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Index - History Reviews & Book Excerpts

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For reviews of books on the Shoah, Click here.
The Agony of Greek Jews, 1940-1945, by Steven B. Bowman.
The Agony of Greek Jews tells the story of modern Greek Jewry as it came under the control of the Kingdom of Greece during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In particular, it deals with the vicissitudes of those Jews who held Greek citizenship during the interwar and wartime periods, and the fate of Greek Jews during the Holocaust.
All About Judaism
Three reference books on one CD - The Encyclopedia of Judaism, The Jewish Primer, and The Dictionary of Jewish Biography.
Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present, by Marvin Perry and Frederick M. Schweitzer.
An overview on the history and consequences of antisemitism, offering an in-depth analysis of the myths and misconceptions that have developed concerning the Jews. Plus sketches of contemporary myth-makers from Henry Ford to Louis Farrakhan.
The Archaeology of Ancient Judea and Palestine, by Ariel Lewin.
A brief overview of the history and archaeology of ancient Judea and Palestine, written for the general reader.
The Avengers: A Jewish War Story , by Rich Cohen.
The unforgettable story of The Avengers, a group of Jewish partisans who inhabited the forests of Eastern Europe during the dark days of World War II and who later went on to fight for Israeli Independence.
Baruch's Odyssey: An Ethiopian Jew's Struggle to Save His People, by Baruch Tegegne.
In 1955, at age 11, Baruch was sent to study in Israel, and he returned to Ethiopia at 19. In 1974, when the Ethiopian Revolution began, life quickly became unbearable for Ethiopia's Jews. Baruch was determined to get his people out of Ethiopia and into Israel. This is the story of his harrowing journey and his struggles to save his people.
The Beit HaMikdash: The Temple & The Holy Mount, by Rabbi Zalman Menachem Koren.
Take a breathtaking journey back through the history of the Beit HaMikdash, along with a look at the current research being conducted to uncover more information about the Temple and the Temple Mount area. Exquisite views of the Temple, as it originally appeared, are also included.
Between Rome and Jerusalem: 300 Years of Roman-Judaean Relations, by Martin Sicker.
Sicker demonstrates how, and why, Judea played such a large role in Roman Politics, in Rome's expansionist goals, and why it was important that Rome subjugate Judea.
Between Thriving and Decline, Edited by Rami Tal.
The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute's Annual Assessment (2004-2005) that provides an overview of the current demographics of Jewish populations around the world, and it provides a region-by region analysis of the current status of the various Jewish communities in each region.
The Book of J, by David Rosenberg and Harold Bloom.
J is the title that scholars ascribe to the nameless writer they believe is responsible for the text, written between 950 and 900 BCE, on which Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers is based. In The Book of J, accompanying Rosenberg's translation, is Bloom's persuasive argument that J was a woman.
The Brigade, by Howard Blum
A compelling history of the Jewish Brigade that chronicles why the British War Office finally gave its approval for the formation of the Brigade, plus details about the Brigades activities during, and after, World War II.
But He was Good to His Mother: The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters, by Robert A. Rockaway.
This engaging and often funny history details the lives of several dozen Jewish-American gangsters from the beginning of Jewish settlement in the US until the end of World War II.
The Cantonists: The Jewish Children's Army of the Tsar, by Larry Domnitch.
This is the horrific story of Tsar Nicholas's attempt to forcefully convert young Jewish boys to Russian Orthodoxy by drafting tens of thousands of Jewish boys, many as young as twelve (and sometimes younger), into the Russian army for a period lasting at least twenty-five years!
Coalfield Jews: An Appalachian History, by Deborah R. Weiner.
Focusing primarily on the period from the early 1880's - 1920, this insightful book provides a survey of the immigration of Eastern European Jews to central Appalachia during the coal boom of this period. It also provides details about Jewish communal life and the various Jewish communities that developed throughout the region - many of which still exist today.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture, 2nd Edition, by Rabbi Benjamin Blech.
