Editorial Review

In 1988, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin undertook amission to heal "Jewish ignorance," an affliction whose symptoms include the ability to name the three components of the Trinity, coupled with an inability to explain Read more

Reviews (62)

converting to judaism
Having purchased this remarkable book and thinking that I knew quite alot about Judaism was quite an eye-opener for me. I was astonished at the wealth of information this work has to offer anyone who is interested in learning the basics of the jewish faith. The articles which are divided between the Bible, the holidays, the history of the jewish people, the holocaust and other subjects provide the reader with an excellent source of material and a basic knowledge of all things jewish. I recommend it highly.

No Jewish home library is complete without it.
I find myself returning to this book again and again to answer questions that come to mind and many discussions I have been part of have been started by a single sentence in this book, as Telushkin is wonderful at examining various perspectives on any given subject. And, Telushkin also has a knack for reporting a lot of information in a very concise, clear manner-- no long, drawn out rambles at all.

5* Brilliant Read - All Jewish households should own a copy
I bought a copy today, and although I have not (quite) finished reading it, it is already clear to me that R' Telushkin has written an excellent book, ranging from history to topical issues and much more. The quality of this book is very high, and although it does occasionally not go into quite enough detail, at least this means that, unlike other similar books I have seen, it flows very well, and is well suited to its target audience.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Customs and practices    2. History    3. Jews    4. Judaism    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    7. Reference    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Jewish studies    11. Religion / General    12. Yiddish   

Subjects:  1. Jainism    2. Jewish - General    3. Judaism - History    4. Reference    5. Religion    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Jewish studies    8. Judaism    9. Reference works   

Reviews (95)

Captivating and Proficient Historical Account ...
David Fromkin's "A Peace to End All Peace" is a wondefully researched and well-written account that covers the political creation of the modern Middle East from the period starting during World War I and the years immediately subsequent to it.Although Fromkin tackles the project in a somewhat predictable, chronological manner, his book is supremely researched and engaging thanks in part to the book's prescient subject matter.
Just the facts
This book is actual history.There is little agenda or argument that does not rise directly out of the facts presented.Only the introduction and the conclusion put forth speculation as to cause and effect.Given that, this book is likely too detailed for many, but the personalities of Churchill, Lloyd George, Ener, Talaat, Kitchener, Sykes, T.E. Lawrence are drawn through their documented action, and the history really moves.It's a fascinating story and essential as the details of WWI are not as clearly understood as are those of WWII.However, this book seems to suggest the opposite of its stated case.It turns out that the Middle East lands were largely ignored prior to WWI, and without the knowledge of or appetite for oil, it is easy to understand why.
wrong-headed
This is not a book for the general reader.It'stoo long, too detailed, and it requires too much knowledge of history, geography and politics.I give it two stars because Fromkin has labored mightily to produce an argument about the most volatile,yet from the West's perspective, strategic region in the world.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1914-1945    2. Foreign relations    3. General    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. International Relations - General    9. Jewish - General    10. Middle East    11. Middle East - General    12. Politics and government   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (151)

vgmani
I dont know how to rate this!! The book... I am yet to read! But I received collectorS edition within a collector edition! The book is printed upside down while the cover page is printed straight!

The Life of Vladek
The combination of volume one and volume two of Maus instills emotion, unfelt by any Holocaust story.Spiegelman (hey that's me; so of coarse it's a must read) implements humor, details, and characters that allow for a stunning plot of the life of his father Vladek. The relationship between Mala and Vladek, is humorous and tragic at the same time. I don't want to reveal too much plot, but would like to end writing the animals characterizations of personalities is ingenious.

