JTAS Book Club

Palestine Betrayed by Efraim Karsh Rating: 10

2011-04-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

There iss nothing like proper dialogue and debate to motivate research. Recently a friend pushed me to read one of the Israeli "post zionist" "new historians". When I went to the library to get the book, I noticed this book and took it out too. I thought it was the same type, but it is not. This book is one of the recent academic additions to the discussion. It is published in 2010 by Yale Uniersity Press and has extensive, detailed footnotes and references. (unlike the other book I read).

The saying is well known, "repeat a lie enough and people will believe it." Unfortunately, the new historians have been pushing hard and publishing frequently (regardless of quality) a variety of lies and 'half-truths.' A half truth is when a true situation is mentioned without its context, e.g. 'The policeman shot a boy in the park last night.' If the situation was that the boy was 16 years old and shot at the policeman first the entire picture changes. A half-truth can be worse than a total lie.

Karsh's book recreates the events of 1948. He attempts to give a full picture and cites a wide variety of source material. His basic thesis is that Palestine was betrayed by a variety of powerful Arab individuals and institutions. People like Haj Al Husseini, who spent WWII in Berlin as a special guest of the Nazis and prepared plans to bring the 'final solution' to Palestine, were not prepared to arrive at any type of negotiated settlement with the Jews. Ultimately, the people who suffered the most were the common Palestinians who became pawns in their power plays and thirst for glory and honor.

In any serious hisotrical debate one book will not cover every issue entirely. However, when one compares, for example, Karsh's detailed and documented description of the events that transpired in Haifa in 1948 with the descriptions in other books, the tremendous value of this book becomes apparent. Any person who wants to gain a full picture of the events of those times must read this book.

If I am not for myself: the liberal betrayal of the Jews by Ruth Wisse Rating 9

2011-03-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ruth Wisse was able to write this book because she grew up and remains a liberal. She knows the liberal perpsective because she lives it. This did not only give her the ability to write this book, but it gave her the motivation as well. She begins the book writing, "Belief in progress is one of the most cherished assumptions of the modern age," a belief she clearly held. As I turned the pages I kept thinking, 'now that's a quotation I need to mark down.'

This book is a short read, which makes it all the easier to recommend for any one who is a liberal, or is around liberals (and maybe debates with them). Her biggest accomplishement is to face the issue that others want to avoid - anitsemitism (her second chapter is "The Twentieth Century's Most Durable Ideology"). She addresses the issue head on and calls the liberal world to account, in particular regarding anti-Zionism (chapter 5 - "The Demonization of Israel").

Being the artistic-literary person she is, she ends with a short fictional (I hope!) story, a story of passionate betrayal, that ends with the sober realization that restored loyalty to one's spouse is the only route for true happiness and a positive life. The message is clear - liberal movements provide some people with passionate romance, but they are destructive if their lies are not recognized.

I highly recomend this book, even though I have serious reservations about certain things she includes in the book (that are not directly related to her thesis).

Yiddish Stories Old and New edited by Irving HoweRating: 8

2010-12-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

Buy Here: Yiddish Stories Old and New

This is a really nice little book. On Amazon you can buy it for shipping plus a penny. Yes, that already sounds like the beginning of a Yiddish story. I was teaching a course on short stories and in my search for material I found this book on the shelf. It's a nice collection of stories by an array of classic Yiddish writers - a real glimpse into a world gone by. Most of the stories are set in Eastern Europe, in that strange existence of persecution and communal vitality. As this world came to an end through emigration and genocide, so too, this collection ends with two stories, one set in a sweat shop on the Lower East Side and the other in the Warsaw Ghetto.

If you don't have a collection of Yiddish stories on your shelf, this is a good book to start with.

The Harvest of Hellenism by F.E. Peters Rating: 10

2010-09-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Available from Amazon.com - The Harvest of Hellenism: A History of the Near East from Alexander the Great to the Triumph of Christianity

I read a lot of books in my research, but I rarely buy them. I bought this one. When I started rereading it a third time, I realized it was worth owning. And when I saw the price on Amazon, I really thought it was worth having.

This book is 'holistic'. History is not just about battles, it is about the development of societies and cultures. This is reflected in battles, literature, religion, language, government, economics and more. Peters covers it all. The period from Alexander until Christianity is a long period with a lot of change and development. Nonetheless, Peters succeeds in giving over enough components of the history to allow the reader to gain insights into what caused the developments in what we call the Hellenistic World. He alternates chapters between more standard types of political history and the history of philosophies and world outlooks. This strong emphasis on both political and intellectual/cultural developments makes this book a fascinating and fulfilling read.

