done it is the only good history of the 1948 war, a masterpiece that is unfortunately only half completed. It details struggles, debates, raids and ambushes in the most honest and fair manner, using concrete evidence without bias and without politics. This book should be required reading for the Israeli-Arab conflict, however it is often brushed over to more easy to read shorter histories of the 1948 war. However despite this many volumed length of the project this is a grasping and exciting read, drawing on military and political topics, discussing minorities and often unheard of events. All students of the middle east and Israel and military history will enjoy this.

Volume II covers the period between November 29th, 1947 the partition resolution and the end of the Mandate, April 15th 1948.

Seth J. Frantzman

This is the first and probably still the best history of russian and polish jews. Written in russian before the WWI it did appear in english in three volumes in 1916, 1918 and 1920. ( up to my knowledge there is no russian edition of the book) Book of S. W. Baron written some 50 years after has aditional information but still book of Dubnow gives a lot of original research for the first time. Aniway it is different in approach with underlying philosophy of Dubnow's jewish history.

This work originally written for ' Encyclopedia Judaica' is a good account of the history of the land of Israel until 1880. It is highly recommended as a survey introductory volume.

This book was written by a Jewish author and published by the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem. It details the genocidal work of German Nazis and their many Ukrainian collaborators in the mass murder of Volhynia's Jews. It conspicuously refrains from the usual purely Judeocentric approach to the Holocaust by including discussion of the systematic genocide of at least 40,000 innocent Polish civilians by Ukrainian nationalist forces (first the Ukrainian collaborationist police, and then the UPA--the so-called Ukrainian Insurgent Army, whose slogan was "First the Jews, then the Poles"). Just as significant is what the book does NOT say. In contrast to the anti-Polish stereotypes of much popular-level Holocaust material, the book makes it clear that, with one alleged exception, pogroms of Jews conducted in 1941 (on the heels of the invading German army) were conducted by Ukrainians and not Poles. In contrast to the usual unsubstantiated sweeping accusations of the AK (the Polish Home Army) killing fugitive Jews, Spector makes it clear that such instances were rare (even if one assumes that they were unjustified by such things as Jewish robberies and murders of Polish villagers, etc.). Spector pointedly asserts that there were NO massacres of Jews conducted by the AK. To the contrary, Spector estimates that there were 200-300 Jews openly serving in the Volynian branch of the Polish Home Army (AK). He even nullifies his own argument about the relative infrequency of such participation by acknowledging what Poles have been saying all along--that relatively few Jews had sufficient military training (p. 285) to make them desirable volunteers in guerilla forces. Spector also spends considerable time in discussing how Jews were helped by Poles. I only wish that more books about the Holocaust showed such overall balance and objectivity!

p. xxvi: "This work has been written by a Christian mystic & chiefly for the use of mystics & p. 565: Intended, primarily at least, for the theosophical student." However, as Rexworth states in his Introduction-- p. xv: [Waite] "never loses...the true scientific scholar's skepticism...he strips away the nonsense, explores the facts, & leaves you to draw your own conclusions." This work is a scientific analysis by a highly respectful, skeptical, mystic. His annoying, though common, transliterations (i.e. p. 221 Barach for Baruch, continued use of "vau" though he mentions "vav," etc.), many untranslated (mostly unnecessary) French & Latin phrases, & occasional Christian theological interjections are hardly worth mentioning regarding the quality of this magisterial work. It is rare to experience such discriminating knowledge (per Tantric Buddhism) in a mystical or occult work. He also demonstrates incredible equanimity in treading on so many clay feet. His critical threshold is quite high, but his scholarly, well-documented, & well-argued presentation is virtually irresistible. He denies many others' assertions regarding authorship & antiquity of the Zohar, connections between Kabbalah & alchemists & other occultists, the validity of Practical Kabbalah, & Christian apologetics on Kabbalah. For example, he states that p. 351: "We must beware, however, of being misled by apparent correspondences with Christian Trinitarian doctrine, p. 9 note 2: "About the Magical Kabbalah, the antiquity must be left unsettled; regarding its folly & iniquity there is no question, & pp. 60-1: It is useless to reason with those whose confidence is not shaken in the face of impossibilities, whose imagination can bridge all gulfs in evidence by fantastic suppositions. On the other hand, there is the crass criticism which rules off a literature by a single stroke of a pen into the region of forgery & imposture, as it rules off all psychical phenomena...It proved Troy town to be a solar mythos till Troy town was excavated...An indiscriminate rejection is not much less superficial than an over-credulous acquiescence in a non-proven claim."