Excellent Book
I am ordinarily very uninterested in graphic novels. Just seems like a stupid format to me. BUT, this was a great book. It is just the right story and right presentation for someone like me to enjoy. I highly recommend it and will probably give other graphic novels a chance ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Children of Holocaust survivors    6. Comic books, strips, etc    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. Holocaust    10. Holocaust survivors    11. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    12. Poland    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Literary    15. Biography: general    16. Jewish studies    17. The Holocaust   

Reviews (3)

Zealotry With A Cause
David Mamet here displays the pugnaciousness of a Norman Mailer without the self-embellishing promotionalism.Speaking for myself, I do not need the names and behaviors of those Jews who fit the ideal type self-abnegator constructed by Mamet.They are to be found everywhere, including parts of my extended family and even in my own house.But, unlike Mamet, I don't think Jewish self-hatred is only repulsive.The true victims of Jewish ambivalence are the descendents of those Jews who internalize the self-mocking, Woody Allenesque gibes of their "wicked son" parents.They have squandered their own birthright and are too ignorant about its content and value to understand what they've lost. If anything, though he pulls no punches, Mamet does not make the case strongly enough.But for a solid opening salvo, I'd recommend this book to any disaffected Jew who doesn't at present understand the benefit of "showing up" to lead an obligated Judaic life and helping to make community.

did I agree with it all?No, but it forced me to think....
As a gay Jew of Color, I often think about self-hatred.This society has taught me to not like myself for a number of reasons.Mamet forces me as Jew to look at how I have internalized these messages.Did I agree with his analysis all the time?No but I had to think....

Reactionary ethnocentric nationalism from a "progressive"
Mamet is both a celebrated playwright and one of the most chauvinist and ethnocentric nationalists extant. If a traditional Catholic were to say about the pope and the Church what Mamet says about rabbis and the Synagogue in this book, he would be denounced as a reactionary bigot and hardly taken seriously. Instead, by some sleight of hand he may have picked up from his stage-magician pal Ricky Jay, Mamet's Judaic jingoism is transformed into a progressive appeal. To what? Blind faith in dogma and ideology as a path to salvation? Did anyone ever hear of the Enlightenment? Thank God for Pfefferkorn, Spinoza, Shahak, Chomsky, Kaye, Finkelstein and all the other "apostates" who had the courage and integrity to break free. Read this book as a case study in megalomania and paranoia from one of the grandees directing contemporary culture in America. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antisemitism    2. Discrimination & Racism    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Identity    7. Jewish - General    8. Jewish Sociology    9. Jewish Studies    10. Jews    11. Judaism - History    12. Self-hate (Psychology)    13. History / Jewish   

Reviews (15)

Quite intriguing
This book is another in a recent spate of very well written books that explain (and translate into modern terms) key aspects of Spinoza.This book is unique in its seamless style of inserting these concepts as rewordings and quotes.The single most amazing aspect of this book is its ability to humanize and personalize what seem to be necessary aspects of Spinoza's lifestyle and personality.I liked this.

A wonderful book
A wonderful book indeed. Ms. Goldsteinreveals Spinoza's philosophy, but never all at once. No "sound bytes," no "catch phrases," but a gentle and progressive exegesis, slowly building to a denouement, one idea or part of an idea at a time. She claims to be very moved when her college students begin to 'see' Spinoza, begin to understand this remarkable man's philosophy and approach to life - and she wants us, her anonymous readers, to share in this excitment as well...and I, for one, got very excited (knowing very little of Spinoza beforehand, the author has stimulated me to want to go out and learn everything I canabout Spinoza.) It's a wonderfully personal book - I don't know Professor Goldstein, but I suspect she is the only person who could have written this particular book in this particular way. It is a wonderfully quirky book--and I mean that in a very positive way. Sometimes I had to go over a paragraph 5 or 10 times to "get it," and even then I'm sure Imissed a lot-- but, stimulated by Prof. Goldstein, I've bought a copy of Spinoza's Ethics , and hope to correct at least some of my deficits.
The iconoclast behind the icon
As with her biography of Kurt Godel, Rebecca Goldstein has a way of intuiting the flames that fired a crucible of genuis.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Heretics, Jewish    6. Jewish Sociology    7. Jewish Studies    8. Jewish philosophers    9. Netherlands    10. Philosophers    11. Biography & Autobiography / Philosophers    12. Biography: general   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (4)

Excellent delivery
The time of the delivery was very good, in less than 3 weeks I had my books with me.