The Hellenistic World is important for students of society because it flows into the Modern Western world, whether through political institutions, Christianity, or social philosophies. For students of Judaism it is important because Judaism was one of the religions and cultures that where intertwined with the Hellenistic world - among other things, the Maccabean revolt, the destruction of the Temple, the composition of the Mishna, all occurred in the Hellenistic world of the eastern Mediterranean. I am glad I was required to read this book.

The Jews Under Roman Rule: From Pompey to Diocletian : A Study in Political Relations by E. Mary Small Wood - Rating: 9

2010-08-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is a great book. Traditionally the history of Judea was addressed in the field of 'religion' or 'theology'. The history of Rome was addressed in 'classics' or 'history' departments. The obvious value of putting the history of Judea in the context of the empires surrounding it was long overlooked. The history of the late second Temple period is very delicate for Jews and Christians alike. The developments Rome are certainly foundational for all of Western Society. The case of the Jews in Judea, and the rest of the Mediterranean, is enlightening for the study of Judaism, the Roman Empire, and early Christianity.

Smallwood has succeeded in bringing together source material from the various domains that were generally isolated from one another. The 'Jewish' sources, such as Philo, Josephus, the Mishna and Talmud, are cited. Christian sources, such as the New Testament and Jerome, are cited. Classic Roman sources, whether Greek or Latin, are cited. In addition, Smallwood brings relevant archeological discoveries into the discussion including the tremendous testimony of the coins that were generally minted with politically significant images and slogans.

On top of the material there is the smooth writing. For a long book, it is a comfortable read. [Of course, on such a 'sensitive' topic there will be attitudes and statements that a reader will find objectionable on occasion. For example, on pg 241, she insists that a group of Jews murdered by a governer during a pogrom in Alexandria must have done something to deserve it, even though there is no record of any such thing. In footnoe 79, she imagines out loud a possible offence.]

If a person wants to get an in-depth look at the nuances of Judea as it went from the Hasmonaim to Herod to Direct Roman Rule and disaster, this book is a necessary read. In addition, the presentation of Judea in this book illustrates the nuances of the various forms of Roman rule over a conquered region. If you're interested in the topic, get this book out of the library or buy a copy.

The Language God Talks by Herman Wouk Rating:10

2010-03-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

As I started reading, I had the feeling that I was reading one of the many 'Testaments' of Early Jewish writings of the Second Temple period. In The Language God Talks Herman Wouk presents his readers with his understanding of life and ultimate meaning. To that end, he includes reflections on various stages of his life, from childhood in the South Bronx until his current home in Palm Springs.

'The' issue he addresses is the conflict between belief in God and the scientifically understood modern world. Wouk will recast the issue. But first, he makes it clear that he is a member of the modern world. Wouk shares many conversations he had with Richard Feynman, a Noble Prize winning scientist. However, after Wouk has proclaimed his acceptance of the scientific method at length, he suprises us by forcing Feynman to conceed a tie on central scientific theories relating to the nature of existence. Feynman then understands Wouk's approach to the centrality of the human drama in the universe.

Wouk could not touch on ultimate meaning without relating to the Holocaust. His conclusion casts us back to a concentration camp in one of his previous novels where a final speech, a testament, is given before the train to death. Wouk makes it clear,that this is his speech. He speaks of Job and the fault of life's mystery lying with God. As for man, he concludes "She is overwhelmed with the agony of her predicament, and the exaltation of being a Jew."

Wouk demonstrates a style of writing in this book that is beyond what he has done elsewhere. He speaks of himself as a straight narrator instead of an artistic writer. However, here we have an artistic tapistry of the many threads of Wouk's existence weaving back and forth, yet, ultimately leading to his conclusion. The Language of God is the story and reflections of an insightful twentieth century American Jew engaged in the eternal struggle for ultimate meaning.

The Oslo Syndrome by Kenneth Levin Rating: 9

2010-03-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

In response to a recent wave of anti-Israel lies and propaganda I am reviewing this book. Let me mention that the author has a PhD in history from Princeton and is a psychiatrist with an MD from Penn. This book brings together these two expertises.

Dr. Levin includes two major sections in his book. The first section is "The Diaspora." He deals with a number of issues here, with the bulk reflecting upon the lead-up to the Holocaust and the Western indifference (at best) during the Holocaust.

In the second section, "Israel", Dr. Levin traces in great detail the situation in Israel from Herzl until publication in 2005. His conclusion is that the stresses of history, oppression and conflict have created delusions (similar to 'battered wife syndrome') among segments of Israel's population.

The careful academic attention to details and sources makes this book invaluable to anyone interested in becoming truly knowledgeable about the conflict. In addition, his psychiatric expertise allows him to analyse the delusions, now officially named "Oslo Syndrome." By the way, he has a blog www.oslosyndrome.com.

