Reviews (5)

Original and problematic
This book deals with a number of different issues sourounding Jewish identity in America at least partly as it realtes to the white majority and the black minority between which they found themselves in New York City and during the civil rights movement.
Wow ! What a great book.
Great read. This book shows deep thought about the role of Jews in America. The author gives new insight to sensitive issues important to all races and religions. It is a welcome addition in my library.

great book
This book is a fascinating read. I learned many new things about American Jewish history. Everyone should read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Cultural assimilation    4. Discrimination & Racism    5. History    6. History: American    7. Identity    8. Jewish Studies    9. Jews    10. Social integration    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. American History    14. History / United States / General   

Reviews (6)

A book that changed the world
Many books are written. Few really change the world. This one did. It called for the creation of a Jewish state as a way of responding to the persecution the Jews suffered in Europe. Herzl was especially influenced by the Dryefuss trial and reasoned that if the Jews could not be accepted in what was then one of the most enlightened and progressive nations of the world then they would never ever really be accepted. Only a Jewish state in their ancient homeland, would enable them to live in dignity again.
Israel's Thomas Paine
Herzl's writings and activity got the push for a Jewish State going.This pamplet is an overly optimistic approach to starting a new Jewish state circa just pre-1900.Very little of Herzl's ideas actually ever came about to fruition from what I understand about history, and its a good thing too, otherwise Israel would probably be communist today. An explication and delineation for the erection of Israel
This book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the creation of Israel. �The Jewish State� is written by Theodor Herzl who ultimately believed in the mass migration of the Jewish populace as the only means of survival and solution to the �Jewish Problem.� Herzl recognized first-hand the increasingly belligerent and anti-semitic sentiments permeating throughout the world. Several locations were meticulously scouted and Palestine was chosen for its bibilical provenance. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1860-1904    2. Austria    3. Biography    4. Herzl, Theodor,    5. History - General History    6. Jewish - General    7. Middle East - Israel    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Zionism    10. Zionists    11. Herzl, Theodor    12. History / Jewish    13. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    14. Myths & mythology   

Reviews (36)

The Rebbe's Army
A fascinating book that gives great insight into the workings of the chabad movement. There are so many misconceptions and fears that this book dispels. If you are interested in Chabad or if Chabad is moving into your area and you are concerned, this book should be required reading. Also, if you liked Boychiks in the Hood, you will like this too.

A fair-minded, balanced examination of Chabad
I am not Jewish, yet have studied with a Chabad rabbi for almost two decades, generally weekly except when the class does not meet (holidays, vacations, etc.) The subject matter relates to Orthodox Judaism's laws related to humanity's basic legal code known as the "Laws of Noah."In these nearly two decades, I have observed the same kindness and non-judgmental hospitality described in THE REBBE'S ARMY. At no time have I been pressured to covert (to Judaism). All this to say THE REBBE'S ARMY was a wonderful introduction to understanding my Torah instructor's world; a world where Jew and Righteous Gentile labor in God's service to bring a little heaven down to earth.

an excellent elementary guide....
for someone who does not know that much about Chabad.Fishkoff covers all the basics: the origins of Chabad, their Messianic flirtations, the source of their growth.
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Subjects:  1. Hasidism    2. Judaism - General    3. Judaism - Hasidism    4. Religion    5. Religion - Judaism    6. Jewish studies    7. Judaism    8. Religion / Judaism / Movements   

Reviews (1)

great easy reading--fascinating
Enjoyed the book---so interesting to learn about the past. You learn about our presidents and their relationship with the Jewish people as well as individual Jews.There are so many fascinating tidbits of history that I have never come across before. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: American    4. Jewish - General    5. Jews    6. Political History    7. Presidents    8. Relations with Jews    9. United States    10. United States - General   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Jewish - General    3. Jews In The U.S.    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts/Dance    6. Theater    7. Theater - History & Criticism    8. Theater, Yiddish    9. United States    10. History / Jewish   

Reviews (1)

Hidden Heritage: The Legacy of the Crypto-Jews
Book arrived on time and in good shape. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. General    4. History    5. Jews    6. Judaism - History    7. Marranos    8. Religion - Judaism    9. Religious life    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Anthropology    14. History of religion    15. Jewish studies    16. Judaism    17. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. Chronology    3. Germany    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Jewish Holocaust    10. Jews    11. United States - 20th Century    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (5)