Wonderful gift and accesory
These wonderful books deal with tradtional judaism and more controversial issues like conversion and marriage.The first volume is essentially detailed with accounts of 'who is a Jew' 'What is a Jew''What are Jewish holidays''What is the Jewish service and its structure''What are essential Jewish rituals''How do Jews interpret the Torah'.These chapters detail almost any question one might have about what it means to be a Jew, how to live a Jewish life and how to interpret the essential Torah.This volume is wonderful for non-Jews, return Jews, Secualt Jews and normal Jews intreested in exploring their religion deeper.Wonderful excerts explain the origins of such simple items like the Kipa(Yarmluke) and essential questions about Jewish dietary laws. Well written and simple
Best, I think, for children, Jews by Choice, and non-Jews with questions.It is written on a very basic level.Wonderful reference source for when those occasional "trivia question" moments come up, and you simply "have to know." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jewish - General    2. Judaism - Rituals & Practice    3. Religion    4. Religion - Judaism    5. Judaism   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Arab countries    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    8. Jewish Studies    9. Jews    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Persecutions    13. World War II    14. ASIA    15. Arabian peninsula    16. Ethnic studies    17. International relations    18. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (12)

Excellent Overview of History and Culture
Professor Barnavi has done a great service both to Judaism and any students who are inclined to further their understanding of it. As a Christian proponent of this ancient faith upon which our own is based, I have found it an invaluable resource in my ecumenical studies involving history and development of Ancient and Modern Jewry and the vast knowledge accumulated over the thousands of years of its existance. It is a concise coverage of every age of its progression, along with a magnificent garnish of photographs and illustations which bring the entire process to life. I highly reccomend this book.

Heavily researched, beautifully depicted, fascinating and encyclopedic
This gorgeous coffee-table sized book would alone get my five stars for its detailed but clear maps and its breathtakingly diverse array offigures and illustrations depicting the major events of over 3,000 years of Jewish history.As it is, it provides detailed, well researched and very readable historical synopses of Jewish life throughout the world over this period, with each folio (two facing pages) a separate topic.Each folio includes the historical synopsis, usually a map, a series of other illustrations, including photographs, art, and other figures, and at the bottom of every page appears a time line highlighting important dates relevant to the topic.The topics range from the dawn of Judaism to present-day issues in Judaism, from Chinese Jews to the Jews of King Solomon's era, to Jewish farmers in Eastern Europe.You need to see this book in its entirety to believe it.If you ever wanted to an excellent and fascinating introduction to Jewish history, I don't think you can get better than this rare, colorful, scholarly and very engaging book.I'm so enthusiastic about it, I've bought it as a gift three times over.

An excellent,informative and beautiful work
This presentation of the history of the Jewish people through text, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, etc. is beautifully done.It is an excellent reference work for readers of all ages, a beautiful 'coffee table' book and a pleasure to use. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atlases - Historical    2. Historical Atlases    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History Of Jews    6. History: World    7. Jewish - General    8. Jews    9. Maps    10. History / Jewish    11. Jewish studies    12. World history   

Reviews (31)

Laughs, gasps, aha's and oy veys
Born to Kvetch is, at one time, informative, enlightening, synical, humorous, and irreligious.I learned so much about the Yiddish language, Jewish mores and their beginnings, Jewish and Yiddish history and interpersonal relations.At times I was in tears of laughter or a tear of sadness; amazed or embarrassed and often shocked by Michael Wex's irreverence.
Humorous and well researched
Michael Wex has written a book that is both scholarly and hilarious!He has succeeded in describing the complex origins of the Yiddish language with the humor of a stand-up comedian.This book is not for those unfamiliar with Jewish-Yiddish culture.The humor will be lost for you.However, for those who grew up in such an environment, you will find yourself laughing outloud.Some of his descriptions regarding the development of Yiddish are a bit confusing, but for the most part, this book is an enjoyable read and an accurate portrayal of Yiddish culture.