A Rabbi Talks with Jesus by Jacob Neusner Rating: 9

2010-02-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

This a short book, only a 154pgs. Neusner gets right to the point - why he, as a Jew, does not accept Christianity. He writes in a personal style that makes for an easy read. Neusner projects himself back to the Galilee in conversation with Jesus, as presented in Matthew, and vacilates back to our times throughout the book. If you're interested in the topic it is a very intelligent and clear book. Needless to say, I may not see eye-to-eye on everything, yet I find his positions generally stand well from an Orthodox Jewish perspective. He is not apologetic about the Jewish sources and traditions, i.e. the Mishna, Talmud, etc.

Nuesner identifies clearly where the Gospel in Matthew is irreconcilable with Jewish traditions of that time (and later). Primarily, he relates to the negation of the Torah's authority. He also relates to Jesus supplanting G-d and the Temple among many other things. Neusner hits the issue from a lot of angles for a short book. If you're interested in the topic of where and why Judaism diverges from Christianity, this is an important read.

The Quest for Utopia by Zvi Gitelman Rating: 8

2010-01-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

I saw this book mentioned on the web somewhere, so I decided to take a look.

It's a collection of seven summaries of Jewish political organization at different times and places. Each chapter is written by a different academic expert. The book is very useful as an overview or a first step into a given period. The footnotes would then direct you to further readings. The topics chosen were the Biblical period, after the Temple's destruction until Medieval times, Medieval times, Europe during and after the emancipation, Western and Central Europe until the war, and finaly the United States until publication in 1992.

I enjoyed the chapter on the Biblical period for its description of why G-d was separate and beyond kings. In contrast to neighboring cultures, these kings were never considered gods. I also found the discussion on power sharing in that chapter interesting. The next chapter discussed Jewish views about ideal vs. practical rule. The chapter on Medieval times had a very interesting description in the arrangement of Jewish communities in regard to the Jewish population and the non-Jewish rulers - an arrangement that continued for at least a millenium. The post-emancipation chapters were good, but I've been through it enough that nothing struck me. The final chapter, however, on the United States may be a bit dated already. It was very good, however, changes in Jewish demographics and the effects of 9/11 demonstrate the challenges of writing a description of an ever changing contemporary reality. The rapid assimilation and disapearance of thousands of Jews and the rapid growth of various orthodox groups is not dealt with. The new phenomenon of JStreet and its 'post-zionist' agenda is only foreshadowed with a question about what would happen if Jewish opinion on Israel splits.

All in all, if you're interested in any of the topics covered it's a good introduction to the material.

Open Secret: Postmessianic Messianism and the Mystical Revision of Menahem Mendel Schneerson by Elliot Wolfson Rating: 8

2009-12-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

Visiting a good friend I came across this book. Open Secret is a very important contribution to the study of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Chabad Chassidus. Unlike other books, Wolfson does not focus on whether the Rebbe is, was, or will be Moshiach, and whether such views are acceptable or not. Rather, Wolfson states clearly that to understand the Rebbe one must examine Chabad's chassidic teachings. These teachings allow us to approach the Rebbe's 'world view' and explain the path he chose for Chabad during his leadership.

Wolfson dives into the most profound teachings of chassidic thought on issues of ultimate meaning relating to the manner of G-d's relation to physical existence and the reality of human perception . Wolfson displays a tremendous knowledge of the writings of the seven Rebbes of Chabad. However, this book is not for the novice. The depth of thought, and the technical and academic language that Wolfson employs make this a difficult read - as should be a book tackling these topics. If you are interested in struggling with the depths of chassidic philosophy and understanding how it affected the Rebbe's approach to the world, Open Secret is a necessary read.

Wolfson's conclusion is a reflection on Jewish philosophy, mysticism and Messianism, thus bringing us full-circle on the issue of the Rebbe and Moshiach.

Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin Rating: 8

2009-11-22T13:37:00.000-08:00

This is an important book for people who are interested in politics. Of course, it relates first and foremost to American politics, particularly the 2008 election.

I remember reading The Making of The President. That book was written by a person who followed a Nixon campaign. The author was a Democrat, but the Democrats didn't let him follow their campaign (hmmmm) but the Republicans had no problem with him tagging along. He writes about how a political campaign doctors their image in the media.

In Going Rogue, Sarah Palin writes about how the media doctors politicians when presenting them. This book is her way of presenting her story, something the media refused to do during the campaign.

Isn't it strange how the media didn't present any of the real issues she dealt with as a small town mayor? Isn't it outrageous how the media didn't discuss her intricate dealings with the world's (not only U.S.) largest multi billion dollar oil companies, or the legislation that she passed as governor of Alaska to deal with them, or the op-ed piece she wrote on the topic that was published in the New York Times? No, none of that was important. After the media accepted Obama's request to keep his family out of the media, they decided to focus on Palin's family. Yes, they also focused on anything they could find, except for her experience as Mayor or Governor. Well, maybe that's not fair, they did discuss how she banned books from a local library, including books that had not yet been published... all false rumors spread on the Internet.

