5 comments about My Grandfathers Blessings : Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging.

1. What a wonderful thing it would be if we all had a grandfather like Rachel Naomi Remen had. Since we don't, the next best thing might be to learn the lessons and experience the blessings by having her share her stories about him with us. She does so in a beautiful, almost under stated way that is never intrusive and leaves us with a feeling of deep appreciation. These are very human and moving parable like stories that enrich our connection to each other in almost imperceptible ways. Although this is definitely not a how to book, the stories may effect how we live our lives. Thank you to Dr. Remen.



2. I happened upon this book by chance, and it is quite possibly the best book I've ever read. If you are looking for a book to inspire you and give you a positive outlook on life, this is it. It is incredibly refreshing and easy to read. Rather than one long story, it is a bunch of short stories, which makes it great for reading a little bit at a time. It has really helped me remember what is important in life. After reading this book, I can't wait to read other books by this author.



3. This is one of the best inspirational books I've read in a long time. I love it so much I'm buying it for friends! It is so full of wisdom...rich, rich, rich.



4. The author shares some inspirational stories of the lessons her grandfather, a Rabbi taught her as a child that served as building blocks for the rest of her life, as a Dr. and then a counselor. Whether you read this from cover to cover, because it is delightful and insightful, or take it story at a time over a period of time, it is a wonderful book. There are important life lessons for us all. Some will make you laugh, others cry, and others to say, "Oh wow!"



5. Real life wisdom for living life in balance and with heart.
   Rachel tells her stories openly, with compassion and great warmth.
   I have given this book to friends and family and carry its lessons in my own life. A lovely read, not at all preachy. Each chapter is worth savoring.

5 comments about Man's Search For Meaning.

1. I bought this book because I was searching for yet another book on workplace bullying and another book came up in my search based on Frankl's book. I read the customer reviews on that book and one reviewer said something to the effect of, "If you want to read a book based on Viktor Frankl's opinion of how to get along at a bad work environment (like a Nazi death camp), why don't you just read Frankl's book?" So, that's where I started. I read it. Twice. Then I got out my computer and typed in passages that had meaning to me so I could re-read them during difficult times. I compressed the entire book down to about 10 pages, single spaced. I must admit that I consider myself a negative, often depressed sort of person, mostly because my work situation is so demoralizing. I was amazed by Frankl's coping mechanisms on how to get along in a difficult situation; every day meant multiple incidents of having to choose the correct path to avoid death or worse, making the choice to give up on your own life (suicide). He went through 5 years of that and lived to tell about it. It is a must read for everyone, particularly when you are having the hardest time of your life. I could tell that if I had read it as a college student, it wouldn't have the same meaning as now, when I am 50 and have had many ups and downs. I see everything at such a deeper level and appreciated this book so much more than I would have if I were younger. Briefly, the lessons in the book written 50 years ago still apply today. Here they are: Let luck be your guide. It's not what you know, it's who you know. Network with the equivalent of a one-step-up lateral (not your own) middle manager and they will help you when they can. Schmooze. Be kind to others. Don't complain, it doesn't help. You can't fix, deal with or appeal to a sadist, so don't try. Avoid sadists at all costs. Keep your mouth shut unless asked for your opinion and then be short and to the point. Praise, even when praise isn't deserved. Keep criticisms to yourself. Be inconspicuous. Work hard for the sake of doing a good job. Fantasize for escape. Everything can be taken away from you except for your past, so relish in it. When something good happens to you, write it down (keep a gratitude journal). Don't do anything that compromises your own values so you won't have regrets. Be careful who you abuse today because tomorrow they may be your master. You are not your job, your title or your position. You are a unique person loved by others. The only thing in life that really matters is the people you love and the people who love and need you. Love shared is eternal. Treat everyone with respect. The meaning of life is not what life can do for you, but what life expects of you; how you make the world a better place with your presence. The purpose of life is not happiness. The purpose of life is discovering what you can contribute to it. Save a slice of bread (or whatever is the only material thing that matters to you when there is nothing left) for later when you are really depressed and it's the only thing left that can get you through that difficult moment. (For me it's chocolate and a dark beer at the same time.) Apathy is the signaling of the beginning of the end of one's life. Everyone that you respect and look up to has human failings. Even tough guys cry. Suffering without purpose is meaningless. The larger the suffering, the bigger the lesson. There's lots more in the book for you to discover and it's an easy read.