I plotzed from laughing so hard
Filled with insight, wisdom & humor.A great companion book to "The Joys of Yiddish" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    2. Foreign Language Study    3. History    4. History: World    5. Jewish - General    6. Jews    7. Language    8. Social aspects    9. Yiddish    10. Yiddish Language    11. Yiddish wit and humor   

Editorial Review

Some historical events simply beggar any attempt at description--the Holocaust is one of these. Therefore, as it recedes and the people able to bear witness die, it becomes more and more essential that novel, vigorous methods are used to describe the indescribable. Examined in these terms, Art Spiegelman's Read more

Reviews (129)

Why are so many amazed that its a "comic" book?
...I loved this graphic novel, and so many accolades have been heaped upon this book that I need'nt say more. However, in reviewing some of the readers responses, and colligiate papers regarding the works of Maus, many seemed surprised or shocked that such amazing storytelling could be attributed to the comic book form. Why? I have been a lover and reader of comics for many years and this so - called "low" art form has produced some of the most memorable, touching, exciting, and thought-provoking material I have ever read. Granted, a large percentage of "comic" books cater to the stylized "men-in-tights" brigade, however even this attitude has changed much within the industry and modern comics. Even the long-running "hero" titles touch upon modern issues with a compexity that some people might find surprising. It should also be noted however that largely indie, underground, and other "non-mainstream" works really drive the graphic novel and comic industry in terms of content. If you thought comics simply "silly childrens stories" or "lame escapism" you should read some of the highly recommended titles of the genre and see why "comics" are being used as source material for a lot of current and upcoming films.

An Incredible Historical Perspective
Making one man's story about his life during the Holocaust into a comic book isn't contrite or demeaning. It's brilliant.
Ja! Like lightning!
Despite all the press and hype regarding it, I had never heard of Maus until mid-last year when browsing through a book store. The image of Hitler as a cat with two mice seemingly losing all hope on the cover really struck me, and I then made a blind purchase. I didn't even flip through the pages to see the art style, or read the back of the book or inside flaps to get an idea of what it was about. All I knew was that Nazis = cats, and Jews = mice. Having loved my experience in various history classes, I figured I'd get something out of this comic. Then I read it, and didn't. It all seemed bland, some parts rushed, and I didn't like the art style too much. Then, almost a year later, I reread it, and I don't know what it is, but my view changed. I actually got the characters, loved the story of survival, and understood just how bad the times were from the narrator's point of view. I still hated the art style, but everything else was meaningful. While most stories of the Holocaust rub in your face how bad things were, giving you every tiny detail about the pain and suffering, Maus takes things in a different direction. Art Spiegelman, the semi-author and artist, interviews his own father, a Holocaust survivor, and tells his story in comic form. It's not "normal" though- his father, Vladek, is a cranky old man now, and Art even makes a comment that he's now the stereotypical Jew. Maus takes both the real story of the Holocaust as Vladek experienced it, as well as the in-between portions of getting together with his father and the difficulties the two experience together in trying to make things work out. It's these little things that make the story so much more real than just simply a survivor telling their story straight forward.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Children of Holocaust survivors    5. Comic books, strips, etc    6. Comics & Graphic Novels    7. Fine Arts    8. Historical - Holocaust    9. History: World    10. Holocaust    11. Holocaust survivors    12. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    13. Jewish - General    14. Literary    15. Literature: Classics    16. Military - World War II    17. Personal Memoirs    18. Poland    19. Spiegelman, Vladek    20. United States    21. Europe    22. Fiction / Graphic Novels    23. Graphic novels    24. Spiegelman, Art   