Why should this interest anyone? It should make us very wary of the media. It should remind us to separate important issues from unimportant ones.

There is more to this book. It gives us a picture of Alaska, a state that people are not very familiar with. But most important, it gives us a look at Sarah Palin - the view that she wants to promote, but hey, the other views were in the media for a long time. We see a hard working 'frontier woman' who has worked hard and with integrity from day one until today. Yes, she is religious and conservative. However, she makes it clear that she is not trying to coerce theocratic rule upon anyone. She discusses how she loves the American system of government and freedom, invoking political nuances more than once.

For anyone who wants to know who Sarah Palin is, or what happened in the last election, or how a conservative thinker sometimes thinks, this book is very important. It's a pleasant read, although it may not go down in history as a literary masterpiece. The first half goes through her life, and the second half the election campaign. At the end she leaves you with some of her thoughts on politics and leaves you with a religious blessing in the final paragraph. Finally, with the campaign people gone, she can be herself.

Escape from India by Avigail Myzlik Rating: 8

2009-09-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

This is a thriller and a true story (you know I'm not a big fan of fiction). Not only that, but the events are only a couple of years old. The author's name is actually the publisher's, as the author apparently wants to remain anonymous.

This story is the English translation of the Hebrew manuscript written by the protagonist, Ronen. The plot could be reduced to 'Israeli gets in troubling smuggling drugs and dramatically escapes back to Israel.' But, that would not do the story justice. Ronen reveals himself as a complex character struggling with coming to terms with life. During his struggle to reform himself, after he 'settles down', gets married, comes to religion, he has a 'relapse' due to economic pressures (a big dept) and goes to smuggling drugs. On 'the last time' he gets busted. Now, there's even more to it than that. The book successfully puts you into the head of the protagonist and you can feel and see what's transpiring as if you're with him (inside of him) the whole time.

Ronen takes you to the exotic fun of India, then abruptly brings you on a descent into jail in Bombay. The issue is not that he's busted for trying to smuggle some marijuana to Europe, but rather, the third world, non-functional legal system in India, where people can languish for years in decrepit jail before coming to trial to be declared innocent, or to be sentenced in an arbitrary fashion.

That's still not it. There's the spiritual dimension. All of Ronen's past stews through him during this period, as he turns inward and grows in his connection to G-d.

Between the simple exotic adventure story, the emotional struggle of Ronen, and his spiritual awakening, this true story is extremely moving. I couldn't put it down.

(I didn't rate it a 10 because I don't feel it is necessary to read. I struggled with giving it a 9, but I felt the translation was a bit rough, for example translating 'Ani tzarikh la'oof mi po' semi-literally 'I need to fly out of this place' when 'I need to get out of here', in my opinion, would have made it a smoother read, sometimes I would stop at unusual phrases and realized they were slightly awkward translations.)

Jewish Fundamentalism in Comparative Perspective by Laurence Silberstein

2009-08-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

What is Religious Fundamentalism? With the present headlines in Israel this subject is especially pertinent. I picked this book up last week for some doctoral research and while it is somewhat dated, it has some interesting ideas.

As with any collection, some articles are stronger than others. This one is no different. It major strength, however, is its editor Laurence Silberstein. Silberstein brings in the introduction a very strong quote from Max Weber, “Whenever we subsume under a term, such as Fundamentalism, multiple actions, persons, events, ideas, and writings that occurred over a period of decades, we should recognize that we are dealing with a mental construct, an ideal type.”

What does the term fundamentalism mean? Is it appropriate to refer to Jewish Fundamentalism?

On one hand, the term is an oxymoron. Jews are not fundamentalists. Traditional Judaism does not hold a literal translation of the Torah to be true. As Gerald Cromer points out in another chapter, “the “Old Testament” G-d of vengeance is merely the product of a Non-Jewish literal reading of a Jewish text”. On the other hand, there are similarities between different fundamentalist groups. Examining different facets of the term can enlarge ones understanding of the world.

The danger that exists, however, when examining religion is looking at the topic through one’s own conceptual lense. Is the article grounded in reality or merely, the author’s conception of reality? If the book contained merely one perspective that might be the case, but, in this instance 13 different perspectives work together to shape a conclusive whole.