This book provides a lively and unforgettable introduction to Jewish history and culture, starting with Adam and continuing through to the modern age.
Conflicts in the Middle East since 1945, by Beverley Milton-Edwards and Peter Hinchcliffe.
A brief, up-to-date overview on the causes and consequences of the conflicts in the Middle East since 1945.
Cultures of the Jews: A New History , Edited by David Biale.
A three-volume edition of this outstanding book on Jewish cultural history and historiography. The three volumes are: Volume 1: Mediterranean Origins, Volume 2: Diversities of Diaspora, and Volume 3: Modern Encounters.
Discovering Exile: Yiddish and Jewish American Culture During the Holocaust, by Anita Norich.
An intriguing study into Yiddish and Jewish American culture during the 1930-40s that exposes the fact that the Holocaust was just one element of the Jewish cultural experiences in America during this period.
Dixie Diaspora: An Anthology of Southern Jewish History, edited by Mark K. Bauman.
A collection of sixteen essays that explore the vibrant and diverse history of Jews in the American South from the colonial period through to the modern day.
Do You Remember Your 21st Birthday?, by Moshe Phillips.
Avshalom Haviv, a soldier of the Etzel, the Irgun Zvai Leumi who was making history on his 21st birthday. He was born in Haifa in the Holy Land of Israel on June 18, 1926. Haviv celebrated his 21st birthday in a British court, and was executed by the British in Acre Prison on July 29, 1947! (Article)
The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, edited by Spencer C. Tucker.
This four-volume encyclopedia contains more than 750 entries that explore the key personalities involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as the events, history, military actions, and places related to the conflict. Social, cultural, and political topics are also covered. In addition, this encyclopedia includes the text of more than 160 primary source documents.
Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora, edited by M. Avrum Ehrlich.
This three-volume encyclopedia examines the origins, experiences, and culture of the Jewish Diaspora from its earliest manifestation through to the modern day. A region by region analysis of Jewish communities throughout the world, both historic and contemporary, are covered in detail.
Eyewitness to Jewish History, by Rabbi Benjamin Blech
A concise history of the Jewish people from Biblical times to the modern day, told through the first hand accounts of the people who lived through the events chronicled.
Faith & Fate (Chapter 1), by Rabbi Berel Wein. (Book Excerpt)
The story of the Jewish people in the twentieth century.
A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, by David Lehman.
This book looks at the formation of the American songbook - and explores the extraordinary fact that this songbook was written almost exclusively by Jews.
The First Tithe, by Israel Eldad.
Memoirs and Edifying Discourses of the Hebrew War for Freedom - an insightful and candid account of Eldad's life and involvement with, and actions of, the Lehi Underground Army, also known as the Stern Group, or more derogatorily as the Stern Gang.
Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews in the Ottoman Empire, by Rabbi Marc D. Angel.
What was life like for Jews in the Ottoman Empire? What was their life like, socially, culturally, politically and religiously? How were they treated by the empire? Rabbi Angel answers these questions and more in this well-written and very informative history of Jewish life in the Ottoman Empire.
Four Thousand Years of Jewish History: Then and Now, by Jack Lefcourt.
A vibrantly illustrated and engaging text that chronicles the broad themes of Jewish history and takes readers on a journey that will introduce them to the main cultural, social, religious, and historical factors that have helped to shape the Jewish experience throughout time.
From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books, by Arie Kaplan.
Offering an edifying and fun to read, this book provides an unique glimpse in the history of comic books and the vital role that Jews played in the creation of the comic book genre, and the integral role that Jews still play in the comic book industry.
Gidi: One Chasing a Thousand, by Joseph Evron.
Amihai Paglin, known by his code name Gidi (1922-1965), was a leading fighter to free Palestine of British presence and, since 1946, the operation commander of the Irgun Zvai Leumi. Virtually every famous exploit performed by the Irgun in Palestine was performed under his command. This book deals with Gidi's feats during the underground period.