Editorial Review

Paul Johnson says that writing Read more

Reviews (62)

The best book on the subject, with no religiuos bias
It is one of the best books I read in my life. The book is full of intriguing thoughts and explanations. It does not have the sadness, which comes with the subject. The cross-cultural analysis has been very revealing. I found fascinating the accuracy of details presented on topics, which I lived through. Somehow it adds credibility to many other thoughts in the book. Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson

Should be required reading for sunday schools
This is a wonderful book that is extremely readable.I learned more from 10 days of reading this book than I did from 10 years of attending Sunday School.

Another Great Johnson Historical Review
Johnson is my favorite historian. I have read several of his other works over the years, History of Christianity, Birth of the Modern, Modern Times, and now, A History of the Jews.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Israel    6. Jewish - General    7. Jews    8. History / General    9. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    10. Jewish studies   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (58)

100% Recommended
It recounts the hellish 12 months that Primo Levi, an Italian jew, spent as Haftling 174517, at the notorious Deathcamp (during 1939 and 1944 2 million people were murdered there). He was captured by the Fascist Militia in December 1943 and wished to be charged based on his religious beliefs rather than his political ones in the view that he would be treated more leniently. After a period in a detention camp at Fossili, Modena, he along with the rest of the Jews are transferred to the concentration camps. The opening chapters describe the horrific conditions of the transfer and the hasty selection process used to determine who would go to the camp and who would go to the gas chambers at Birkenau; all the women, children and infirm were sent to cremation without question. In some ways he was fortunate to have avoided arrest until the latter stages of the war as the Germans decided that the prisoners in the lagers would be of more use to them alive than dead, at Auschwitz they were detailed to build a Buna - a synthetic rubber processing plant which never saw a day of production. Prior to this the prisoners were killed without recourse.
Primo Levi enthusiasts: This is a re-issue of 'If this is a man'
It's a great book. But if you've already got 'If this is a man', don't buy this.

Brutual & Clinical Look of Survival
I stopped reading books of the Holocaust several years ago simply because the stories that come out of the Holocaust are heart-wrenching, bitter, courgaeous, guilt-ridden .... all of the emotions and thoughts that we human have produced can be a lot to digest at one time.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Auschwitz (Concentration camp)    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Historical - Holocaust    4. History: World    5. Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Italy    8. Jewish Holocaust Personal Narratives    9. Levi, Primo    10. Levi, Primo - Prose & Criticism    11. Literary    12. Personal narratives    13. Personal narratives, Italian    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. European history: Second World War    16. History / Jewish    17. Poland    18. The Holocaust   

Reviews (25)

Prominent doesn't mean anything!
All those interviews proved is that the diversity among "prominent" Jews is the same as that among the general Jewish population. It may make observant Jews angry and non-observant Jews feel good but doesn't contribute to anyone else's well-being or beliefs in any shape or form.All one has to do is pick one interview and say that's why 1. Either I dont' still feel I'm a Jew or 2. I still feel I'm a Jew.

disappointing and uninspiring
What a disappointment. These people are prominent, but not for their connection to Judaism. Sarah Jessica Parker chooses to have a mezzuah because she thinks it's a cute good luck charm. Many of the people highlighted had no Jewish upbringing and know little about their religion.
Jewish in Detail, but Applicable to All
The surprising thing about this book is that the people being interviewed have achieved such prominence in other fields such as acting, reporting, designing, judging, financing.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Biography    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. Interviews    5. Jewish Sociology    6. Jewish Studies    7. Jews in public life    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Social Science / Ethnic Studies   

Reviews (26)