There is a very good article describing the different groups in the Haredi world and how they differ and interact with one another. There is also a very good article by Menachem Freidman that looks at Haredi Fundamentalism as an outgrowth of free market modernity. Orthodoxy, despite claims to the contrary, is not traditional Judaism.(Katz) Traditional Judaism was bounded by geography. Everyone in a given area was part of the Kehilla. Movement towards religious intensity and halakhic Humrot or stringencies, were tempered by the abilities of the masses. After the enlightenment, the masses shifted their identity. The religious elite were no longer required to moderate their feelings and the natural inclination towards increased religious sensitivity could be pursued. Freidman backs up this theory with a variety of Halachic responsa.

While I am not sure if his arguments cover every facet of reality, it is helpful to think about modern religion from a market perspective.

“Each religious group, each synagogue must be concerned with being abandoned by its members. The possibility that a free individual may abandon the church has an influence on the church itself. The Orthodox community must also accommodate itself to the new status of religion within modern secular society. It has moved from a traditional community defined by geographical boundaries to one defined by voluntary boundaries.”

In modern market theory, it is often products that are more expensive that are the most desirable. Haredi communities have made themselves very intense and strict, and in doing so have increased their appeal. Consciously avoiding the internet and secular society is much different than having it not be there at all.

In the end, all forms of Haredism seem to miss a standard idea in theology. Does G-d control the world or not? If he does, then it was his will that the state of Israel came into existence. To continue fighting this reality from religious grounds is absurd. Yet, the alternate idea, of pushing the beginning of redemption also seems to deny G-d’s role in the world.

We live in a modern society. We all are struggling with issues of fundamentalism in this sense. How do we deal with modernity? There is no perfect accommodation or defense. We are neither Amish nor Unitarians. All who identify as Jews are struggling with how to exist.

* * * * * *
Reviewd by
Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman, MSW
Director, Chabad at the University of Delaware

Practical Pedagogy for the Jewish Classroom by Daniel Kohn

2009-08-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living. While I don’t know if I share the judgmental attitude towards others, there is a great deal one can gain from examining life. One can even gain by being self aware and thinking about the components that make up life. This is the primary value of Daniel Kohn’s book. He spurs one to think about Jewish Education and its ultimate purpose.

The practical pedagogy in practical pedagogy is of a limited nature. It deals with how to manage the classroom and relate to your students. I didn’t find that material so helpful. It may be that I have been teaching for too long. I would like to see a novices take on that part of the book. For me, the book was worthwhile when it made me think about Jewish Education globally.

“Although there is a consensus that Jewish education is part of the solution to the problem of alienation, assimilation, and intermarriage in the American Jewish community, there is no consensus as to what this Jewish education should consist of. What expertise should the Jewish student develop? Should students learn how to perform and observe practical religious rituals, or should they learn Bible, Mishnah, Gemara, Midrash, or Jewish History.” P111

Kohn argues that Judaism must be seen as an integral part of the student’s life. In order to do that, one can not just give over content. The student must see Judaism as answering personal existential questions. When giving answers to these questions, we must be careful that “they should be taught positive reasons for being Jewish and given opportunities to enjoy Jewish experiences that will connect them emotionally to enjoy Judaism and the Jewish people. They should learn why Jews are a distinct people and why their religion is unique.” Too often Jewish educators want to show how Jews are just like everyone else. We are like everyone in that we eat, and drink, and share human qualities. We are vastly different in our theological and philosophical outlook. This difference goes beyond elements of religiosity and is seldom emphasized.

Kohn also argues for homework, tests, and grades, even at the supplemental level. If we don’t take Jewish Education seriously, how can we expect our students to take it seriously.

I think Jewish educators of any background should think about Kohn’s major point. If Jewish Education is merely for continuity’s sake, it dilutes all spiritual intensity.

* * * * * * *

Reviewed by
Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman, MSW
Director, Chabad at the University of Delaware

Jerusalem by Moses Mendelsohn

2009-08-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

After reading Moses Mendelssohn’s Jerusalem, I think it may be time for a long overdue rehabilitation. In much of the Orthodox world, Mendelssohn is considered to be the father of Haskallah, and any mention of his name has to include mention of his children and grandchildren that converted. While it is true that his children and grandchildren left Judaism, Mendelssohn was not a maskil. He believed in Torah m’Sinai and he was observant his entire life. He argued that Jews needed to follow the divine law given by G-d at Sinai. Following Mitzvot, he said, was the G-dly designed path for perfection of the Jewish soul.

Mendelssohn’s revolutionary claim was that Judaism was not a revealed religion, but rather a revealed set of laws. Practically, this distinction should make no difference to a devout Jew. Under either system, revealed law or revealed legion, Halachah is binding. The Nafka Minah, the practical distinction, is how one deals with non-Jews.