Golden Jerusalem, by Menashe Har-El.
A completely updated and revised edition of Har-El's famed book, This is Jerusalem. This book describes the history, geography, and archaeology of Jerusalem from the Canaanite period onward.
The Great Escape: Nine Jews Who Fled Hitler and Changed the World, by Kati Marton.
A joint biography of Edward Teller, John von Neumann, Leo Szilard, Eugene Wigner, Michael Curtiz, Alexander Korda, Robert Capa, Andre Kertesz, and Arthur Koestler. All nine were Hungarian Jews who fled their homeland due to antisemitism and the looming threat posed by the Nazis, and all went on to make significant contributions in the respective fields.
Great Jewish Letters, by Rabbi Moshe Bamberger.
This is a collection of classic and inspirational letters written by leading Torah scholars, which have been translated into English and enhanced by brief biographies of the authors.
A History of Israel, by Ahron Bregman.
A concise history of modern Israel, from the First Zionist Congress in 1897 through 2001.
A History of Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, by Howard M. Sachar.
This is a monumental history of Israel, covering the period from the rise of Jewish nationalism in the early 1800's to the end of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.
A History of the Jews in the Modern World, By Howard M. Sachar.
A general, comprehensive reference guide on Jewish history from the late 1700's through 2004.
A History of the Middle East, by Peter Mansfield.
This work provides a sweeping survey of Middle Eastern history from the time of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, in 1798, until the start of the Gulf War in the 1990's.
The Indictment, by Sabina Citron.
The Arab - Israeli Conflict in Historical Perspective.
Inventing New Beginnings: On the Idea of Renaissance in Modern Judaism, by Asher D. Biemann.
Between 1890-1938, German Jewry experienced a Jewish Renaissance, that saw many Jews rebel against the assimilation practices that were prevalent in Germany during this period. This resulted in many Jews returning to Judaism, at least on a cultural level. Inventing New Beginnings is a detailed study of this phenomenon.
Israel: A History, By Martin Gilbert.
This book primarily concentrates on the first fifty years of Israeli statehood, Gilbert also details the events and figures that contributed to the formation of the state, including the pogroms in Russia that helped to foster the growth of Zionism, and the Holocaust which made the establishment of the state so vital as a safe harbor for the survivors.
Israel: Challenges to Identity, Democracy and the State, By by Clive Jones and Emma C. Murphy.
This book offers a brief overview of the state of Israeli politics and social cohesiveness, or lack thereof.
Israel: Past and Present, By D. Bahat.
A guidebook that shows, via the use of overlays, how various ruins throughout Israel looked when they were originally constructed, and how they look today.
Jerusalem: Footsteps Through Time, by Ahron Horovitz.
A unique travel guide that provides 'Ten Torah Study Tours of the Old City' complete with directions and detailed commentary.
Jerusalem's Traitor: Josephus, Masada, and the Fall of Judea, by Desmond Seward.
A dynamic biography of Josephus that explores not only Josephus's life, but also the events surrounding the First Jewish-Roman War, including the Siege of Masada and the Destruction of the Second Temple. It will fascinate general readers and historians alike.
Jewish Communities on the Ohio River: A History, by Amy Hill Shevitz.
In this study of the Jewish communities that developed in twenty-four, small, Ohio River towns, Shevitz looks at how Jews came to be in these towns, what life was like for them there, and how these minority communities interacted with the large communities in which they were part of.
Jewish Life in Ancient Egypt: A Family Archive from the Nile Valley, by Edward Bleiberg and Kenneth N. Han.
In this book you'll find translations of eight documents belonging to a Jewish family in Egypt who lived in peace with their Egyptian neighbors during the fifth century BCE.
Jewish Frontiers: Essays on Bodies, Histories, and Identities, by Sander L. Gilman.
This collection of essays looks at Jewish cultural identity from a non-diaspora centric viewpoint, by analyzing how Jews are portrayed in literature, film and history, by both Jews and non-Jews.