This book covers a broad spectrum but not much on pre-Zoharic Theosophy. Indeed, it tends to concentrate on the Zohar and considerable reference to the Sepher Yetzirah. He delineates both similarities & differences between Kabbalah & other mystical teachings, stating that, p. 601: "In Kabbalistic Theosophia Magna is a modality of soul attainment which is second to none in the whole of mystical testimony & p. 66: Ain Sof is that final concept of the Deity which is reached by all true metaphysics." He also makes it clear that he is a mystic and not an occultist-- p. 559: "There is usually, however, no person less really mystic than the occultist conventionally understood, while the mystic on the path of attainment in the life of sanctity is exploring the world of grace, not that of psychic power. The end of Mysticism is the recovery or attainment of consciousness of God." This is NOT an occult work; p. 557 note 1: "It {Kabbalah] is more especially a rationalized system of mystical thought." He convincingly argues that p. 250: "There is a clear system of reincarnation scattered throughout the Zohar, p. 565: The heterogeneous nature of the Zohar, which justified me in terming it a medley, & pp. 575-6: the Zohar...a work of various periods & multifarious authorships." Unfortunately, he did not have the opportunity to read the (later) works of Gershom Scholem or Moshe Idel. I think Waite would agree (see the final chapter) that his analysis of the Mystical Mystery of Sex is his most interesting & important contribution. The Zoharic presentation is comprehensive & central to Kabbalah (see also Kabbalah attributed to Isaac Luria by Hayim Vital). However, Waite notes that p. 596: "There are intimations of this state in eastern teaching by which I mean India...& Thomas Vaughn [alchemist] speaks of `the conjugal mystery of heaven and earth'" - comparable to Tantric Buddhist practices. Surprisingly, antithetical to much Western religious thought, he states that p. 193: "Optimism is a fundamental characteristic of Kabbalism." This is a wonderful work, well worth the time to read its 600+ pages with actual footnotes (not endnotes). While its style is dated, its material & techniques are not. However, it will not appeal to a p. 570: "posse of zanies" such as its author describes. The credulous are incredulous to me.

This coffee table has superb photos and illustrations of ancient sites in the Land of Israel , as well as well as interesting articles and essays on archaeology in Israel and the history of Ancient Israel.
The book describes the labours undertaken in Israel in digging up the evidence and how Biblical accounts has actually been given veracity by the archaeological science.
In 1979 an archaeological expedition on the western shoulder of Israel's Valley of Hinnon "came upon the nine burial caves that had been carved out of rock more than 2 600 years ago, at a time when Solomon's Temple still stood. The tombs appeared to have been looted, but to the team's astonishment one of the caves whose roof had collapsed had not been touched in all the intervening centuries.It contained the remains of nearly 100 people and a vast array of burial gifts, from glass vessels to jewellery . The greatest prizes at first seemed relatively modest: two small rolled up silver scrolls, evidently intended to be worn around the neck as amulets".
Four years later the Israel Museum laboratory, through chemical means, uncovered the Hebrew writings on the scrolls of Yod-He-Weh- which formed the sacred name of G-D.

Verses from the Sixth Chapter of Numbers was revealed, written before 600 BC, using the exact same liturgy used by the Jews in synagogues today.

The historicity of the Biblical narrative was advanced considerably in the 20th century by many discoveries, including the site of the ancient city of Lachshish, the scene of so many Biblical struggles beginning in the days of Joshua, rediscovered in the 1930s by British archaeologist John Starkey.