Mendelssohn argued that if truth exits, it must be exist for all people for all times. One cannot argue as the Christians did, that those born before a certain period of time were damned by an accident of birth. If G-d is good and true, Mendelssohn eloquently argued, damnation would never occur, certainly not from an accident of birth.
If this thinking is true for Christianity, it must be true for Judaism as well. Those born before Mattan Torah, or those born not Jewish, must have the same possibility of getting to heaven as Torah observant Jews. Otherwise, G-d would have created a situation that is unfair. Mendelssohn argues for a type of natural religion that can be determined by reason. This is a traditional Jewish idea. According to Judaism, Non Jews that follow the seven mitzvos Bnei Noach will go to heaven. These 7 mitzvot, while passed down through Jewish Oral Law and listed in the Talmud can also be arrived at logically. Ignorance of the 7 Mitzvot is no defense.

Jews follow this natural religion, as well as a series of laws and customs that were given by G-d. Judaism is Orthopraxy rather than Orthodoxy. As long as one keeps Kosher, and Shabbat, etc. the particular beliefs that one has is unimportant.

In this way, Judaism presents the perfect religious model for the modern nation state. There should be no tests of belief, only tests of action. If a person is a moral upright citizen, that should be enough. There can be no compulsion with regards to matters of belief.

Looking back at Mendelssohn from the 21st century, one can fault him for his over reliance on reason. But, this fault is not Haskallah. Mendelssohn is a shomer Torah and Mitzvot, and his ideas can contribute to a mature understanding of faith.

* * * * * *

Reviewed by
Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman, MSW
Director, Chabad at the University of Delaware

Primo Levi's Universe by Sam Magavern

2009-07-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

[This is a brand new book that sounds interesting. Since it is new, I haven't rated it or given it my personal review. If you read it, and would like to comment, feel free to post.]

Primo Levi is best known as a memoirist of Auschwitz, but he was also a scientist, fiction writer, and poet: in short, a Renaissance man. Primo Levi’s Universe offers a multi-faceted portrait of the heroic man who turned the concentration camp experience into beautiful yet terrifying literature. Over time, Levi developed an original world-view--a "cosmos"--which he conveyed in his writing. Through careful readings of Levi’s works, Sam Magavern finally does justice to his calm rationality, dark poetry, essential beliefs, and wit. Levi's art and life are inextricably intertwined and this book presents them together, allowing each to shed light on the other.

With foreword by the esteemed Jonathan Rosen and afterword by Risa Sodi, the last person to interview Levi before his controversial death, the book celebrating the works of Primo Levi is sure to resonate with anyone who appreciates the creative intelligence of this truly inspirational and multi-faceted figure. Once called “The most delicately forceful enchanter I’ve ever known” by Man Philip Roth, Primo Levi’s life and works continue to touch the lives of all who study him.

Sam Magavern is a writer and public interest lawyer, co-directs the Partnership for the Public Good currently and teaches at the University at Buffalo Law School. He has written in a wide variety of genres – poetry, fiction, film, scholarly essays, and comic books – and published in many of the nation’s leading literary magazines, including Poetry, The Antioch Review, and The Paris Review.

Jonathan Rosen is the author of the novels Eve’s Apple and Joy Comes in the Morning and two works of non-fiction, The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey Between Worlds and his most recent book, The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature. His essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker and other publications. He is editorial director of Nextbook, where he edits the “Jewish Encounters” series, published by Nextbook\Schocken.

Risa Sodi is the Director of Undergraduate Study, Senior Lector II, and Language Program Director at Yale University. She is the author of Narrative and Imperative: The First Fifty Years of Italian Holocaust Writing, 1944-1994 and A Dante of Our Time: Primo Levi and Auschwitz, as well as articles on modern Italian literature and history.

The Challenge of Wealth by Meir Tamari Rating: 10

2009-03-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

The Challenge of Wealth: A Jewish Perspective on Earning and Spending Money

Yet another book relating to economics. I actually went to the library to reread a previous book listed on this blog, but it was out. So, I recognized this author's name and took out this book. I'm glad I did.

One of this book's strong points is also a weak point - Tamari covers so much material. I guess it's meant as an overview of sorts, so not every issue can be covered at length. I would rather read a series of books by him on each chapter. But, there are other people out there that muust prefer this format.

Tamari presents Juda-ism. He emphasizes that Judaism is not social-ism, nor capital-ism, it is its own -ism.

This means that even though it has similarities to other economic/social systems, it is different. He brings many examples, such as private wealth, corporate accountability, social funding, and morality. For each topic he brings he includes relevant Jewish concepts and obligations. He then views the topic at hand as related to these concepts. Tamari has vast economic knowledge (he is an economics professor) and displays an impressive knowledge of Jewish sources over the generations. This allows him to discuss the issues of modern economics and how Judaism demands a modern economy to run.

