Reviews (1)

A Woman I Would Like You to Know
With the words of the title of this review, Esther Schor introduces the reader to Emma Lazarus (1849 -1887)in her newly-published biography of this late-nineteenth Century American poet, essayist, novelist, critic, and social activist for newly-arrived immigrants. Schor is Professor of English at Princeton University, a poet in her own right, and the editor of the Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley. Her biography of Emma Lazarus is part of a series of books called "Jewish Encounters" edited by Jonathan Rosen and "devoted to the promotion of Jewish literature, culture, and ideas."
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Subjects:  1. 19th Century American Literature    2. 19th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Jewish - General    8. Jewish American Literature    9. Literary    10. Poets, American    11. United States    12. Women social reformers    13. Zionists    14. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (8)

Great book if you need to learn Hebrew quickly
I don't know how much I would have liked this book if I was learning Hebrew from afar, but a few years ago, I found out on two week's notice that I was going to Israel for six months.I had to get a workable knowledge of Hebrew in a short period of time.I carried the pocket pal card and the grocery card everywhere, and the flash cards were great.I like the style of the workbook - it is fun and entertaining.You definitely need the discipline to repeat things to learn much, though, as with any language learning.I clearly don't know Hebrew well enough to know about inaccuracies, but it was great for me, teaching me the basics very quickly.

For best results use in conjunction with Pimsluer tapes
The book is very good, it makes the learning process fun, the stickers and flashcards are great, too! Also constantly writing the words allows you to learn the spellings better than you would with other language learning tools. I am new to learning hebrew and I found this book quite helpful. Although I must agree some of the words are transliterated incorrectly (how do i know? I spent a few months in Israel). Anyways what was most effective to me was using this book as a suppliment to the Pimsluer languge learning tapes. Since the tapes usually come with no text supliment but generally cover the same material as this book, the two compliment eachother quite nicely. Using the tapes will also overcome the transliteration problems since you will HEAR the words being spoken (it will also help you nail down the accent). Also the book will help you understand what they are saying on the tapes more correctly (sometimes the speaker doesn't say the words as clear as you would like.)
Always a Variance
I have been a student of Biblical Hebrew for over 3 years.But I've also investigated modern pronunciation.Interestingly, one will not find any consistency (I've found about half a dozen modern variations, both for consonants and for vowels, a total of about 12 pronunciation systems).A living language by definition means constant change and dialects existing side by side.Read more

Subjects:  1. Conversation and phrase books    2. English    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. Foreign Language Study    5. Hebrew    6. Hebrew language    7. Language    8. Self-instruction    9. Travel / Middle East / Israel    10. Jewish studies    11. Language & Linguistics    12. Middle East - Israel    13. Travel   

Reviews (7)

Good, but...
I like this book. I use this book. I find that it written very matter-of-factly, with little room for interpretation, so it feels sort of un-Jewish in that aspect to me. But, as long as that is in mind, it does offer a lot of good jumping-off points and good ideas and good references.

The Jewish Holidays Explained for All!
This book is remarkable to me because it has simple explanations, but is never patronizing.The depth is there as well.This is no silly enumerated edition or with kiddie pictures.The focus is on celebration as a family!

wonderful beautiful
this is a wonderful book. I cannot reccoment it enough to add to your collections of books.A must purchase to review the Jewish holidays.With lovable excerts on how to build a Sukkah and other important observations can be found in the text.Historical importance is detailed in each chapter for each holiday.Also present are wonderfulo pieces of artwork and commentaries. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fasts and feasts    2. Holidays - Jewish    3. Judaism    4. Religion    5. Religion - Judaism    6. Jewish studies    7. Religion / General    8. Religious rites & ceremonies   

Editorial Review

The second work in a planned three-volume series (after 2004's Read more

Reviews (15)

Powerful
Insightful, well documented, and very powerful!This book is a wonderful primer on the type of society the Nazis created, the lengths that they went to control their people, and the measures used to create the 3rd Reich.