Jewish History: The Big Picture, by Gila Gevirtz.
An excerpt from Jewish History: The Big Picture that deals with the history surrounding the events related to Hanukkah.
Jewish Literacy, Revised Edition, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.
The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History. A comprehensive reference book on the essentials and essence of Judaism and Jewish history and culture.
The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity, By John H. Hayes and Sara R. Mandell.
This book covers the turbulent period of Jewish history from 333 B.C.E. to 135 C.E. This periods covers a time frame begining with the conquest of Jewish Palestine by Alexander the Great and ends with the termination of the Second Jewish Revolt aginst Rome.
Jewish Life in the Middle Ages, By Israel Abrahams.
A sweeping social history of Jewish life in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Jewish Travellers in the Middle Ages, Edited by Elkan Nathan Adler.
19 firsthand accounts of Jewish travel during the Middle Ages that were written between 801 and 1755. The accounts touch upon Jewish life in Europe, Africa, and the Near East.
Jewish Women in Fin de Sièle Vienna, by Alison Rose.
The history of Jewish women in Fin de Sièle Vienna, detailing the cultural, religious, and political life of Viennese Jewish women from 1890-1914.
Jewish Women Pioneering the Frontier Trail, by Jeanne E. Abrams.
A History in the American West. This text chronicles the history of Jewish Women in the American West from the 1848 Gold Rush through the early 1900's.
The Jewish Writings: Hannah Arendt, edited by Jerome Kohn and Ron H. Feldman.
A complication of Arendt's Jewish related writings from the 1930-1960's, offering keen insights into her life, career, and what being Jewish meant to her.
Jews, G-d, and History, by Max I. Dimont
This text is organized chronologically, and covers 4,000 years of Jewish history.
Jews in a Graeco-Roman World, by Martin Goodman.
Unlike other minority groups which became intertwined with the Roman apparatus, the Jews not only maintained their own cultural identity and practices, but they also left behind written and archeological records of their existence and life under Roman rule. In Jews in a Graeco-Roman World, Martin Goodman, has brought together a series of essays on the topic of Jewish life in the Graeco-Roman world.
The Jews in Britain, by Raphael Langham.
An annotated timeline of Jewish history in Britain from the arrival of the first Jew in Britain (date unknown) through to May 6, 2002.
Jews in the Early Modern World, by Dean Phillip Bell.
A detailed and readable overview of Jewish history in the early modern world.
Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora, by John M. G. Barclay.
From Alexander to Trajan (323 BCE - 117 CE). Academic study of Jewish history during the Graeco-Roman period is usually focused on Jewish life in Judea. Often overlooked are the far flung and substantial Jewish communities that were scattered around the Mediterranean. Until recently, if a reader had a desire to study this period of the Jewish diaspora, they quickly found that a basic text on this subject did not exist. This oversight has been corrected with the publication of Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora.
Jews of Khazaria, by Kevin Alan Brook.
This is the second edition of Brook's ground breaking survey of Khazarian history and culture.
The Jews of Pinsk, 1506 to 1880, by Mordechai Nadav.
This is a comprehensive and compelling history of the Jewish community in Pinsk from its founding in 1506 through to 1880. It details not only communal life and organizations, but also the diverse cultural and religious life of this once vibrant and influential Jewish community.
The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000, by Hasia R. Diner.
Offers a general survey of Jewish life in America, covering both historical, religious, and social milestones.
The Jews' Secret Fleet, by Joseph M. Hochstein and Murray S. Greenfield.
The Untold Story of North American Volunteers who Smashed the British Blockade. An overview of the post-World War II actions of the Aliyah Bet movement and their use of eleven 'secret' ships to transport Holocaust survivors to Israel.
Journey to Jerusalem, by Rabbi Moshe Goldstein.