Honest and insightful biography of a great Torah scholar
Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg 1884-1966 was one of the Torah giants of this century. He was the preeminent European posek(Halachic decisor) in the post- war period. This biography tells his own personal life story but also provides an insight into the struggles of various streams within the Orthodox world for position and predominance during his lifetime. A product of the world of the Yeshivot and of the Mussar movement he also was educated as a scholar at the University of Giessen. There he was taken under the wing of a great Gentile scholar of Judaism Paul Kahle. There too he taught a class in Torah to non- Jewish students .His immense learning won him the respect of scholars throughout the world of Jewish learning. Shapiro makes it clear that Weinberg was an advocate of what he himself exemplied the combination of Torah learning and higher secular studies. And that Weinberg was troubled in his last days at the thought of a Jewish world of learning so narrowly focused as to lose its capacity to have influence in the real world. He believed for instance that certain kinds of secular knowledge would be necessary to make the state of Israel viable and independent. Shapiro does not provide a deep psychological analysis of Weinberg's character but does tell the basic biographical story including that of his unfortunate marriage. He indicates that Weinberg lived his life in great loneliness,especially in his last post- war years in Montreux where he headed a small Yeshiva.
Shayloh: Does one Recite Hatov Hametiv on this Book?
To many the life and works of Rav Weinberg were merely obscure shallos u teshuvos.Any controversy regarding his views was brushed off with a wave of the hand.The seridei eish had been misappropriated and assimilated into the haredi protoplasm... Interesting biography of a tormented scholar
Shapiro has produced an extremely interesting biography of a tormented rabbinic scholar who was fated to live through some of the most terrible decades of Jewish history. Shapriro leans heavily on the side of "modern orthodoxy" in his evaluation of Rabbi Weinberg and perhaps could have given more weight to his correspondence and interaction with East European (later American and Israeli) gedolim. The self-imposed isolation in post-war Switzerland is not fully explained and could have stood a more in-depth pyschological analysis. However a brave attempt at a very difficult subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Religious    4. 20th century    5. Biography: general    6. Jewish studies    7. Judaism    8. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (5)

STEPHEN SIZER IS THE DECEIVER
SIZER"S BOOK "CHRISTIAN ZIONISM" IS ONE MORE ATTEMPT OF THOSE WHO SUPPOSEDLY ARE CHRISTIANS TO EXTERMINATE ISAREL FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! YOU ARE OF YOUR fATHER THE DEVIL!!! I AM READING A WORHTY BOOK CALLED "NIGHT" WRITTEN BY ELIE WIESEL. HE IS A SURVIVOR OF THE HOLOCAUST!!! A REAL MAN!! NOT A FAKE CHRISTIAN AUTHOR LIKE SIZER -THE LOSER- WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SUFFERING!!! AFTER READING "NIGHT" I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT ISRAEL FROM UNDERGOING ANOTHER HOLOCAUST EVER AGAIN!!! ONE DAY YEHOSHUA IS GOING TO COME BACK AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHO IS TRULY SERVING GOD!!! AND THEN EVRYBODY WILL KNOW THAT ISAREL IS YEHOSHUA'S CHOSEN. YEHOSHUA IS JESUS IN HEBREW.

A fantastic, well researched book.
Sizer has written a thorough and very readable overview of the Christian Zionist movement.After an introduction which defines both Zionism and Christian Zionism, the book is broken into three sections:
Excellent Book!
It was very refreshing to see that others are finally picking up on something that I have been trying to explain to people about for years.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Social Issues    2. Christianity - Theology - Eschatology    3. Evangelicalism    4. History Of Zionist Movement    5. Religion    6. Religion - Christian Life    7. Religion - Theology   

Editorial Review

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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Europe - Germany    3. General    4. History - General History    5. Holocaust    6. Jewish - General    7. Germany    8. History / Holocaust    9. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    10. Iconography, subjects depicted in art    11. Memorials, monuments    12. The Holocaust   

Reviews (7)

Original, encyclopedic and bold, but not written like a popular history book
This book is less about the man, Sabbatai Sevi, than it is about the Kabbalah movement and its impact on the Jewish people.This book is not a "popular" history book.For example, the author spends the first 100 pages of the book discussing the history and fundamental principals of Kabbalah. (Perhaps the discussion was shorter in the original Hebrew as it would not surprise me that the translator needed to "digest" many of the concepts for the English readers.)
Should be a movie
This story has everything: personal conflict, political overtones, romance, madness, coincidence, religion, intrigue and a surprise ending. Why does Hollywood recycle 60's TV shows and leave stories like this in the dustbin?

sometimes fascinating, sometimes dry...
but always informative.Rather than reiterating the other reviewers' comments (all of which I agree with) I wanted to mention a few things about the book that grabbed my attention: Read more