It's fascinating that on page 211 he addresses what may have been the central issue in our current economic crises (regarding a program to give mortgages to unqualified borrowers). Tamari writes, "In many modern economies, subsidized credit is made available without any of the normal credit screening or security, in order to promote full employment to disadvantaged ethnic groups or to distressed economic areas. .. therefore wasteful investments are made, "white elephants" are created, and fraud is rife. The social and moral implications of clearly separating the demand for charity and righteousness from legal support for creditors' rights would prevent such economic immorality."

This is an important book for people wanting to know about Judaism and economics.

*** After dwelling on the book, I realized how important it is. I raised the rating to 10, which means I feel it is very important to read. I realized that the author is not addressing Jewish Economics. He is doing much more, he is presenting a holistic view of Judaism and the very many facets of society that are tied up with economics.

Iacocca: An Autobiography by Lee Iacocca Rating: 7

2009-03-01T04:23:00.000-08:00

In light of the economic crises there are a number of debates about economic policies. In an letter to a newspaper I referenced this book. A friend suggested I review it here.

A number of years ago I got this book somehow. I'm not sure if I bought it at a used book sale or if a friend gave it to me. In any case, I really liked it. The book reads very smoothly. It's a great casual read, as opposed to some 'heavier' reads that I review here (or choose not to review here). So, for us people who like casual reading, it's a nice book. In addition, it's non-fiction. For some reason I prefer non-fiction even for my casual reading. I find real-life stories so fascinating.

Lee Iaccoca was famous for turning around Chrysler when it was on the verge of closing. He does not present himself as a savior figure, nor as some sort of genious, head and shoulders above everyone else. (Very unlike a recent autobiography I read of a significant person in the financial world.) That is part of the reason I liked the book, the protagonist was very real, very 'common', very much like a person I could relate to.

In regard to the current economic debate - Iacocca adresses a number of the hot issues. He discusses the auto industry. He discusses negotiations with the government and the concept of government 'bailouts.' (He proudly includes a photo of the check of full repayment of loans to the government). He discusses foreign competition and labor issues. It's not an economics text book by a long shot, it's a casual read, but it includes issues that are always significant, and sometimes dominate the headlines and regualr conversations.

All in all, it's the story of a man from humble origins who tried to make the best for his family and society. I enjoyed it.

From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters Rating: 8

2009-01-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

In light (darkness) of the recent events in the Middle East, I thought I'd mention a book I read a number of years ago, From Time Immemorial. This book relates to two issues, demographics in the area of Israel, and the status of Jews in Arab countries.

The author states that she began to research the plight of Palestinian refugees and a number of unusual things caught her eye. As she continued her research, she concluded that two accepted ideas were wrong: that the current Arab population of Israel has lived there 'from time immemorial' (hence the title) and that Jews lived well in Arab countries.

It is a fascinating read that challenges the conventional wisdom. Of course, challenging conventional wisdom will create both fans and critics.

The Sages by E. Urbach Rating: 10

2008-12-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

This was a book recomended to me by a professor a few years ago. I finally ended up reading it. It is intended for a person doing serious academic research on Judaism of the Talmudic period, generally referred to as Rabbinic Judaism.

The author has a vast knowledge of original source material and the scholarship until his time. He carefully examines theological themes and traces them through the Rabbinic sources. He compares and contrasts the Rabbinical approach to these themes with other contemporary theologies. He addresses Josephus, Philo, Non-Canonical Writings, Components of the New Testament, Greek Philosphers and others. His careful attention to nuances that can be understood from the contexts of the writings is particularly insightful.

Each chapter addresses a different theme (such as Man or Providence), and the footnotes and references are plentiful, as one would expect from an academic work.

If you're looking for a serious, slow-read on the topic, this is a great book.

Postville by Stephen Bloom Rating: 4

2008-12-14T08:34:00.001-08:00

People ask me why I don't include books I don't like on this blog, so I agreed to start including them.

With all the publicity about Rubashkin's Meats I decided to do some reading. One of the things I read was this book. It started out ok, sometimes it was even interesting. I was starting to like it, but then it nose-dived. What happened?

Since, as you may have noticed, I like to be brief, I will get to the most central point.

The author lacks discernment when speaking about the Jewish community of Postville. He notices the difference between Catholic, Presbyterian, and Lutheran. He even mentions the difference between German Lutheran and Norwegian Lutheran. But, he does not notice the difference between Lubavitch and Satmar? A difference much more noticeable than between the different Christian groups. He doesn't notice the difference between the Jews that grew up in Israel and came to Postville and the Jews that grew up in America? That is also a difference that is hard to miss.