The Ceremony of Innocence is Drowned...
"The Third Reich in Power" is the second part of Richard J. Evans's projected trilogy on the Nazi Dictatorship.The first book, "The Coming of the Third Reich", narrated German history since Bismarck, explaining how the various elements of what we know as Nazism grew during the 19th century, intensified as a result of Germany's defeat during the Great War, and then rose to power following the Great Depression and the inept political leadership of both the traditional right and left.
engrossing, full strength history
Do you like your history light or full-strength with nothing taken out? If you want to skim through yet another book about the Nazis that tells you something you probably already knew but in a different way then don't bother with this book. However, if you want to read first class, detailed historical writing then this is certainly the book for you. Evans makes 1930s Germany come alive. How does he do it? By using historical records and documents to recount incidents involving `ordinary' people. He recalls appalling things that happened to people no different to his readers. He recounts cases of `ordinary' people doing unspeakable things to their fellow Germans. The reader is brought back 70 years and is really made to feel (as much as is possible now) what it must have been like to live in an all-embracing dictatorship. The author forces you to ask yourself the uncomfortable question, "Would I have behaved differently"? You'll have guessed by now that this book does not make for easy reading. This is exactly the way it should be. You probably won't pack this book the next time you're going on a sun holiday. However, if you want to read a book that actually tells you something new then this is the book for you. Evans makes no concessions to readers who don't like too much, `boring' details and who are only interested in the `big picture'. This book describes in detail how the Nazis mercilessly quashed all opposition, controlled every element of German society, remilitarised at breakneck speed and remorsely drove Germany into a second world war. This is full-strength, full-fat, nothing taken out history. Thank God for that! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. 20th century    3. Economic policy    4. Europe - Germany    5. Germany    6. Germany - History - Third Reich (1933-1945)    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Holocaust    11. Jews    12. Military - World War II    13. Persecutions    14. Political History    15. Political persecution    16. History / Germany   

Reviews (3)

An excellent book about Zionism
What is modern Zionism?Is it Jewish nationalism?Is it simply an ideology of human rights for everyone, including Jews?These are questions that I hoped would be answered (and are answered) in a book that contains articles written from 1843 to 1948 by about three dozen leading Zionists.
splendid compelation
the a hundred page introduction of this work is absolutely essential for people of every ilk who want to undertand the whole zionist idealogy in one fine, easy-read scoop. the rest of this work is a presentation of every important leader of zionism in the course of 19th and 20th centuries with a short description of the writers life, endeavors, and accomplishments in the beginning of every excerpt. Richard A. Macales, columnist, "Mac's Facts"
If you are proud of the role that Orthodox Jews have played in developing the modern Zionist movement, you will love this reader compiled more than 35 years ago (and back in print). Orthodox rabbis and Zionist leadersYehuda Alkalai, Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Yechiel Michel Pines, Meir Bar-Ilan,Shmuel Chaim Landau, Samuel Mohilever, Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook andIsaac Reines take up a disproportionate amount of space in Hertzberg's richwork. And for good measure you will find the writings of Ben-Gurion andJabotinsky. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History Of Zionist Movement    3. Jewish - General    4. Judaism - Theology    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Sources    8. Zionism    9. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    10. Israel    11. Jewish studies    12. Nationalism    13. Social history   

Reviews (1)

Large, Sturdy, Informative...
The Jewish New Year starts in September and so does this calendar, which covers 16 instead of 12 months.This calendar is larger than other Jewish calendars I've seen, and it's pages are sturdy, not flimsy.The calendar art is from the Museum's collection of Jewish ceremonial and cultural art, and except for February, each month has one full-page art feature plus 2 smaller ones within empty calendar boxes.It identifies all Jewish holidays as well as all national holidays.Weekly Torah portions and Shabbat and holiday candle-lighting times are noted.Four wallet calendars with the Jewish holidays are also included.While primarily of Jewish interest, the calendar is also appropriate for Gentile Christians (like myself) who note the timing of Jewish holidays for commemorative or typological significance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Calendar    2. Calendars & Diaries    3. Judaism - General    4. Non-Classifiable    5. Jewish studies    6. Religion / Judaism / General    7. Stationery items   

Reviews (3)

A GOOD COLLECTION OF STORIES
THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF STORIES COVERING JEWISH ATHLETES. FROM MARK SPITZ TO SANDY KOUFAX, EACH PERSON IS COVERED IN NICE DETAIL TELLING A BIT OF THEIR LIFE AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR SPORT. I REALLY FOUND THIS ENTERTAINING AND INTERESTING. A RECOMMENDED READ.

gift well received
I gave this as a Bat Mitzvah gift to a young woman who is into sports.Her mother reported that she really enjoyed it!