Subjects:  1. 1626-1676    2. History    3. History: World    4. Jewish - General    5. Judaism - General    6. Religion - Judaism    7. Sabbathaians    8. Shabbethai Tzevi,    9. History / Jewish    10. Jewish Studies    11. Judaism    12. Mind, Body, Spirit    13. Religion   

Reviews (6)

out of the frying pan into the fire
Rebeccasreads highly recommends IZZY'S FIRE as a compelling account of how a Lithuanian Jewish couple & their son survived the Nazi occupation, & hide for 3 years in a Catholic farmer's root cellar. & then surviving the Communist "liberation" of their homeland.
The triumphant true story of a holocaust survivor and members of her family
Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity In The Holocaust is the triumphant true story of a holocaust survivor and members of her family escaped the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, survived trials and successfully hid until the war's end in a hiding places granted them by a Catholic farmer. She, her husband, and other refugees dug a hole between two potato cellars, and with the unselfish aid of that selfless, risk taking Catholic family, miraculously survived the Holocaust. Afterward she and her husband emigrated to America and encountered a joyful reunion decades later. Izzy's Fire gives voice to those who survived the Holocaust in hiding, and is a welcome addition to Holocaust studies shelves.
Required reading for all high school students.
There are many people today that feel "entitled" due to race, relegion or the condition of the home in which they were born. This is a story about a family who's life was turned upside down by war; who lived in barns, potato holes and lived in fear of being murdered as was the fate of many of their family members. Through perserverance and a strong faith in God, they were able to get to America and lived the "american story" of pulling themselves up from poverty to owning a successful business. All young people need to read this story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. General    4. History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust survivors    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Ipson family    10. Jewish - General    11. Jewish Studies    12. Jews    13. Kaunas    14. Lithuania    15. Personal narratives    16. Richmond    17. Virginia    18. World - General   

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Judaism - General    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Women    6. Women's Studies - General    7. Dictionaries of biography (Who's Who)    8. Jewish studies    9. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Antisemitism    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Encyclopedias    5. Europe, Western    6. General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Jewish Studies    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - General    12. World - General    13. History / World    14. History of specific subjects    15. Racism & racial discrimination   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Community    3. Ethnic Studies - General    4. History: World    5. Kibbutzim    6. Middle East - Israel    7. Social Organization    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Jewish studies    12. Social Science / Sociology / General    13. Urban communities   

Editorial Review

Food memoirs often delve into the meaning of life. This hardly surprises--memories are as essential to daily life as the food that sustains us.

Reviews (25)

This book is a treasure!!
This is one of my all time favorite books.
A heartwarming, bittersweet tale of Jewish tradition, food, and rediscovering what's truly important in life
"Miriam's Kitchen" is Elizabeth Ehrlich's inspirational, poignant memoir of life lessons learned in the kitchen of her Polish mother-in-law Miriam, of Miriam's sorrows and hardships translated into endless baking for Elizabeth's family. Like all things Jewish, the bitter with the sweet: there are recipes and mouthwatering descriptions of desserts: cakes, including chocolate sour cream and chocolate-chip pineapple cake, honey cake, Mandelbrot, cookies, and danishkes, holiday dishes (gefilte fish, kneydlekh, kompot chai, latkes), and scrumptious sides (sweet-and-sour cabbage, kugel, summer squash) from Miriam and from the author's grandmothers as well.
A Treasure!
This author has written a treasure of a book, tying family stories, her own life, and the recipes together into one scrumptious feast.Literature meets cookbook and the result is fabulous.Many thanks to Mrs. Ehrlich for taking us with her on her journey.And bless Miriam for remembering.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Judaism - General    6. Regional & Ethnic - Jewish & Kosher    7. Religious    8. Women    9. Women In Judaism    10. Biography & Autobiography / Women    11. Biography: general    12. Jewish studies    13. Judaism   

Subjects:  1. Catholic Church    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Christianity - History - General    4. Christianity - History - Social Issues    5. Christianity and antisemitism    6. History    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish - General    9. Judaism    10. Judaism - History    11. Leadership    12. Papacy    13. Relations    14. Religion    15. Religion - Christian Living    16. Religion - Classic Works   

Reviews (2)

Meeting our Foremothers
Transcending two strikes against them, being Jewish, and being female, a group of Central European Jewish university women of the early 20th century -- who often opted not to marry -- defied conventional expectations when they sought personal self-fulfillment in higher education and then invaded traditional male professions. In a clear, fascinating work, Harriet Freidenreich breaks new ground in her examination of the ramifications of religion and gender in a relatively new research field: Jewish Women's History.The text structures around life cycles and personal in experiences tracking these pioneers as they overcame significant obstacles.Freidenreich skillfully weaves primary sources, incorporating highly revelatory material from personal interviews, questionnaires, published and unpublished memoirs, enhanced by the haunting faces of the subjects in 20 pages of photographs. Some of the women, like Hanna Arendt, became famous. Others, less well known, still made significant contributions. Reading this highly intelligent, scholarly work about our professional foremothers -- intended for educated women to learn about educated women-- provides a most gratifying experience!

