- Paperback: 127 pages
- Publisher: Pluto Press; Second Reprint edition (1 April 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0745308198
- ISBN-13: 978-0745308197
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.6 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 478,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Shahak is a very brave man who should be honored for his services to humanity ... One of the most remarkable individuals in the contemporary Middle East.' Edward Said 'Shahak subjects the whole history of Orthodoxy ... to a hilarious and scrupulous critique.' --Christopher Hitchens 'The future of the Palestinian people would have looked much brighter if there had been more Israelis like Shahak ... An outstanding personality.' The Jerusalem Times 'Dr Shahak's courage in speaking out against the very foundations of the state of Israel, and his kindly, humane personality, have won him influential friends.' --Al Hayat 'Deserves a wide readership, not only among Jews, but among Christians who seek a fuller understanding both of historical Judaism and of modern-day Israel.’ --Catholic New Times ‘His message gets to the heart of U.S.-Israeli relations. It is not only Jews who should read Jewish History, Jewish Religion, but Christians as well.’ --Middle Ea
Product Description
The author was born in a Warsaw ghetto and was a survivor of Belsen. He arrived in Israel in 1945. Brought up under Jewish Orthodoxy abd Hebrew culture, he has consistently opposed the expansion of the borders of Israel from 1967. In this book, Shahak argues that the potential for the right wing Jewish religious movements within Israel to seize power represents a serious threat to the peace of both the state of Israel and the Zionist movement and of the whole of the Middle East. Written from a humanitarian viewpoint by a Jewish scholar, this is a highly controversial criticism of Israel.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A fine, absorbing read by a great man, the late Professor Israel Shahak, who survived the Belsen Death Camp and lived for decades on the firing line in Israel, and who consistently made humane, rational, secular arguments that will appeal to cool-headed readers interested in the sadly never-ending conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, which especially right now seems to increasingly preoccupy the rest of a concerned world. Shahak especially reminds me of the wonderfully sane writer Primo Levi, another survivor (of Auschwitz) like Shahak and also another great Citizen of the World. I also was reminded by this book of the humanist philosophy contained in so many of the stories of Italo Calvino (*Marcovaldo,* *Invisible Cities* especially), and of the Israeli character "Shuki" in Philip Roth's novel *The Counterlife.*. I found Gore Vidal's brief introduction here also fascinating.
Raise a glass to one of the last of the Old World humanists.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some people believe they have to set their own house in order before proceeding to pontificate to others about what they should do. Shahak is definitely one of them. He has many extremely interesting things to say about Judaism and Jewish history, and in case anybody was wandering, they are all derogatory. This comes as no surprise, since he belongs to the humanist tradition, and thus has little patience with organised religion. In common with most other humanists, he has very strong moral principles, and he holds up Jewish religion and Jewish history to them, and founds them wanting.
Sadly, in today's climate, few Jews are going to pick this book up to read it, while many Jew-baiters will seize on it. Still, a must read for all.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was loaned this book by a friend of mine some years back. As i began reading the book, i was hooked. It contains some very valuable information. The kind of information that is normally held back and difficult for us to research, as it requires the ability to read and understand hewbrew. Which most can not do. I have read many of the so-called rebutals available all over the web, but it seems they do anything but present a reasonable rebutal. Many a times, they are even just filled with name-calling and wild baseless accusations against Israel Shahak (i think his credentials speak for themselves). And many a times the so-called rebutals just rely upon our ignorace of the hewbrew language and inability to research for ourselves. Besides, there are also many counter rebutals for the arguments that are generally presented. My advice is, you do the research yourself as far as you are capable of doing, and judge for yourself. Do not let others dictate to you what you should believe or hold to be true.
I have had the information verified be certain Jews of the orthodox community. The information is shocking and once one has read it, suddenly the basis for many of Israels policies will become clear. So much will begin to make sense. This is one of them books they do not want you to read.
If i remember correctly, i believe the book is also available online to read. Not sure though. You will just have to do a google search to see what you can find.
The book just to put it briefly, is a historical analysis of Jews throughout history and their roles. As well as a critical look at certain passages from the talmud (a commentary on the Torah). What it contains, and how certain passages have been interpreted. For example, the law regarding the permissability/impermissability of murdering a gentile. How this has effected Israeli policy. Letters written to Rabbis from soldiers asking regarding the Jewish position of killiing gentiles in war, including women and children, the answers given by Rabbis is also translated. The information is frightening. A real eye-opener!
I have had the information verified be certain Jews of the orthodox community. The information is shocking and once one has read it, suddenly the basis for many of Israels policies will become clear. So much will begin to make sense. This is one of them books they do not want you to read.
If i remember correctly, i believe the book is also available online to read. Not sure though. You will just have to do a google search to see what you can find.
The book just to put it briefly, is a historical analysis of Jews throughout history and their roles. As well as a critical look at certain passages from the talmud (a commentary on the Torah). What it contains, and how certain passages have been interpreted. For example, the law regarding the permissability/impermissability of murdering a gentile. How this has effected Israeli policy. Letters written to Rabbis from soldiers asking regarding the Jewish position of killiing gentiles in war, including women and children, the answers given by Rabbis is also translated. The information is frightening. A real eye-opener!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Depressing bleakview of Jewish history and Israels future
Shahak is erudite and scholarly. Being a survivor of the Holocaust it is simply not possible to dismiss and silence him as a Self Hating Jew or anti-semite etc... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Spilsbury
Interesting in parts, ultimately unsatisfying.
Let's deal first with the hysterically negative things which are said about this book and about Israel Shahak. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by Germinal
Interesting, but disappointing
As a Muslim and an Arab I was highly interested in this book for obvious reasons. I was interested in understanding the mindset of the Israelis, as opposed to all Jews, with a... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2008 by Maha Odeh
A deeply flawed account of Jewish history and religion.
This is a most disappointing book. What could havebeen an interesting critique of Rabbinic attitudes has been turned into an antisemitic diatribe. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 1999
A guide to understanding Israel.
In his most illuminating and disturbing book Professor Shahak takes the lid off previously hidden Orthodox Jewish beliefs and practices. Read more
Published on 18 April 1998
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