Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn Hardcover – October 18, 2016

I enjoyed reading this book. I learned a great deal about the Zionist movement and how events in Europe shaped it. Next, the building momentum during the British occupation which culminates in the formation of the State of Israel.The book then chronologically tells the history into the early 21st century.As an American Christian, this book helped me understand Jewish culture both in Israel and outside. Bottom line, a very good read.

Before reading this book, I realized that I knew essentially nothing about the modern state of Israel. I was under the impression that the events of WWII pricked the heart of the world who, out of guilt, decided to carve out a piece of Palestine and set up the state of Israel. That is far from the truth and Daniel Gordis does an excellent job of explaining the roots of the Zionist movement (which was secular in nature rather than religious). One of the unexpected parts of the story is how Gordis weaves the poetry, storytelling and music of Jews into the history and how they influenced the hearts of the Jewish people along the way (and still today). He recounts the role of principle world leaders (both plitical and otehrwise) who made an impact in how events unfolded. For example, I had no idea that from the beginning of the 20th centruy through to the beginning of WWII, Jewish businessmen (including the Rothschilds) were buying land in Palestine under the noses of the Ottomans and that Jewish people (mainly from Europe) were emmigrating there.Part of the Zionist movement was not just to find a homeland but to reclaim the Hebrew language. Until the early 20th century, Hebrew was essentially dead as a spoken language. But just like in the old Testament when the remnant of Jews returned to Judah from Bablylon, the people had to be retaught how to speak and read it. Jews would eventually emigrate to Israel from over 60 different countries and would have to learn a whole new language and culture. Many were expelled from their native countries and many had to excape them. One of the first significant laws passed by the new Israeli goverment was that any Jew who wanted to immigrae was allowed to, no matter where they came from or what they brought with them (which often was the clothes on their backs).We in the west often misunderstand the heart of Israel because of their troubled relationship with their Arab neighbors. What we have to understand is that no matter where the Jews have lived in the world, they have suffered greatly. They have been hated, attacked, discriminated against, expelled, and murdered. Because their numbers were so few and they were so spread out, they were easy targets. But the early Zionist leaders decided it was time for the new Jew who no longer had to take what they were given. Having their own land, even as small as it is, gave them a chance to create a life free from the pogroms and discrimination of the past and place their collective energy, talent, and brilliance to work on behalf of the Jewish people to prosper and defend themselves. Gordis explains that the process had been fraught with problems (especially with the Arabs). But they have not only survived but have become one of the most influential nations in the world.Gordis explains that Israel is not perfect. They are attacked from without and struggle from within about how to manage their country and their collective soul. I recommend you read this book for an excellent overview of the history and direction of the state of Israel.

Since I was a kid, I've seen countless news stories about Israel, most of which have involved Palestinians, the PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah, battles, border skirmishes, and/or peace attempts. I have a vague understanding of the region's major problems, but I purchased this book because I wanted to take a deeper dive into the conflicts, to explore the complexities--and I was certain there were many to explore. If there weren't, surely the issues would've been resolved long ago, right?Gordis does a great job of explaining how Israel got its start. I enjoyed learning about the World Zionist Congress; about the array of factors driving Jews to move to Palestine, forsaking their homes in Europe, Africa, and elsewhere in the Middle East; and about Israel's zig-zagging path to independence. For the first eight chapters, Gordis manages to put all of that neatly in perspective.Unfortunately, Gordis loses his way in the second half of the book, as he races through high points and low points of the last 70 years. He still tries to put things in context, but the narrative moves so quickly that there's little time for him to do so. It feels like a lost opportunity.A more significant problem--and frankly, the biggest issue I had with this book--is the lack of outsider perspective. Gordis was born in America but emigrated to Israel over 20 years ago. In his introduction, he admits that he is a proud Israeli citizen and that that has perhaps colored his analyses.I give Gordis credit for his honesty. I also give him credit for a solid overview of Israeli history told from an Israeli point of view. However, I feel like a Palestinian would've had a very different story to tell.I'm not saying that Gordis avoids the issue of Palestinian refugees--in fact, he spends a fair bit of time addressing it. I'm only saying that I'd like to hear the same history told from a Palestinian perspective. Both POVs would be biased, of course, but at least I'd be able to compare and contrast the two sides.In sum:If you're looking for an overview of Israeli history from the 19th century through independence, this is a great book to read.If you're looking for a recap of important moments in Israeli history post-independence, it's still pretty good.If you're looking for a discussion of Israel and the Palestinian conflict--how it began, how it evolved, and where it stands today--this will do in a pinch, but you may want to look elsewhere.

I was searching for a book that would help me to understand the historical context of today's Israel and the conflicts of today. This book was just right. Very readable, not too technical, but rich with information on Israel's fraught journey as an independent state. I thought the author was balanced in the telling, not pushing any slant or bias. I will watch the news now with a much better understanding of the country, the people, the region and the complexities.

The book deals with a general history of the past and detailed happenings since the formation of the State of Israel in 1948. The book has lots of footnotes, a glossary and more background information regarding the content. It is well written with all acronyms defined and both sides of the conflicts covered. It was very informative and a great source for a background to current events.

With all that's being spoken about Israel, I wanted to learn more about it. This book was easy to read and provided an incredible history lesson. Everyone should read this so they truly understand what is really going with this most recent attack. Israel is and has unfortunately always been under attack. So sad.