A Letter to the Author of Female, Jewish, & Educated
I have finished reading your latest book and it has certainly fulfilled what it promised.I learned a great deal from it about the women whom you chose to discuss in your work, about the issues which moved them, about the problems which they had to struggle against and about the historical background of their lives.It also confirmed a suspicion of mine, namely that anti-Semitism was a lesser obstacle than bias against women.So many of the women you write about are fascinating characters and have led colorful lives.I found your presentation lively, entertaining, your scholarship thorough and most impressive.Youalso show remarkable empathy toward these women. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Austria    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Europe - General    5. Germany    6. History    7. History Of Jews    8. History Of Women (General)    9. History: World    10. Jewish - General    11. Jewish women    12. Jews    13. Judaism - General    14. Women    15. Women's Studies - General    16. European history: from c 1900 -    17. Jewish studies    18. Social history    19. Women's studies   

Reviews (26)

Con-Artists and Ideologues, Please Rise!
Want a true life legal thriller that reads like fiction? Want a plot so outlandish that it is hard to remember that it is real? Something that will make you think, laugh, get angry, and make you proud, all in the same story?
Setting the record straight
To read mactans' review of the book with its glowing quotes by the trial judge (see his review with quotes from the judge), one would think that Irving won his suit. He didn't. Just as Irving selects bits of source documents and claims they absolve Hitler and the Nazis of the atrocities they are accused of, mactan gives only part of the story. Remember, Irving sued Lipstadt. He not only wanted damages, he wanted HER BOOK REMOVED FROM CIRCULATION. Talk about a dangerous precedent. Lipstadt did not say that Irving should not partake of his first amendment rights. As far as I know, she did not call for his books to be removed from library and bookshelves. Irving apologists want to frame the case as a dangerous attempt to sqaush a valid interpretation of history. Coming to different conclusions based on historical source material is not the issue here- misrepresenting source material to support a pre-existing bias or prejudice is. The same is true for book reviews.

A self-serving collection of distortions and out right lies
Read these quotes from Judge Gray's decision and you will get a very clear picture
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Subjects:  1. 1938-    2. England    3. Historiography    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust denial    9. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    10. Irving, David John Cawdell,    11. Jewish - General    12. Lipstadt, Deborah E    13. London    14. Penguin (Firm)    15. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    16. Trials (Libel)    17. Trials, litigation, etc    18. English law: defamation (slander & libel)    19. Europe    20. History / Jewish    21. Jewish studies    22. The Holocaust    23. True Stories   

Reviews (2)

Takes a lot of knowledge for granted
This massive book, consisting of contributions from 35 scholars, is obviously a valuable and learned resource for anyone interested in Jewish philosophy, and it contains much illuminating material.However, that it is "accessible to general readers as well as to scholars", as one of the blurbs on the back cover of the book reads, is true of only a few of its 39 chapters.The bulk of the book is certainly not suitable for anyone who is not already familiar with philosophy in general, with technical philosophical vocabulary in particular, or has a good knowledge of Judaism.In no way is this book comparable in approach and style with books written for the general public, such as Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy (or, for that matter, my own Philosophy and Living).Indeed, the style of writing can sometimes only be described as constipated.
tough call
It's a daunting task to survey the whole of Jewish philosophy--one could write just as large a volume (934pp) on the medieval period alone. Nevertheless this book is a great summary of and introduction to Jewish philosophy, with the drawback that it doesn't bring any original texts (the same editors composed a Reader for that purpose). While it could be larger (for instance, the Hist. of Islamic Philosophy, of the same series, is a two-volume work) and both the contemporary and ancient periods should be expanded, I recommend it for anyone interested inJewish philosophy in general. For a volume presenting the background to and contexts of Jewish philosophy (which could usefully be studied along with this one), see the Cambridge Companion to Medieval Jewish Philosophy, by the same editors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Judaism - History    2. Jewish studies    3. Oriental & Indian philosophy    4. Philosophy / Religious    5. Judaism - Theology    6. History & Surveys - General    7. Religious    8. Philosophy