Answers the What Happened, But WHY?
The whole idea of the Holocaust is so abhorrent to many of us that we find it difficult to understand or believe as many otherwise 'normal' people participated either directly or indirectly. In France, in most of the occupied countries, and of course in Germany itself Jews were regularly turned over to the authorities. (Although I must add that in Denmark, Italy and Hungary the Governments at least resisted with more or less success.) So many people find it so unbelievable that they simply have re-written history to pretend that it really didn't happen.
Well written but with the unforgivable bias
This book is well written and starts with an excellent review of the context of Polish history after the World War 2 (Chapter 1). Unfortunately, following chapters go downhill from there, to end up with the incredibly biased conclusion. Shattering, factual crime descriptions (such as the description of the Kielce pogrom) are getting more and more intertwined with the one sided anecdotal evidence, author's opinions, as well as clear omissions of important facts, not to mention some clearly misleading and untruthful statements.
Another Case Study In Polish Savagery!
In pondering this disturbing and provocative tome by Jan T. Gross, one is reminded not only of his previous shocking entry, "Neighbors" (see my review) but also of the increasing evidence of a shockingly resurgent and quite virulent anti- Semitism across Europe as well as throughout the Middle East. With horrific detail, Mr. Gross describes the almost indescribable violence and murder systematically visited against returning Jews to Poland in the aftermath of the Second World War. This current work indicates just how typical the previous study ("Neighbors") he had conducted concerning the events in one particular rural town (Jedwabne) had been. In that account he detailed how the local inhabitantsintentionally clubbed, murdered, and mutilated its local indigenous Jews in 1941 under the urgent ministrations of a cruel Nazi occupation. Since many stood to gain materially from the Jews' demise in the way of money, farms, houses, furniture, and other earthly possessions, they were seemingly encouraged by local German occupying forces to engage in the bludgeoning murders of as many as 1,000 of their Jewish fellow villagers; men, women, and children.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antisemitism    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Eastern Europe - General    5. Eastern Europe - Poland    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Jewish - General    10. Jews    11. Kielce    12. Persecutions    13. Pogroms    14. Poland    15. Poland - History    16. History / Europe / Eastern   

Reviews (6)

Riveting Story of Diversity
This is a companion book to the documentary about the Paper Clip project started at Whitwell Middle School outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the late 1990s.What began as a class to teach diversity to a mostly white southern group of schoolchildren evolved into a project of collecting 6 million paper clips (the clips are historically tied to the Holocaust) to represent the Jews who perished during that dark period.This book is a wonderful story that shows what can be accomplished when children are determined and how a relatively small idea can grow into something significant that can affect millions of people.This one is highly recommended for children of all ages.

Deserves 10 stars
I happened upon a review and ordered the book. When it arrived, I read it with a lump in my throat and my eyes tearing up.My 72 year old mother and I were driving to another town when I started telling her about it.I couldn't get that damn lump out of my throat and pretty soon my voice started quivering and I started crying. She just reached over and held my hand as I got my composure back.I was done, though, I told her she had to read it.She did. Afterward, she took it to one of her clubs and shared it.It's just a 10 minute read, but it sure provides plenty of emotion. I am so glad I happened upon it. A glorious story. Thank you.

The power of a symbol.
Those of us who are horrified by the murderous actions of the Nazis during the Holocaust pray that such a terrible event will never happen again.It is heartening to know that there are a number of middle school children in Whitwell, Tennessee who did their share to raise the consciousness of people from all over the world.Whitwell, a small town of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants with a population of only 1,600, is now internationally famous for its "Paper Clip Project."
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - History - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Ethnic relations    5. History - Holocaust    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust memorials    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. Study and teaching (Elementary    14. Study and teaching (Elementary)    15. Tennesee    16. Whitwell    17. Whitwell (Tenn.)    18. Jewish studies   

Reviews (8)

A refreshing, compact look at Sephardic history
It has often been difficult for me to keep old textbooks.Oftentimes they're dry as toast and I can't wait to foist them off to the university bookstore again.However, I kept Gerber's book after my Spanish Jewry class ended.Simply put, it's a nice little treasure.