4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Brilliant, 22 Sep 2005
By Seth J. Frantzman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Yaacov Herzog: A Biography (Hardcover)
Yaacov Herzog's name will never be famous but he was, in Isaiah Berlins words "one of the most attractive and morally most impressive human beings". Herzog was a descendant of a major Rabbinical family, his father was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland and then Israel, a family of Torah scholars immersed in Zionism and progressive for their time, perhaps more progressive than today's orthodox Jews.
Yaacov's brother was a commander in the IDF and president of Israel. Yaacov himself served as a special advisor on minority, mostly Christian Affairs, in Israel, he was a liaison to the Christian community, then an advisor to Ben-Gurion, then initiating secret contacts with King Hussein. As a Diplomat he went to Africa and other places, cultivating Milton Abote and other 3rd world leaders. In 1961 he was advisor to Canada and debated noted professor Toynbee when the professor compared Israel in 1948 morally to the Nazis. In his debate he was seen to have won many points. Throughout his life he was an erudite, an intellectual, a diplomat, advisor to four prime ministers, a Torah scholar, and an extraordinary human being.
This book includes the CD of the Toynbee debate and is wonderfully written, artfully capturing Jewish life from Ireland to Israel and one mans extraordinary touch upon the world.
Seth J. Frantzman