Encyclopedic!
Outside the names of Sandy Koufax and Mark Spitz, it's hard to rattle off a list of great Jewish athletes. For me, this encyclopedia of Jewish athletes (complete with photos) offered encouragement in the field ofathletics, and I think this can be a very empowering book for aspiringJewish athletes in any sport. It's fun to flip each page and learn aboutanother exciting career! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Ethnic Cultures - General    5. Jewish - General    6. Sports - General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (22)

To Be A Jew by H.H>Donin
This is an extremly helpfull book for those wanting to know what Judaism is all about..I personally recommend it as a must for studyingif thinking of converting, or just to understand Jewdaism as a whole..

This is the best bookI have ever been blessed with.
This book is absolutley wonderful and amazing and it saved my life. The Rabbi's prose is eloquent and precise and his selection of source and quotations is intelligent and persuasive.This book is gold.

To learn and relearn about Judaism
I often precede writing a review of a book on Amazon by reading the reviews of others. In reading these I am impressed by the unanimity of positive response to this guide. I was especially impressed by how many non- Jewish readers found this book an understandable introduction to Judaism.
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Subjects:  1. Customs and practices    2. Jewish way of life    3. Judaism    4. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    5. Religion    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Jewish studies   

Reviews (21)

True Kabala
Cosmology is enlightening, this is one of the books you definitely need to get started in the Kabalistic view on the Creation. It is sometimes a bit technical, it gives you the information but you'll need other books by the same author and author Shlomo Weiss to further understand and appreciate what is being presented, if you really want to read Shlomo Weiss it would be helpful to read A Brief History of Time by S. Hawking (no mathematics in any of these books don't worry). The wholeKabalistic Theory is just out of this world literally, if you start down this path your life will change.

Very informative book
This book is extremly profound and Kaplan does a wonderful job as usual.He has selected the most authoritative version of the Sefer Yetzirah.This is an invaluable book and I very much enjoyed this book and will read it over and over.

Uncreative
It is a shame that even though it was advertised, the hebrew text is missing ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cabala    2. Early works to 1800    3. Judaism - General    4. Judaism - Sacred Writings    5. Meditation    6. Mysticism    7. New Age    8. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    9. Religion    10. Sefer Yezirah    11. Sefer Yeòzirah    12. Jewish studies    13. Judaism    14. Other prose: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (2)

A terrific collection of articles
There's already an excellent review of this fine book on this site (by Shalom Freedman).But I'd still like to add a few words of my own.
An important analysis of an extremely sad phenomenom
This book is a collection of essays in which the phenomenom of Jewish self- hatred most particularly in the form of hatred of the Jewish state is analyzed and to a degree explained. It deals with many of the most well- known haters, including Chomsky, Tanya Reinhart, Norman Finkelstein, Israel Shahak, Daniel Boyarin , Jacqueline Rose, Joel Beinin, Michael Neumann(Canada), and others.
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Subjects:  1. Attitudes toward Israel    2. History - General History    3. Intellectual life    4. Israel and the diaspora    5. Jewish - General    6. Jewish Studies    7. Jews    8. Middle East - Israel    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. History / Middle East    14. International relations    15. Israel    16. c 1960 to c 1970    17. c 1970 to c 1980   

Reviews (18)

Assumes too much...
While Dennis Prager makes some good points, he doesn't so much explain his ideas as state them as fact. From the very first chapter: Morality is impossible without a God. In the next few pages, he states that, to paraphrase, "every leading moral philosopher agrees" with that statement. I bought the book hoping for an objective view on Judaism and God. I don't feel that's what I'm getting.