There is evidence that there were Hebrew communities who migrated from Egypt to Canaan and it is clear that some sort of seminal event along thew lines of the well known Biblical account was part of the early history of the Israelites and also that those Canaanites who were not destroyed or who did not migrate out of Canaan, were absorbed into the Israelite nation.

The book includes instructive details of the science of archaeology. It includes fascinating sections on such subjects as the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered at Qumran, the vast building projects by King Herod, and the Jewish stronghold at Masada.

It has interesting testaments on the cities of Jerusalem and Ashkelon , as well as the escapades of archaeologists in the Holy Land over the last few centuries , like William Albright and Yigal Yadin.
Noteworthy is the description of , how , in order to cut off the Jerusalem and the Land of Israel from it's Jewish roots the Romans renamed Jerusalem , Aelia Capitolina and "The province name of Judea was replaced by "Palestine" - an intentional insult , as it derived from the Greek word for the Philistines , a people who competed for these fields and hills a thousand years earlier".

This book is out of print and can only be found used. If you can find one in at lease average shape, buy it. The photos cannot be found anywhere else in print.

This excellent, well written study, investigates the present day "controversy" between Israel and the Arabs, especially in relation to the "Holy Land".

Throughout, the book maintains that this and related issues, are rooted in what is described as God's oath to give the Land to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob, as detailed in Genesis chapter 13, verses 14-17.

Amongst the matters discussed in some depth are what are designated herein as Biblical "Judea & Samaria", (what the world largely cites as the controversial "West Bank"). Both the Biblical and political perspectives pertaining to these and other territories receive appropriate, detailed, attention.

The book also proceeds to provide significant Biblical and historical insight into the root causes of the existing tensions between Israel and her Arab neighbours and considerable prophetical insight regarding Israel's role in the "end times".

Furnishing even more detail in relation to this context, the study then goes on to expound the alleged large-scale "confusion" among many Christians today regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs.

The book citing how some Christian groups have allegedly failed to recognise the Bible's own program for peace as initially determined in what is called the Eternal, unconditional covenant with Abraham, as outlined in the Biblical book of Genesis.

Providing further emphasis, the study also alleges that some Christian groups have subsequently, mistakenly, endorsed the plan of a Palestinian "state" within Israel's present borders.

This particular matter receiving appropriate attention with due reference to Scripture, culminating with the book declaring that the world is on a "collision course with God" over the "status of the Land".

Attention is also drawn to what is further described as the 1974 "Phased Plan" for the eradication of Israel as outlined in the Palestinian National Charter, which the book declares as not having been revoked. Due reference again being provided.

The book elaborating that negotiations for Palestinian "statehood" purportedly involves negotiating with authorities that have allegedly endorsed and implemented language in their governing documents which actually call for the annihilation of another people. A message which the writer alleges that the media have failed to deliver to the populace. This is again discussed in some detail.

Throughout, the reader is eloquently shown how the world allegedly perceives the Palestinian/Arab - Israeli conflict on a "human plane", with little reference or understanding of the "spiritual" battle which dates back to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

The showdown declared herein as "not being between kings and kingdoms but between God and man - between Sovereign Will and human reasoning" surrounding a sliver of real estate in the Middle East.

Reference being made to the Biblical oath made by God to Abraham millennia ago which is shown in this study to be allegedly "challenged" at this time. in what is described here as the "world court of public opinion".

The intense concern surrounding the topics being analysed, emanates throughout the text, and it is creditable that so much detail is imparted in such an eminently readable presentation.

A book which I would describe as being required reading at this present time, irrespective of the individual's own stance pertaining to these ongoing events.

Whilst appreciating the contentious nature of the issues dealt with in this study, having personally studied these subjects for some three decades, I can only give this work my highest personal recommendation for it's clarity, depth and accuracy. Thank you very much for your time.

Excellent book of salvation of the our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of what he has done for us on the cross. Jesus is Lord.

David delivers a passionate and balanced survey of the state of affairs in the Middle East. Anyone with a passion for information and food for thought about Israel and the Middle East in general will love this one!