2. This is a wonderful book to read merely because of it's main message. Read it and find out the meaning of the title.



3. I first read this book in college many years ago as I was working on my degree in psychology. An excerpt from it is in John McCain's autobiographical book, Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir. I was glad to be reminded of this book which I had not read in years. I found my old copy on the shelf but I am also glad to learn it is still available.
   
   The comparison between Frankl and McCain as prisoners is striking. Both of them emphasize the basic human need for meaning and purpose. Both share incredible horrors of prison camp as well as the human ability to look beyond present circumstances, to keep the horrid memories from continuing as sources of torture years after the actual experiences.
   We can apply this ability to many of the unfortunate experiences in our lives. It is not only an attitude of forgive and forget, it is the need to keep the horrors or smaller angers from continuing to torment us.
   
   It is more than a little frightening that there are people who deny that the Holocaust even happened. I hope you read Frankl's book. Fully grasp the reality of his day and apply it to today's needs and problems.



4. Just in case, if one wants to ascertain the level of endurance human beings possess, he needs to go no further than read through the experiences at concentration camps as recalled by a survivor - Viktor Frankl - in this book.
   
   And considering that a will to survive does not manifest only in situations where life is at stake, physically, but at various stages in life, where even smallest of problems can seem mammoth and wreck havoc in making life miserable at psychological level, the lessons contained in this book have vast practical applications, when it comes to understanding our survival instinct.
   
   The basic principle which differentiates a survivor from a loser is well highlighted by the following quote, which is often cited by the author in the book - 'The one who has a why to live can bear almost any how.'
   
   I would highly recommend this book and would suggest re-reading it a few times because it would better enable on to grasp and internalize the importance of the subject addressed in this book and appreciate the viewpoint of the author.



5. A stunning story of a man who survived the horrors of concentration camps. He is a psychiatrist and developed his own theories and method of therapy called logotherapy. The book covers his experience in a concentration camp and the second half of the book explains his philosophy of logotherapy. Frankl says that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, even in suffering and death. He encourages his patients and readers to live a full life by looking to the future rather than reliving the past.
   
   Quotation: "Self-transcendence of human existence: Being human always points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than oneself - be it a meaning to fulfil or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself..."
   
   Excellent read. Highly Recommended.

5 comments about The Source: A Novel.

1. This was a challenging book in a few different ways. Firstly, it's long and dense. I'm a pretty quick reader, but at 900+ tightly printed pages, the reading of The Source was definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Secondly, some of story was very slow moving and not very enjoyable.
   
   I'm not totally slamming the book here. There were parts I found fascinating, that really held my attention. It's just that long passages were the exact opposite.
   
   The book comprises two running narratives. On the one side there is the modern time (relatively speaking, of course) story of an archeological dig. This starts as the main thrust of the text, but gradually takes up less and less of the author's focus. The other is the running story of the site of the dig over the history of human inhabitance. The dig is located in what is now Isreal, so you can imagine the scope of timeframes covered.
   
   The issue I had with the book is that the modern story was, to me, much more interesting than the historical one. Since that part was ever-shrinking, and the latter ever-expanding, you can see my problem. I'm definitely a history buff, but I just couldn't get into much (though not all) of the story Michner was presenting. I was bored with it.
   
   All that said, I definitely came away from the book with a deeper understanding of Jewish culture and the history of the Middle East.