The Advanced(but concise)Guide to the religion of Moses,Benny Leonard,Barney Ross and Herman Wouk and...
For anybody thinking of converting to Judaism-or for anybody who considers himself a maven on the subject of Judaism-this is the first book I recommend.And that includes Herman Wouk's 'This Is My God';Wouk,who wrote the forward to this book-and the blurb on the cover,'The Intelligent Skeptic's Guide To Judaism'-seems to agree.For anyone interested in slugging it out in the religious tradition of Benny Leonard and Barney Ross,this book is indispensible and co-authored by a talk-show host who really is a "maven"(Prager)-and probably today's most indispensible,accesible Orthodox rabbi(Telushkin).

Great Introduction
This little number is great for an individual who has little knowledge of Judaism.Displays in a readable way the differences between Christianity and it's parent faith; Judaism.Great read for anyone wishing an introduction into a very misunderstood faith, especially looking on from an outsider.
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Subjects:  1. Addresses, essays, lectures    2. Jewish - General    3. Jewish way of life    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Orthodox Judaism    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Religion / Judaism / General   

Reviews (9)

Fantastic!
This is a wonderful book albeit with few personal experiences of the victims but on the whole you will enjoy the book. The writer's grasp of English is exceptional and in fact taking this parameter alone you can enjoy the book and learn something new in word and sentence formations. Though at first glance it may look like one of those boring and dry books, which inhabit the shelves of libraries all over the book without being opened for many years to come. The book is excellent and shows the level of utter nadir reached by Nazis and German people while persecuting their own. Seems to have been a sort of a collective disease in which even a modicum of humanity or decency taken a permanent back seat. The author has presented the facts and names of very difficult and guttural German names with such ease that there is no confusion to the reader.
Great Work from A Great Historian
I've taken several seminars at UCLA with Saul Friedlander, and to say that he is an objective and very insightful historian is an understatement.This book is terrific and deserves all the critical praise that it has received.Even if you are just curious about the Holocaust, or you are a serious historian of the time period, you should definitely pick this book up.

Excellent Intro to Hitler's Germany
This book is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn about the rise of Fascism in Germany.It is factual and yet easy to read.Anyone that wants to understand how Hitler got his power should read this.The author's bias is kept to a minimum. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. Europe - Germany    3. Germany    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Jewish - General    10. Jews    11. Persecutions    12. History / General   

Reviews (3)

Essential documents
The work contains essential documents of Jewish history from 1700 to 1948. The question of its political balance is however areal one, and I felt perhaps wrongly a ' tilt left'. It seems to me too there was too scanty coverage of Zionism.

This is a collection of articles
This book is a collection of articles and excerpts from many of the main sources of Jewish History from the 1700's until present.The articles are grouped by topic.The topics start with emancipation and end off with Zionism and the Holocaust. Each article has a nice mini-biography at the end telling who the author of the article was ( or is ), and includes explanatory notes for those who aren't familiar with that era of Jewish History.The editors were quite even handed and give all sides space in their book, the only group over represented is converted Jews.After all less than .25% of all Jews converted in the 1800's.My only complaint is that they neglected two subjects.One, the Tshuva movement of the 70's to present and also the Shas phenamana of the 80's and 90's.

Filled with great articles
You needn't read this book cover to cover. The book is a series of articles starting in the 1600's and progressing to recent times. Gives perspectives of people "dealing" with the Jews and perspectivesof Jewish people. An article by the commandant of Auschwitz is followed byan article from a prisoner. Both will stay with me forever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1789-1945    2. 17th century    3. 18th century    4. General    5. History    6. History: World    7. Jewish - General    8. Jews    9. Sociology    10. Sources    11. History / Jewish    12. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    13. History, World | Modern    14. Jewish studies    15. Judaism    16. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    17. World history   

Reviews (30)