An eyewitness account of the historic meeting between the Minchas Eluzar of Munkacs zt"l and the Saba Kadisha zt"l, which took place in Jerusalem in 1930. This book also includes biographies of these awe-inspiring gedolei.
JPS Guide: American Jewish History, by Norman H. Finkelstein.
Written for the general reader, this book provides a concise and eminently readable introduction to American Jewish history from the mid-1300s through to early 2000s.
Kindler of Souls: Rabbi Henry Cohen of Texas, by Rabbi Henry Cohen II.
An intimate portrait of one the foremost American Rabbis, one who influenced not only Jewish history, but also the history of Texas.
The Kuzari: In Defense of the Despised Faith, by Yehudah Halevi.
When the king of the Kuzars decided to adopt a religion, planning to choose between Judaism, Christianity, Islam and philosophy. He invited a representative of each of the four groups and discussed their views with them. This book chronicles the debate between the king and the Jewish representative.
Lidingo, by Chana (Igell) Mantel.
Memories of the small Swedish haven which 120 girls called "home" after the Holocaust.
The Life of Glückel of Hameln, edited by Beth-Zion Abrahams.
The memoir of a remarkable Jewish woman who lived from 1646-1724. During her life Gluckel bore twelve children, ran a successful business, and buried two husbands. Her memoirs provide not only a unique glimpse into her own life, but also into that of the period in which she lived.
The Making of Western Jewry, 1600 - 1819, by Lionel Kochan.
Offers a general survey of Jewish history during this pivotal and turbulent time, with a special emphasis on the role of the kehillot (Jewish communal goverments) in various communities.
Matzoh Ball Gumbo: Culinary Tales of the Jewish South, by Marcie Cohen Ferris.
An engaging and unique social history of Southern Jewry told through the food they eat and what it says about their Jewish identity, what it means to be Southern, and how Jewish foodways melded with Southern culinary traditions to create a unique Jewish cuisine that combines elements of both Jewish and Southern cooking traditions and styles.
The Medici State and the Ghetto of Florence, by Stefanie B. Siegmund.
The Construction of an Early Modern Jewish Community. A comprehensive history of the creation, in 1570, of the Ghetto of Florence and the impact that it had on Jewish and Italian history.
Mordecai: An Early American Family , by Emily Bingham.
In this work, Bingham provides a fascinating glimpse of Jewish life in America, from Colonial times through the Civil War.
The Palestinians: Facts & Fables, by Rav Yaakov Weinberg.
This intriguing lecture, which explains the origins of the "Palestinian Issue" will make you take a new look at the events currently unfolding in Israel.
Perfidy, by Ben Hecht.
This is a republication of the 1961 very disturbing classic involving one of the most inexplicable, embarrassing, bizarre and despicable episodes in the history of the State of Israel - the apparent collaboration of top Israeli officials with the Nazis resulting in the death of millions of innocent Jews.
The Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South, by Eli N. Evans.
This is an engaging memoir of the author's life in the American South, interwoven with a narrative history of Southern Jewry from the arrival of the first Sephardic Jews in 1733, through to the present.
Purim and the Persian Empire, by Rabbi Yehuda Landy.
This book provides a unique historical, archaeological, & geographical perspective on the Megillas Esther that will help bring the story of Purim to life for you like never before.
The Rape of Palestine and the Struggle of Jerusalem, by Lionel I. Casper
A concise, pro-Zionist history of the modern state of Israel, with a detailed analysis of the events that have laid the foundations of the current Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Rebbe's Army, by Sue Fishkoff.
A detailed look inside the world of Chabad-Lubavitch, and the Lubavitcher emissaries that have fanned out around the world to help bring non-orthodox Jews back to a Torah-centered life.
Reconstructing Ashkenaz: The Human Face of Franco-German Jewry, 1000-1250, by David Malkiel.
A detailed history on Franco-German Jewry during the High Middle Ages, centered upon the First Crusade of 1096 and the associated, devastating massacres, which decimated German Jewish communities.
Remembering Yoni Netanyahu and Entebbe, by Moshe Phillips.