2. Michener, in his usual style, created a masterpiece of well-researched historical fiction in this novel. The book begins in the 1960's (the present at the time the book was written) on an archeological site. As the scientists dig through time from top to bottom, Michener starts from the beginning, the bottom layer of the site. The location of the dig, a site in the then newly-founded Israel, makes the stories of the city which once stood there hugely important to the history of the world. The interesting thing about this book is that the stories are still important today. Take one quote from the book..."...they had been promised certain heaven if they killed an infidel." Sounds familiar, right? But this quote is in a different context than you might think. It was the Thirteenth Century then, the ones promised heaven were Christian Crusaders, and the infedels were Muslims. The cyclical events of the area around the archeological cite, where the three major religions of the world were birthed, are told in great detail in this book. The inability of people to learn from history also is told. "When men ignite in their hearts a religious fury, they inflict at the same time a blindness upon their eyes," says the Muslim character in the book. One of the Jewish characters says,"...all of us, Catholics, Arabs, Jews, have got to work out some sensible pattern of life for the world..." This forty year old book has several insights to offer the modern reader. First, it shows us the world as it was when man differentiated himself from the animals. Then, it shows us as it was when man decided to serve one God. Finally, it shows us how it is now that we serve one God in many different ways. You must read this book if you have interest in the history of Israel and the Jewish people (which you should if you live in America). After all, as Michener described one of his characters, "...this reasonably intelligent professor was aware that those who worked in Israel lived under the hammers of history, under the constant threat of annigilation, but he seemed not to be aware of the parallel fact that he in New York and his brother in Washington lived under precisely the same threat." Hopefully, this time, we learn the lessons.



3. I am a lover of historical fiction and this book is one of my favorites. I highly recommend it for anyone familiar with some of the history but even more so for those looking to learn more about the evolution of religion.



4. An excellent, rich book. But I gave up after 889 pages, thinking every other chapter would end in a massacre, just as the rest of the book seemed to. But it was terrific storytelling.



5. A friend recommended The Source to me when I mentioned how much I loved Leon Uris's Exodus. While Exodus gave me a whole new appreciation for the Nation of Israel, The Source looked at the land in a much greater scale. There were always Jews present in the Holy Land, but Michener looks at all of the people who occupied the area, specifically Makor, where an archeological dig uncovers evidence from thousands of years of history. From the first cave dweller to the days of Roman occupation to the Crusades to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Michener explores the lives of Jews, Christians and Muslims during various periods of history. As it followed a particular family line from the original Caveman to the Arab fighting for Israel's independence, the narrative returns back to the dig where the archeologist are trying to gain understanding of the times and the people they are revealing. But with so many narratives spanning 1,100 pages, I often lost track of earlier stories and forgot about connections that were made through the centuries. This being my first experience with Michener, I will remember to take notes when I next embark on one of his massive tomes. Overall, though, I enjoyed the Source and it enhanced my appreciation if the Holy Land and struggles it has endured throughout the ages.

5 comments about My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq.

1. Told as a journey by Ariel Sabar to re-discovery his family's Jewish roots in Iraq, this book unveils a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of the Mesopotamian Jews, a community so isolated from the outside world that they continued the use of the ancient language of Aramaic! I confess that even with my knowledge of the Middle East, I had little knowledge of the Jewish Iraqis beyond their existence, and am grateful to the author for writing this book. Although this book focuses on family history, it also gives a wider view of a fascinating community, isolated from the wider world but still clinging to their own vibrant culture and traditions, and the experiences of the Iraqi Jewish community with the formation of modern Iraq and the creation of Israel. The community of Zakho, deep in the foothills of Kurdish Iraq, comes alive in this book. Anyone seeking knowledge of the Middle Eastern Jews should definitely read this book, because it shows the human side of history, the people displaced by their own country, and the difficult choices families made with the creation of Israel. An outstanding work!



2. 
   I could not stop reading this book.
   Usually a book like this, starts off great, but gets boreing. Not this one, it only gets more interesting to the very end, and you cannot put it down.
   Ariel Sabar draws you into his Fathers world.
   
   Ariel takes you on a Journey about his Kurdish Father, Yona, who was born in the 40's in small remote town in Kurdish Iraq. His Father Yona and his family had to escape to Israel in the 50's, to a harder life. They where consitered illiterate people. Low on the standards for Israel, which was a new country at that time.
   Yona went to Yale University.
   