However, his nose-dive crashed to earth when he compared the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Louis Farrakhan. Why not compare the Rebbe to Hitler while he's at it? (a person Farrkhan has praised) Hitler was concerned with his German people and the Rebbe is concerned with his Jewish people. Disgusting !! The Rebbe has thousands of pages printed in English. The author quoted two paragraphs on the topic of wigs. However, the author was incapable of seeing a glaring difference between the Rebbe and Farrakhan ? He did not want to. He actually compares examples of Farrakhan with statements of some of the Hassidim he met. Can one judge a presidential candidate by the statements of a common party member? He did not bother to do the simple research to find what the Rebbe said. He was not concerned with facts, nor with discerning a difference between a leader's statements and those of a follower (ignoring other followers that speak differently). This lack of concern for truth is also evident when he mentions the 'rumours' about Hassidim having marital relations through a hole in a sheet - something that is false, and takes about thirty seconds to ask about. He is a journalist, shouldn't he ask? No, he doesn't ask if the answer will not suit him.

There are many other issues, but as I said I will be brief. (if you want more send a comment and I can put it in comments)

The author makes it clear that this book is as much about justifying his personal lifestyle as an assimilated Jew as the issues in Postville. He says that he knows he must choose sides, something I thought 'journalists' were supposed to avoid.

As a post script, it is interesting to note that the inhabitants of Postville are more discerning than this professor of journalism. They elected a Hassidic Jew, Aaron Goldsmith, to city council (Jews were only 3% of the voters).

Unfortunately, it seems that the Rubashkin's engaged in certain illegal business practices. However, large businesses are frequently busted for various illegal activities, so we should not be too surprised. We should just hope that they are given a fair trial, and if convicted, receive a punishment that is comparable to others that transgressed the same laws.

If you are interested in Postville I would avoid this book. There is a lot of material on the web and I've heard there are other videos and books available.

Free Enterprise and Jewish Law by Aaron Levine Rating:10

2008-11-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, as you know if I rate a book a 10 it's because I feel it's a 'must read.' Participants in society today should be familiar with basic economic ideas, and this is a great book to learn about these ideas and the Jewish view on these ideas. In addition, I'm having a discussion about economics on my blog, so it has become very relevant.

The author introduces briefly what the Free Market Model is. He then points out areas of conflict. These conflicts can be with reality in the world. These conflicts can be with Jewish ethics. Issues that are hot in the media, like Walmart, the collapse of the big three automakers, union demands, minimum wage, etc etc. are discussed in this book. And of course, there are plenty of references for further research.

I read this book a couple of years ago for research I was doing, and I learned a lot. I'm sure you will too.

Crescent and Star by Stephen Kinzer Rating: 7

2008-11-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine was cleaning up and lent me this book. It is a good book for people who want to take a look at modern Turkey. It touches many dimensions of Turkish society and history. In particular the author gives you a decent glance at Ataturk's revolution that determined the face, and mind, of modern Turkey.

The author also covers the sensitive topics of the Kurds and Armenians, secular society and Islam, and general human rights issues. The author is sympathetic towards Turkey. However, I feel his Western liberal ideology pushes him to propose 'solutions' for Turkey's problems that are naive. The author does not seem to understand the force of the the threat of radical Islam and how rapidly Turkey could become another Saudi Arabia or Iran. He does not seem to realize that the Kurds want their own country, whether they say it or not. If the the Czechs and Slovak's separated...then certainly the Kurds prefer to separate from Turkey. The real question he should pose is whether Turkey wouldn't be better off without the Kurds and a remote mountainous province.

Even with my reservations, it is generally an enjoyable, interesting read. If you want to get a feel of Turkey it is worth the while.

A Daughter of Two Mothers by Miriam CohenRating: 9

2008-10-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Another 'can't put it down' true story.

A girl with a dramatic personal story before the war, hence the title, continues into a dramatic story of surviving the war. A gypsy woman plays an unexpected heroic role in the story. The added dimension brought by this gypsy woman increases the novelty of the story. I don't want to say too much, not to ruin the story for you. In any case, you also get a good look at wealthy Jews of Budapest contrasted with Jews of a fairly remote town at the edge of the Carpathian mountains.

Of course, the main story is of the girl's difficult emotional struggles from childhood until she final settles in Israel and live as 'happily ever after' as is possible.

It is worth mentioning that there are no gory descriptions of suffering during the war, e.g. concentration camp descriptions.

Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins by George Nickelsburg Rating: 9

2008-09-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

This book is a great place to start for people who are interested in understanding the initial relationships between Judaism and Christianity. There are so many cliches and stereotypes about this topic. This serious, academic work addresses all the issues in light of the latest knowledge. The result leaves us with information, some answers, and as should be the case, many questions.

The author addresses the historical context, the theological context, and the textual and archaeological evidence. He does this in light of the latest discoveries and scholarship, providing references.

Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, appreciating an academic work does not necessarily mean you agree with everything written in it.