Middle East Books

This is the best tour guide for Israel that I have found. The only problem is that the publisher revises it and allows it to go out of print during the process. This time, it have been for well over a year. Is there any way to find out when it will be available again?

My wife and I are going on a tour to Israel in late March and were looking for concise information about the land of Israel. Someone loaned us this book (I have now purchased my own) and it is the best. I have heard many talks, watched my friends slides, attended meetings of former tourists, but nothing has given me better insight into the land, customs, people and sites than the Baedeker book. Our trip is to include an extension into the Sinai peninsula and Mt. Sinai. This book has an excellent description of this area as well as the St. Catherine's Monastary on the mount. The book's pocket size make it excellent for sticking in your day pack. All of the information is arranged in alphabetical form so it is very easy to access. It also includes a fold-out map. Don't miss this one! Fred Brock (fbrock@bbc.edu

This book has just been reprinted by Sefer v' Sefel Publications in Jerusalem. They have made a very attractive book with many pictures of the participants of the battle, and the battlefields themselves.
Rabinovitch interviewed over three- hundred people, traveled all over the country for this work. He is a first- rate journalist and he has a real eye for the battlefield and ear for those who were able to tell their stories of what happened. I have done research on an important figure in the whole story Rabbi Shlomo Goren, and paid special attention to Rabinovitch's account of Rabbi Goren on that day. It was moving, and dramatic, and caught the spirit of the time.
The whole story, the threat to Israel before the 67 war, the build- up of tension with the long - waiting period, the great fear that another Holocaust might be on the way, - all this followed by the dramatic turnaround the startling unexpected victory which had as its penultimate stage the taking and retaking of Jerusalem is chronicled here.
The fact is that there would not have been a battle for Jerusalem had not the Jordanians attacked. Rabinovich tells the story of many of the quiet heroes of the battle, the people from every walk of life who came to defend their homes and found themselves part of the one great moments of modern Jewish history.
This is journalism at the highest level about a great historical event.

In June 1967 the third Arab Israeli war broke out. Although Jerusalem had been but a side show and not a prime objective, it ended up being one of the symbols and one of the most important victories in the war.

Famous scenes of men crying at the Western Wall(the holiest site in Judaism) and Dayan(eye patch included) strolling down the Old city steps. Similar important battles such as Ammunition hill went down in Israeli military history as some of the bloodiest and bravest ever fought.

Of all the books on the six day war, this is by far the best one on the Battle for jerusalem. Many subjects are covered, including the many units involved, the commands, the ordinary soldiers, the UN workers, the Mayor, the Israeli museum, the children and the hospital staff. Few people are left unmentioned in this tour of the battlefield, that puts the reader in the picture. The only downside of this book, like most on the conflict, is an almost total lack of maps and few if any acounts of the jordanian experience. Nevertheless this is the standard on the subject.

Seth J.Frantzman

The story of the First World War in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq, is one of the most interesting, and oft-ignored, stories. During the first world war the British established an expiditionary force in the Gulf of Arabia, much as was done in 1991 and 2003 by the American army, and they struck northwest for Baghdad. The capture of Baghdad was regarded as a side-show, like Gallipoli, but it was also a strike against the Ottoman Empire. From Baghdad the rail lines stretched towards Syria and Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1915 the British general launched his attack up the Tigris and quickly became bogged down at Kut. His surrender the next year was a great defeat for British arms and an embarrasment. It was a harrowing battle and siege and is one of the great stories of the war.

This is a well written book, fascinating military history full of drama.

Seth J. Frantzman

This book provides a look at one of WWI's most interesting, and certainly most unusual, campaigns - in terms of geography, action, and personalities. In addition, the writing style flows effortlessly. The author, Ron Wilcox, has also thankfully included orders of battle, numerous maps, and several photographs. A fascinating look at WWI's most forgotten campaign - outstanding!

Despite the fact that Iraq/Mesopotamia is largely a desert, Britain's Mesopotamian campaign largely involved fighting on rivers and through large flooded areas. Like many great historic rivers, the Tigris has annual floods which submerge broad swathes of land during the flood season. And given the abhorrent, near non-existent state of roads and railways the rivers Tigris and Euphrates provided the only practicable transport route throughout southern Mesopotamia. Thus, we find British and Indian soldiers launching canoe-based attacks against Turkish positions built-up above the flooded ground. And we also see the repeated use of river craft for fire support on shore (which is very reminiscent of the American Civil War campaigns on the Mississippi and Cumberland rivers).