   When Ariel got married, and has a Son, he wanted to find his Father's, and his Jewish Kurdish Roots. Also to understand and have a closer relaionship with His Father Yona.
   
   This Book has touched my Heart. I'm Jewish but not a Kurdish Jew. I'm a second generation Jew in the USA, who was raised reformed. After reading this book, I will be looking in to my Jewish ancestors, to find out what they went through in there native country, and where I have really come from.
   This book has showed me that I should have been more tolorent of my Grandparents that came to this country. I wish I would have understood them better. It also opened my eyes to why they did certain things in there life. I'm sure they brought with them there culture. My parents wanting to fit in, and be the new Jewish in the Usa , My Parents forgot there parents culture, and we lived as the rich Americans.
   
   Are the Jew's a Religion or a Tribe!!!
   
   I do not think it matters if your a Jew, Christian, or what Religion you follow, This book will bring back memeories, Giving you a better understanding of the emigrants. and lift your Spirit.



3. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book's description, but knowing I'm not a fan of "sweeping multi-generational sagas" on the fiction side, I approached "My Father's Paradise" with a little nervousness. But Ariel Sabar won me over very quickly with what turned out to be a surprisingly engrossing, educational, and ultimately moving story.
   
   The narrative covers a lot of literal ground, from Kurdistan to Israel to New Haven to Los Angeles and back, but also thematic ground, addressing history, linguistics, cultural and generational clashes, and quite a bit more. At its heart, though, it's a story of a family -- and while those often can end up maudlin, uncomfortably personal, or larded with irrelevancies, Sabar has kept a light hand and a fine balance, and has produced a remarkable story, one I think will remain with me for quite a while. For not knowing what to expect, I ended up very pleasantly surprised.



4. "My Father's Paradise" was a fascinating read. I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting into when I chose this book by its cover but the title was intriguing. In fact, the book is much more captivating than I expected.
   
   Ariel Sabar's story begins like that of many children of immigrants, alienated from his father and caring not at all about his family's past until he became a father himself. Then suddenly he wanted to connect. In his quest to understand his father and himself he goes a little further than most, however. He "interviewed nearly one hundred relatives, family friends and acquaintances, scholars, and others... conducted research at libraries, special collections, and government archives... traveled to Iraq, Israel, and cities across the United States.... collected family letters, diaries, photographs and official documents." The result is a gripping story of a family told against the back drop of a part of recent history that I didn't know much about: the formation of the state of Israel and the exodus of 120,000 Jews from Iraq.
   
   I've said before that I don't really like reading history and biography. They tend to be to dry, cluttered with facts and frequently lack a strong narrative that will pull me in and maintain my interest. I do, however like memoir and historical fiction and this is much more along those lines. Sabar writes that "while this book is by and large a work of nonfiction, it is not a formal history or biography. Nor is it journalism. ... A book on one's family is by its nature a subjective exercise. But I have tried in every instance to keep faith with the larger emotional truth of my family's saga."
   
   The book also tells the story of a language, Aramaic. We know it as the language that Jesus spoke. It also was the language that continued to be spoken by the Jewish population of Kurdistan. After the family's emigration to Israel, Ariel Sabar's father, Yona, went on to become a scholar, a linguist and a crusader for the preservation of Neo-Aramaic, the language of his boyhood that he realized was hovering on the brink of extinction as the second generation of Kurdish Jews in Israel abandoned their native tongue in favor of Hebrew, the official language of Israel.
   
   One of the funniest moments in the book is when his father is asked to do a voice over in Aramaic for The X-Files and must translate, as a little Beatles Easter egg, the lyric "I am a walrus". The puzzled scholar tries to explain that in mountainous landlocked Kurdistan there is no Aramaic word for walrus. He improvised with "I am a sea dog."
   
   Almost as funny is the follow-up story in which the author, whose television gets bad reception, checks into a motel that allows him to pay by the hour and that has cable access to watch the episode of the X-Files in which his voice appeared. His wife meets him there, driving her own car. He wants to explain to the clerk, who must be suspicious at this clandestine rendezvous, when he checks out an hour later; but just can't.



