1 comments about Christopher Columbus's Jewish Roots.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Though filled with a wealth of factual information it is written in such a way that the "story line" keeps you reading. Reveals Columbus family origins and the affect of the Inquisition on them. In my opinion a "must read" book.

No comments about Moses Mendelssohn: A Biographical Study (Littman Library of Jewish Civilization).

No comments about Mordecai Richler: Leaving St. Urbain.

1 comments about Sassoon: The Worlds of Philip and Sybil.

1. Prof. Stansky writes a very well researched book that most Anglophiles, particularly ones enamored of the aristocracy and politics in the UK circa 1900-1938, will love. One can't blame an author for a not very-likable subject but Sir Philip was clearly a very needy person who compensated for his insecurities by being a brilliant host and spreading around his money lavishly in an effort to be loved. Both he and his sister,
   while exceptionally generous and likely kind-hearted, learn at a very early age to try and camoflauge their Judaism. Unlike the Rothschilds, who intermarried as well but were visible leaders of the Jewish community, this Sassoon brother and sister abdicated any kind of role. The book overwhelmingly is focused on Philip, so those wanting more substance about Sybil Sassoon may be disappointed, but the author does ask all the questions a reader my have about what led these two individuals to lead the life they did.

1 comments about Jakub's World: A Boy's Story of Loss and Survival in the Holocaust.

1. Wonderful story of World War II Flossenburg from a boys perspective. Something we should never forget, very moving story.

No comments about Someone Called Derrida: An Oxford Mystery (Critical Inventions).

No comments about The Darker Side of Genius: Richard Wagner's Anti-Semitism (Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry Series).

No comments about Last Waltz in Vienna: The Destruction of a Family 1842-1942.

4 comments about Bamboo Cradle.

1. 
   A childless, not particularly religious, Jewish couple is living in Taiwan working as professors and studying Chinese. One day Avraham, the husband, takes the subway to work as usual. He stumbles across an abandoned (Chinese) baby and their lives are irrevocably changed. As new parents their priorities begin to change. They start becoming more religious and return to the US. After they become orthodox Barbara, the wife, gives birth to several sons and they move to Israel.
   
   It was at this point that I became concerned about Devorah, their Chinese daughter. This was back before adopting Chinese daughters became commonplace. In spite of being sheltered by a strong loving family, Devorah experiences prejudice and bullying for the first time. I wondered if Devorah, who was completely estranged from her native culture, would find acceptance and an eventual husband in this orthodox Jewish setting. Bearing in mind that Devorah's father had publicly spoken out against Jews marrying non-Jews I felt this placed Devorah in a very precarious position. None of these issues is addressed.
   
   I read this book more than a decade ago when it first came out. I would recommend that Avraham Schwartzbaum write an updated version. Tell us how Devorah is doing now; address the issues of mixed families and non-Caucasian converts to Judaism. So many Westerners have adopted Chinese daughters that if Schwartzbaum were to reflect on the situation and offer some advice he would probably find a broad audience.
   
   By the way, I heard from a reliable source that Devorah did marry and start a family.



2. This autobiography of Jewish parents and an adoptive chinese baby was fascinating. I would have liked to hear more about the life of this young Asian girl and her new Jewish life. It really is a great story about the Jewish faith, life and customs. Any BTs can appreciate the struggles and joy that comes with this faith.



3. This is a story that really speaks to the heart and soul. It is a personal story that we are privileged to share. I highly recommend it! Enjoy!



4. If you have adopted or are adopting (I am in the process myself) this is the book for you. It is a most fascinating tale, and will make you realize that the miraculous does happen - in the most unusual ways. A fairly irreligious Jewish couple, who are having trouble conceiving, live in China because the husband has a Fulbright scholarship. One day he is in a train station and hears a baby cry - she was left abandoned under his seat, in a bamboo cradle. The couple adopt her, and when they return to the U.S. a Rabbi informs them that he will not convert the child to Judaism unless she is raised Orthodox. The couple tries to become Orthodox, and eventually take to it like a duck to water. (And there are more wonderful surprises!) The story is unbelievable, and their love for their beautiful Asian daughter is invincible. The only problem I had with the book is that eventually the husband (who is the author) throws in religious language all the time - "God willing", "It is up to Hashem" (God) etc., until I wanted to throw the book out. But still, the story is so unique and loving that it overcomes the book's flaws. Shows you how love for a child absolutely knows no geographic, national, or ethnic boundaries. And, by the way, the daughter herself writes a chapter at the end which is a wonderful touch.

1 comments about The Road to Jerusalem: Glubb Pasha, Palestine and the Jews.

1. This excellent book studies the career of John Glubb Pasha, the most influential of the British `orientalist' corps of officers and officials serving in the Middle East until 1956. He commanded the Transjordan Arab Legion from 1939 to 1956 and played an important part in setting up modern Jordan by helping King Abdullah to establish his rule. In 1948 he led the Legion to a limited victory in the first Arab-Israeli war.

   Benny Morris, a leading Israeli historian, has based his book on extensive study in the archives of David Ben Gurion, the Israel Defence Forces, the Israeli State, the UN, the Haganah and St Anthony's College Middle East Centre, including the Glubb Papers, and in the Public Record Office.

   Glubb retained the typical imperial contempt for both Jews and Arabs, especially for educated or urban people. But his opposition to Zionism was not based on his anti-Semitism, any more than his support for Arab aspirations was based on his anti-Arabism. He believed that opposing Zionism and supporting Jordan were policies that would strengthen Britain's hold in the Middle East. He was always a loyal servant of the British Empire, acting in what he saw as its best interests.

   Morris supports the contention, made most notably by Avi Shlaim in his 1988 book, Collusion across the Jordan, that Israel and Jordan collaborated during the 1948 war. He shows how Israel and Jordan came to a secret understanding in November 1947 to partition Palestine and not to attack each other. Since the Transjordan Legion was much the best Arab force opposing Israel, the agreement showed that this war did not really threaten Israel with annihilation.

   Jordanian forces invaded Palestine not to attack Israel but to annex its Arab-populated eastern regions. The Legion did not attack any area that the UN had planned for Israel. Israel broke the agreement by attacking the Legion in May, July and October 1948. The Legion took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, saving them from Israeli conquest. King Abdullah had done what the British government wanted, strengthening Jordan at the Palestinians' expense.