Library

Synagogues of Europe

The architecture, history and meaning behind European Synagogues throughout the ages.

The Antiquities of the Jews

Josephus' famous history of the Jews. An old edition but highly readable.

The Arab-Israeli Wars

Historical roundup of wars between Arabs and Israeli since 1948, from the first truce in May 1948, through the Sinai Campaign(1956), The Six Day war(1967),War of Attrition, Yom Kippur War, 1973, Entebbe, Lebanon, Palestinian uprisings and the Intifada.

The Biblical and Historical Background of the Jewish Holy Days

Historical & academic roundup of the reasons behind the rituals and practices of the festivals: The Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Lag B'Omer, Shavuot, various Fasts (15th of Av, Esther, 17th Tammuz, Tisha B'Av).

The Case of Adolf Eichmann

Personal account of the morality and background and concern for justice, Gollancz writes a soul-searching account of evil, good, and all the grey in between in connection with the Nazi put on trial in Israel and executed.

The Cousinhood, The Anglo-Jewish Gentry

All the good and the great are in here from the Rothchilds to the Montefiores. The life of the Victorian and Edwardian Jews are well described h with due reverence to the Cohens,Goldsmids, Samuels and Sassoons as well as the more famous R & M. The rich, no matter to what religious or ethnic group they belong, certainly do not move or think like the rest of us. Privilege has its pluses.

The Dead Years

Personal history of what happened, despairing in many ways, to a Polish family prior to and during the Nazi occupation as well a the experiences of various family members in the death camps. The view of what the situation is today both in Poland and in Germany.

The Death Camp of Treblinka

The beginnings, middle and end of Treblinka, from eyewitness accounts, photographs, the various murderers, rebels and survivors, to the trials in Dusseldorf. Maps included. Gruesome.

The Deed

Story of two Jewish boys, 17 and 21, members of the Stern Gang, who killed a member of Churchill's cabinet at the end of World War II in Egypt to highlight the need for a Jewish state. Written by a reporter who covered the story.

The Early Biblical Community in Transjordan

Transitions in settlements in reflected in changes in demographic patterns from the Pre-Mosaic period through to the Iron Age based on historical and archeological data.

The Edge of the Sword: Israel's War of Independence 1947-1949

A detailed report from someone who was there; Lorch, a member of the Haganah, and later the first chief of the Military History Division of the Israeli Government his book can comment not only on much inside information of the military miracle that is the state of Israel, but also how life was on a day-to-day basic. Clearly not an objective account, but certainly an eyewitness account form someone in authority with integrity.,

The Gifts of the Jews

Concentrating on the origins of the Jewish people, early history is described in this highly readable and popular book, everything from Gilgamesh to Babylon and beyond. Plenty of use of various non-Jewish sources to explain and put in context the Jewish ancient world and experience.

The Hand of Life, story of the Weizmann Institute

Published on the 25th anniversary of the Daniel Sieff Research Institute and the 10TH anniversary of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovoth, the book is a pictorial and narrative account of how the institute was created and its contribution for organic chemistry got the desert to bloom. For those who think of Weizmann as only a diplomat, Zionist, politician and leader in Israel, his contributions in organic chemistry through this institute, are eye opening.

The Hebrew Kingdoms

How the two Kingdoms of Israel functioned, their relations with neighboring kingdoms (Assyria, Damascus, Egypt, Babylon, Phoenicians), their economic and social development and religious traditions and the Deurteronomic history of Kings I and II as well as commentary on the law and prophecies are explored.

The Hebrew Kingdoms

How the two kingdoms of Israel co-existed, the histories and religious traditions of the two kingdoms and the role of neighboring kingdoms which influenced them is examined.

The History of the Jews

First published in 1863, this scholarly and 'updated' version (now 70 years old), covers the ancient days of Israel and continues up to the 19th century. Footnotes are in English and Latin.