Benjamin Netanyahu's older brother was named Jonathan (Yonotan) Netanyahu and is often remembered as Yoni. Yoni was killed in action fighting anti-Israel terrorists on July 4, 1976 just as the world's oldest democracy celebrated its Bicentennial. Yoni died in a heroic effort which freed over a hundred hijacked hostages in Entebbe, Uganda and saved their lives... (Article)
The Roman-Jewish Wars and Hebrew Cultural Nationalism, by Moshe Aberbach and David Aberbach.
This book covers two interrelated subjects - the Roman-Jewish wars and the development of Hebrew cultural nationalism. This is accomplished via a discussion the short and long term causes of the three revolts that erupted between the Jews and the Graeco-Romans, which occurred in 66-70, 115-17, and 132-35 C.E.
Sane in Damascus, by Amnon Sharon.
A memorable and inspirational account of Sharon's eight months in captivity as a prisoner of the Syrians after his capture during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
Sephardic Jews in America: A Diasporic History, by Aviva Ben-Ur.
An academically rigorous survey of the experiences and history of Sephardic Jews in America from 1654 through to the present.
Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy, by Samuel C. Heilman.
In this timely and compelling book, Heilman looks at the causes and consequences of the shift of Orthodox Jewry toward the right, and what the future might hold in store for the American orthodox Jewish community.
They Called Me Mayer July, by Mayer Kirshenblatt and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett.
Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust.
They Dared Return: The True Story of Jewish Spies Behind the Lines in Nazi Germany, by Patrick K. O'Donnell.
This is the true story of the 'Jewish Five' who, having escaped from Nazi Germany, joined the U.S. Army and then volunteered to go back into Nazi controlled territory to work as spies and saboteurs for the OSS, and who were instrumental in helping speed up the collapse of Nazi Germany.
Traveling with the Maggid, by Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn.
A Journey to Great Torah Centers of Yesteryear - Part history and part travelogue, this amply illustrated book takes readers on an inspirational tour of the great Yeshivot of pre-war Eastern Europe.
Triumph over Tyranny: The Heroic Campaigns that Saved 2,000,000 Soviet Jews, by Philip Spiegel.
A moving and detailed account of the quest by Soviet Jews to leave the Soviet Union so that they could live freely as Jews, and the efforts made on their behalf by Western Jewry.
Voices from Shanghai: Jewish Exiles in Wartime China, edited by Irene Eber.
A sampling of twenty-five literary works, including letters, diary entries, prose excerpts, and poems, written by Jews who fled the Nazi onslaught and found sanctuary in Shanghai.
The Way Into the Varieties of Jewishness, by Sylvia Barack Fishman.
A lively, guided tour, into the realm of Jewish diversity and the various religious movements that have developed over time.
We Are Still Here, by Rebecca Liebermann Nissel.
Memoirs of a Child of Survivors - A series of essays that chronicles the history of five-generations of one family that concentrates on the experiences of the author's parents during the Holocaust and their life in post-war Austria.
The Worlds of S. An-sky, by Gabriella Safran and Steven J. Zipperstein.
A Russian Jewish Intellectual at the Turn of the Century. A collection of sixteen essays on An-sky, written by scholars in a diverse range of fields including history, literature, anthropology, Slavic and Jewish studies. Includes a music CD containing Russian and Yiddish songs.
Yiddish in America, edited by Edward S. Shapiro.
Essays on Yiddish Culture in the Golden Land - contains eight essays on various aspects of secular Yiddish culture in America.
The Yom Kippur War, by Abraham Rabinovich.
The Epic Encounter that Transformed the Middle East, offering a detailed analysis, and well-written history of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Zion Before Zionism, 1838-1880, by Arnold Blumberg.
An engaging history of the pivotal period leading up the First Aliyah, and the changes in Turkish property laws that allowed Jews to settle permanently in the Holy City of Jerusalem for the first time in decades.

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