Besides the novelty of many of the attack and defense methods (which would have been suicidal in most other WWI theatres), the leadership in this campaign was quite extraordinary. Notwithstanding his forced surrender at Kut el-Amarna in early 1916, General Townshend was nothing short of a miracle worker. Time and time again from early 1915 Townshend and his mostly Indian troops won victory after victory pushing the Turkish troops ever further upriver. Townshend probably made more rapid progress in mileage than any other British commander during the war, and what's more, he did it on a logistical shoestring. (A similar effort made today by British or American forces would probably require 40-50x as much logistical support.)

As his successes mounted, the Indian Gov't and the War Committee gave the Mesopotamian force increasingly ambitious goals. The minarets of legendary Baghdad sounded their siren call to the politician's imagination - imagine the regional prestige to be won by capturing the greatest city in the Middle East away from the Turks! Unfortunately, conditions on the ground were manifestly unsuitable for such an effort. Food and ammunition were limited. But by far the worst issue were the unspeakable medical conditions - like something right out of the Middle Ages. Sick lists almost always exceeded the number of those fit and able to fight.

Despite his reservations Townshend gave the Baghdad advance his best shot at Ctesiphon, but the Turkish forces were under Nurredin's new management and had also been dramatically reinforced. After being convincingly blocked Townshend planned to retreat downstream to regroup and reinforce this troops. However, he was instructed to remain at Kut and was soon completely surrounded and cut off by Turkish forces. After several months and a failed relief effort Townshend and his troops were forced into a humiliating surrender. But much worse than that, they suffered (and profusely died) of malnutrition, beatings, filth, and neglect at the hands of their Turkish captors.

Almost an entire year passed as the British/Indian force under General Lake was heavily reinforced, resupplied, and provided with sufficient logistical transport to conduct a future sustained campaign of advance. However, Lake was replaced by General Maude before the next advance began, so Maude became the conqueror of Baghdad a year after Townshend's surrender. With the conquest of Baghdad, the terrain completely changed and British/Indian forces were able to spread out pushing the Turks back towards Anatolia proper. Also included is the story about how Dunsterville led a bizarre effort through Bolshevik/Persian territories to secure the Baku oilfields against the Turks.

It came brand new, in perfect condition and it was a nice discount!

To whom visit Italy, Venice is different of other important art centers , like Rome or Firenze . The Oriental influence in the
architecture remains as first impression.Screnning windows in the lunette above Porta Sant'Alippio , ,the grills on Saint Mark, the facades of the Doge's Palace.But,also, in the painting , and general decorative arts the islamic and oriental influence is visible. Venise was the gateway of the Orient.As
written in the Introduction of this excellent book , it was not necessary to travel to the bazaars of Damascus to acquire merchandise,because it could be found in Venice . The book is a complete study of this commerce ,between 14th and 17 th centuries ,and its influence in the life of Venice - including
the new class of designers , imitating silks , ceramics , glasses , and other kind of products.This book describes a very
interesting connection , not quite found in other works - the
influence of Islamic civilization in the Italian Renaisance.

"Although beauty, in the premodern Arab world, was enjoyed and promoted almost everywhere and at all times, Islam does not possess a general theory on aesthetics (i.e., art and beauty) or a systematic theory of the arts. The author therefore had to search for her evidence in written statements from a wide variety of sources, such as the Qur'an, legal, religious and Sufi texts, chronicles, biographies, belle-lettres, literary criticism and scientific, geographic and philosophical literature. The result is a compendium of references to beauty in chapters on the Religious Approach, Secular Beauty and Love, Music and Belle-Lettres, and the Visual Arts.

"This approach is informative and provocative. For the generalist, it provides a comparative material for an understanding of the early Arab cultural context. For the specialist, it raises questions of sponsorship and purpose.

"In her look at beauty in Arab culture, Doris Behrens-Abouseif builds on the work and insights of previous scholars of Islamic culture and art. By attempting to develop an explanation or theory from widely scattered sources, however, she broadens and generalizes that inquiry. As such, she has added novel insights to a field of inquiry which is still relatively new, and which is a welcome contribution."

- Middle East Journal

"A succint synthesis of the Arab experience."
--Journal of Palestine Studies

" An excellent introduction to a rich yet under-researched topic, offering a panoramic view of the theme of beauty in the pre-modern Arab-Islamic tradition. Consulting a wide range of original Arabic sources in philosophy, theology, mysticism, history, poetry, and literature, she traces the articulation of the theme in religious and secular Islamic thought. Her concise and comprehensible style makes the text accessible to the general reader, while being particularly useful to both students and scholars of Islamic art and architecture, Arabic literature, and Islamic aesthetics...

--Religious Studies Review 26, no. 4 (October 2000)

Although read only in German Language I consider the book as one of the best I have ever read about the Arab culture. The comprehensive approach and the definition of beauty in arab culture is fascinating.

