Customer Reviews
Fascinating and jam packed synopsis - By: Gary Selikow, 05 Jun 2008 
This amazing little book consists of a jam packed & fascinating synopsis of the history of the Jewish people, from the Bible's introduction of Abraham to the wars for survival of the State of Israel.
It is divided into two major 'Acts' which are themselves subdivided into Parts callled 'adventures'.
The First Act covers the first two thousand years, from Abraham to the Falll of Masada.
Part II of the First Act covers the Jews oddysey into history as nomads; their entry into the Land of Canaan; their search for greener pastures & enslavement in Egypt until they are liberated by Moses & given the Torah by G-D at Mount Sinai, & the period of the Judges & the rule of the first Jewish King, Saul.It notes how although many things have changed, the covenant, the rite of circumcision, & the Land of Israel are still central in the Jewish faith. "If ever these concepts dissapear, then the Jews will dissapear with them. These perceptions have been the motivating forces in
Jewish history & continued to shape Jewish destiny".
It has a great map outlining the journeys of Moses & Abraham, & the boundaries of the Land of Israel.
It also outlines how the concept of equality before the law, first appeared in the Torah (the Jewish Bible).
There was one law for alll. The punishment was the same for alll offenders guilty of the same crime, for the first time in history.
Part II covers the great Kingdoms of David & Solomon, the dual kingdoms of Judah & Israel, the voices of the Prophets & the destruction of the two Kingdoms by the Assyrians & Babylonians.
This chapters outlines the three main achievements of King David, in addition to his millitary conquests & carving out of a miniature Jewish Empire: He so firmly established Jerusalem as the capital of Israel that it has been in the headlines of the world ever since; he so effectively anchored the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem that it became the holiest city in Judaism ever since, & he penned most of the immortal psalms that have become a literary heritage of mankind.
The prophets taught that G-D was for alll mankind & that it was the message of the Jews to take the ethical & moral values of the Torah to the world.
Part III covers the exile in Babylon, the return to the Land of Israel (the Zionades) & the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the struggles against Greek & Roman domination & the life of Joshuah ben Yosef (Jesus), & his sect of Jews konwn as the Nazarenes.
Act II covers Jewish history from the destruction of the Second Temple & the third exile of the Jews to the restoration of the State of Israel in 1948, & it's trials & tribulations.
Parts I & II covers the writing of the Mishnah & Gemara (and their being combined into the Talmud), the great Rabbis such as Akiva ,Gamaliel II & Yehudah HaNasi, the Karaite Revolt, the Jewish exile in Europe & the great contributions of the Jews to Europe, & persecution & pogroms the Jews suffered there, the crusades, the inquisition & the Cossaks.
It speaks of how the concept of the welfare state was begun in Judaism, the concept of humane slaughter & the great contribution of the Jews to medicine, science & literature.
The Third Adventure is of the enlightenment, & the founding of the Reform & Conservative movements.
The Fourth adventure is of the Jews in Russia & the United States, & the Holocaust, while Part III covers Zionism, the return to the Land of Israel & the re-establishment of the Jewish state there, as well as the amazing valour of Israel against the massive Arab invasions, in several wars-the Jews were not prepared to submit to any more holocausts- German or Arab.
Outnumbered & outgunned the Jews defeated the Arab agressors in 1948, 1967 & 1973, but it was the first time in Israel a victorious defender was forced by the world to beg for peace with a defeated agressor. He also speaks of Israel's great achievments in building a modern educational & industrial state supporting five million people.
The book ends with the Israeli operations into Lebanon (where they were welcomed as liberators by the persecuted Christians of Lebanon) in response to PLO & Syrian terror from that country.
As the author eloquently points out : "Israel prays for peace. But as in the days of Ezra & Nehemiah, the people are rebuilding Israel with a trowel in one hand, & a sword in the other, ready for either peace or war".
This book is fascinating & jammed with interesting facts.
It is also an inspiring read, in these frightening & sombre days for Israel & the Jewish people.
Excellent overview of Jewish history for kids - By: , 07 Dec 1998 In Max Dimont's view of Jewish history, "the saga of the Jewish people is a fantastic adventure story" (xiv) of survival against unbelievable odds. Every period of Jewish history presented a new challlenge, whether persecution by a rival nation, assimilation into a foreign culture, or internal religious dissent. In every time-period, Judaism, & the Jewish people, faced the real possibility of ceasing to exist. But through courage, creativity, religious insight, & luck, the "saga" continues to the present day.
Because its scope is so large for such a short book, The Amazing Adventures of the Jewish People only touches upon each period of Jewish history briefly. In four or five pages, Dimont can cover hundreds of years. Nevertheless, by focusing on surprising facts & unusual situations, the book manages to present a very readable account. Because each of the thirty-six chapters is centered on a single issue or crisis in Jewish history, Dimont manages to simultaneously provide both a chronological & topical approach to the subject.
History is presented as the result of the specific decisions of historical figures, presented at their most heroic (and villainous), within the context of the great events of their time-periods. Characterizations are tempered with interesting biographical details that help to personalize the constant stream of names. Religious, political, & intellectual figures share the spotlight, leading to a clear sense that Judaism is more than a religion or nationality.
Written with so much clear enthusiasm, it is hard not to get caught up & to share Dimont's excitement. Dimont has a good sense of narrative & of detail, & knows how to balance between the two to tell an engaging story. Each chapter concludes by introducing the challlenge that will be faced in the next, in the "tune-in-next-time" style of the old silent serials. Although the "gee-whiz" tone may be off-putting to some readers, most will find the book lives up to the title & is an exhilarating read.