An Incredible Historical Perspective (Part 2)
This conclusion of Maus 1 is the conclusion of Vladek's story and of Artie's relationship with his father.
Spectacular account of the Holocaust
I first read Maus II when I was in fourth or fifth grade, but, of course, I didn't really grasp the true horror of it all at the time.I decided to buy a copy a couple of months ago and see if it lived up to my memory, and I was not disappointed.Now that I'm nine or ten years older and more attuned to the world and its history, it's that much more poignant.The insanity of the time period is hard to comprehend, but even in a cartoon, Spiegelman is able to give us some small idea of the reality.
Simply Brilliant II
In the two volumes of "Maus," Art Spiegelman has captured the essence of the Holocaust. He focuses his tale on his own family's tragic history, using the strangely-appropriate medium of comic book drawing. Maus II tells the Spiegelman family story from confinement in Auschwitz to the harrowing days at the end of the war through liberation and establishment in America.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Children of Holocaust survivors    6. Comic books, strips, etc    7. Comics & Graphic Novels    8. Fine Arts    9. Historical - General    10. Historical - Holocaust    11. Holocaust    12. Holocaust survivors    13. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    14. Jewish - General    15. Literary    16. Literature: Classics    17. Military - World War II    18. Poland    19. United States    20. Europe    21. Fiction / Graphic Novels    22. History   

Editorial Review

Shocking as it is, this book--a crucial source of original research used for the bestseller Read more

Reviews (48)

Shocking reading
This complete study of an ordinary security unit which perpetrated a shocking attrocity give the reader dark insights into the minds of the murderers who perpetrated Hitler's nightmare upon Jews and others. No pack of nazi fanatics or even anti-semites. Not a group of habitual criminals like Dirlewanger's gang. Just oridnary men who one day murdered thousands of men women and children while sending others to the death camp of Treblinka.
HOW DO ORDINARY MEN BECOME COLD-BLOODED KILLERS?
"Ordinary Men" chronicles the rise and fall of Reserve Police Battalion 101, one of several units that took part in the Final Solution to the Jewish Question while in Poland. During the course of their stay, they were responsible for the shooting of 38,000 Jews, while also deporting 45,200 to the Treblinka Concentration Camp. The book argues that the men of Reserve Police Battalion 101, and other units like it, were comprised of ordinary men. It begs the question: How did ordinary men become the cold-blooded killers of the Holocaust?
Must read.
Rather than try offer a magazine style critique on the book, I'll simply recommend, fellow reader, that you get it. I'll assume that, like me, you are interested in learning about this aspect of WW2 history. I found it to be the best (non-contemporary) book I have read on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. Germany    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Military - World War II    8. Personal narratives, German    9. Poland    10. War criminals    11. World War, 1939-1945    12. European history: Second World War    13. History / General    14. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    15. Popular psychology    16. Second World War, 1939-1945    17. Social, group or collective psychology    18. The Holocaust   

Reviews (11)

A Flawed Tale of a Flawed Man
It is said that, during World War Two, the village of Le Chambon in southern France was the safest place in Europe. It was this small village where Andre Trocme, a Protestant pastor, charged his church and his entire village with the task of protecting refugees, and primarily the Jewish refugees who were fleeing Nazi oppression. The story of this man and, to a lesser extent this village, is told in Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, written by Philip Hallie, a philosopher and ethicist whose study of the horrors of the Second World War had driven him to near despair.
More powerful than evil
Philip Hallie, a Jewish philosopher, had slipped in to a state of depression as a result of his research of human cruelty, especially regarding the Holocaust.He felt as though he was a prisoner in that he wished harm on evil doers and had himself become untouched by suffering. He was doing research when he noticed something unusual, he was weeping. The reason? He had come across a short article about a village in France, which had resisted Hitler during the French Occupation (1940-1944).The village was the pacifistic Le Chambon.
inspiring story, but fragmented writing
The true story told in this book is amazing, inspiring, and miraculous. More people should know about it!! Pastor Trocme was the leader of the resistance, and much of the book is about him and his family.He was Pastor in a little Protestant town in France, and he and his townspeople saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish children.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. France    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Jewish - General    7. Jews    8. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon    9. Military - World War II    10. Rescue    11. World War, 1939-1945    12. History / Jewish