Ms. Naff's book is truly marvelous. As the granson of a Lebanese/Syrian immigrant, I read about the history of Lebanon. I knew some of the stories about my grandfather's coming to this country. There were even some vague stories about silk worms. But little did I know that my grandfather's story was the story of thousands of other men, women, and children. I knew some of Gido's contemporaries and am sad that I did not pay more attention to their stories. One of my most treasured possessions is a picture of Gido with a rifle and bandolier standing next to his wagon while peddling dry goods along the Mexico-Texas border. Thank you Ms. Naff.

This book is chock full of details that would have been forever lost had not the author begun her work nearly 40 years ago, of recording oral histories and preserving documents, artifacts and photographs. Excellent presentation style. A must for both public and personal libraries that want to have available, not only the stories, but an insight into the ethos of a people who came from a small country with modest aspirations and ended up having a large impact on America.

If you are interested in bedouin people, this has to be your one-stop source of reference and an elemantary piece of every anthropological library, though hardly worth it's money as a cook-book. yet, a new milestone for the genre, don't walk to the "order now" button, run!
can't hold my breath for more material from this young aspiring talent.

I was completely spell-bound. Anybody interested in this genre needs to consider this an essential element of their library.
Don't walk to the bookstore-run (in this case: Click!)

Zvi Harry Hurwitz wrote his first biographical work on Menachem Begin, only 6 months after Begin was elected as Israel's sixth Prime Minister Prime Minister, and first Prime Minister, outside the ranks of the Labour Party.
This work covers the life span of life, thoughts and achievements of the phenomenal and great Son of Israel , a true leader , Menachem Wolfovitch Begin, until his sad passing in 1992.
The author notes that when the events of our times are chronicled by objective historians, he will emerge as one of the greatest Jews of our era- the bar Kochba of the twentieth century.
Begin Menachem Begin Menachem Begin was born in Brest-Litovsk, Poland on 16 August 1913, son of Zeev-Dov and Hassia Begin. He joined the Betar movement during his youth. Begin was imprisoned by hte Soviet authorities, in 1940-1941, ironically charged with being a 'British agent'.
His entire family was destroyed by the Nazis during the holocaust, and this experience reinforced his resolute fortitutde that 'Never again will Jews be attacked without being able to defend themselves and hitting back'.
During World War II, as evidence of the enormous catastrophe of European Jewry was revealed, Britain's callousness in continuing to prevent the entry into Palestine of hundreds of thousands of Jews, who could have been saved, shocked the Yishuv (Jewish community of Palestine), and as part of the Irgun national liberation movement, Begin led the way in the struggle against British control over the ancient Jewish homeland.
Menachem Begin led the political opposition to the Labour Party government in Israel, for thirty years, until his Likud alignment formed a government in 1977, and he was elected Prime Minister.

Unlike current Likud leader and Thatcherite Bejamin Netanyahu, Beginwas also committed to social justice and upliftment of the poorer sections of Israeli society.
He refused to countenance the situation that where so many families, in Israel, living in such dire poverty, and one of the greatest doemstic achievments of his Premiership was Project Renewal which put $ 100 million into one of the most sucesful urban renewal projects in modern history, and which gave hope to Israel's poor and underprivileged.

His first act as Prime Minister was to grant assylum to 66 Vietnamese refugees who had already been rejected by a host of nations.
This international humanitarian gesture was a living reminder of the repulsive lie by enemies of Israel, that 'Zionism is racism'.
He also saved Israel from probable nuclear destruction by giving orders to destroy Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor at Osirak, thus preventing Saddam from gaining nuclear capability against Israel, and others in the region.
Begin later revealed that he prayed incessantly and thought of his parents and familiy who had been killed by the Nazis. He was determined to protect his children and grandchildren from anihilation by the enemies of the Jewish people.
It was Menachem Begin who said, when addressing President Carter, shortly after becoming Prime Minister, stated: " To us, with the experience of physical annihilation and spiritual redemption, national security may mean the lives of every man, woman and child in Israel. Their lives can be, under certain circumstances, directly threatened and put in jeopardy."
Menachem Begin also told Europe, in no uncertain terms: " Europe, whose rivers flow with Jewish blood has no right to lecture Israel on matters which could involve it's life and death, and the safety of every man, woman and child in our country.'
Begin refused to flinch on principles, and worked for a peace based on principle, without compromising the rights of Israel or it's people. He stood up for the right of Jews to live in every inch of historic Israel, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, and refused to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization, an organization whose sole aim was and remains the destruction of Israel, and the mass murder of her people.

In 1982, after years of terrorist attacks on Israeli civillians, from Lebanon, Begin ordered millitary intervention in Lebanon to stop PLO atrocities.
This was welcomed by Lebanon's Christian community, who had suffered for years under the Syrian and PLO yoke, which had murdered over 100 000 Christian Lebanese men, women and children between 1970 and 1982.


Since Begin's departure Israel's leaders have been less resolute, with loss of Israeli life the result, and paradoxically more international hatred of Israel from a world of loathsome hypocrisy-the more Israel yields the more the world demands her destruction.
Let us pray for a return of a government in Israel ready to resolutely defend the right of an independent Jewish State in all of Biblical Israel, where her people are safe and secure and free to pursue life , liberty and happiness.
May G-D preserve the Jewish State of Israel forever.

Menachem Begin was one of the great leaders of the people of Israel in modern times. His whole life was a struggle to help return Jewish sovereignty to the Holy Land, to build a state for the Jewish people in which they could live in security and freedom. His struggle began in his native Poland where he was initially involved in the Betar Movement under its charismatic leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky. It continued even when he was exiled to Siberia by the Soviets and when he released made his way to the Holy Land as a soldier in the Anders' Polish Army. In Eretz Yisrael he became the leader of the Irgun one of the leading groups which fought the Mandate and the British efforts at restricting Jewish immigration to the Holy Land. At the time of the struggle for Independance Begin showed his characteristic nobility and greatness when he refused to open a Civil War even though his people were attacked on the Altalena. This ability to be self- effacing to think of the overall well- being of the people of Israel characterized Begin throughout his life, and made him in the most beloved leader the people of Israel has known in modern times. This type of thinking for the benefit of the people as a whole were also evident in later Israeli crisis situations, including the Suez campaign of 1956 , the Six- Day War of 1967, the Yom Kippur War, the Entebbe operation. When after eight failed attempts in 1977 he became the first non- Labor Party Prime Minister of Israel he too followed this path, and led to the first Israeli peace - agreement, and most important to this day with Egypt under Anwar Sadat. Begin as Prime Minister also devoted himself to improving the situation of the poor families of Israel.He also during his time in power made the critical decision which led to Operation Osiris an action which prevented Saddam Hussein's Iraq from obtaining nuclear weapons. This action almost universally condemned at its time was later hailed by many Western leaders as one of tremendous importance . His Lebanon war campaign aimed at preventing Terrorist action against Israel led to a complicated, prolonged war he had not intended. As this campaign wore on and the protests from within Israel against it increased , Begin also suffering from bad health , suffered a cruel personal blow , the loss of his wife and helpmate of over forty years Aliza. This blow and the strain of the political situation led to his resignation.
Zvi ( Harry ) Hurwitz was a member of the Begin team and writes this biographical work with understandable sympathy. He details the main events of Begin's life and career. Unfortunatelty he does not go deeply into any area of Begin's life or tell us anything that is not generally known. He also does not focus on the many controversies of Begin's life.
Nonetheless this work provides an outstanding general picture of one great Israeli leader's life and development.
I can only comment parenthetically that as someone who lived through the Begin years as a citizen of Israel, I can attest to how deeply he was loved and how much respected by the greatest share of the people. He was paradoxically a humble, modest person with a great sense of the importance of national honor and pride. He was a person who asked little for himself but to serve his people. And he did this with dedication, courage and greatness.
His memory is and will be a blessing and inspiration for the people of Israel for all the generations to come.

In-depth look at the creation of a middle class with the advent of modernity. Whoever is interested in modernity and its implications would enjoy this book!

In a remarkable piece of scholarship, Watenpaugh situates the concept of "modernity" at the core of the middle class experience in Aleppo from the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 through the end of the mandate period in 1946. "Modernity" - a term which is often over-used and inadequately historicized by many scholars - here avoids anachronism, and indeed, one of the major historiographical contributions of Watenpaugh's text is the grounded and intricate examination of precisely what it was to "be modern" in a period marked by numerous challenges to the formation of various modes of identity. As Watenpaugh's nuanced and sophisticated analysis reveals, "being modern" was not simply a discursive act of saying so - rather, in this case, modernity was a conscious and contentious process of invention by a disparate middle class attempting to situtate itself in the midst of an array of social and politcal changes. It is refreshing to read scholarship that does not shy away from the making of the middle class; and Watenpaugh's careful treatment of such an analytical category provides a useful investagative framework for scholars whose work falls outside the Middle East. Finally, by situating an "experience of modernity" as an internal facet of middle class identity in Aleppo - rather than as an externally imposed product of the "West" or an unconscious mimicry of Western practices - it once again becomes clear that circuits of transnational dialogue need critical engagment before we can posit the a priori existence of all of the "isms" found in Watenpaugh's title.