5. This is wonderfully realized and loving family story telling at its best; the book describes the lost world of the Northern Iraqi Kurdish Jews. Ariel, we learn, is the great-grandson of Ephraim the Dyer a Jewish mystic who lived in the Northern Iraqi-Kurdish town of Zhako. Zhako is where Ariel Sabar's father Yona was born and lived until the Jews of Iraq were expelled in a forced exodus to Israel in 1951.
   
   Sabar lovingly reconstructs the lost world of the Aramaic speaking Jews of Zhako where his father was born and lived until the age of 12. We learn that Sabar's father Yona changed the original family name of Sabagha to Sabar in Israel, an indication of the disruption and trials caused by their exodus from the land the family's ancestors had inhabited for thousands of years. Yona's parents and grandparents struggled in the promised land of Israel where they were maligned as uneducated and illiterate Kurds.
   
   The family history starts with thirteen-year-old Miryiam's marriage to Yona's father Rahamim Beh Sabagha. The couple's first child , the infant girl Rifka, was kidnapped by a tribal Muslim wet nurse and lost forever.
   
   To illustrate the wonderful stories, consider the extraordinary experiences of Miryiam who escaped the clutches of an abusive stepmother by her child-marriage and conceived Yona after praying at the temple of the prophet Jonah (Yona's namesake) in Nineveh. The illiterate Miryiam emigrated to Israel with her family and eventually travelled to Yale where her son Yona was awarded a PHD in linguistics for work in her native tongue of neo-Aramaic. Many of Miryiam's experiences are both surreal and gripping, including seeing the movie Woodstock in the US with her son Uri and a Marilyn Monroe like encounter with New York City steam grates.
   
   This is wonderfully enjoyable storytelling at its best; I loved the book and highly recommend it.

4 comments about Jacob's Legacy: A Genetic View of Jewish History.

1. Dr. Goldstein does an excellent job of educating the reader about genetic tracing without overwhelming us with scientific jargon. He re-examines and expands on the story about modern-day Jewish priests, traces the probable Jewish heritage of an African tribe, explains why Jewish women in certain Jewish populations have a vastly different genetic history from their men, and looks into genetic disease specific to Jews. Along the way he drops many little tidbits of knowledge that enhance the story and entrance the reader. (Hint: Commander Spock makes an appearance). I look forward to futher reports from Dr. Goldstein and his team.



2. This book, a summary of research on genetics of Jewish people, is by a person in the best position to tell the story: a geneticist and a Jew. Goldstein's research deals with tracing heredity as far back as possible, and it is his project that is probing connections between Jews all over the world. He shows it is possible that Jews who think they are descendents of high priests from the days of the First Temple really are, and that Africans who believe they originated with the early Hebrews actually did. He also contrasts genetic descent through males and females and offers an explanation of why hereditary diseases found mostly in Jews may confer an advantage. The technical portions are easy to understand and the book is no longer than it needs to be. It's a fast, jargon-free read and is highly recommended.



3. This is a concise book about the current genetic data about various sub groups of Jews. It covers several of the small groups who may have identifiable DNA 'finger prints'. The concentration is on using DNA for identification and not for illnesses. This is written by a genetic analyst, who provides the background information about the limits of DNA tracking. Overall the book is interesting and useful.



4. This is a trial of explaining how genetic investigation can help historial investigation. It's not a new device: the patron of those studies is Luca Cavalli-Sforza. The author jewishness relates to his study and we understand some trends from jewish diaspora: the Lemba have the male genetic markers of jewish priests but have some, not many, jewish traditions; the abyssinian jews that are halachic jews do not have those markers. The askenazi have some markers that suggests strongly the contribuition of a turkish tribe, the Khazars, to their gene pool. The book is easy to understand with somebody with biological information basis, it will be not so easy for completly lay persons.

5 comments about The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story.

1. In a superbly told epic story of survival under terrifying circumstances, The Zookeeper's Wife depicts war and nature together, juxtaposing empathic descriptions of nature and animals and the brutal Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland. The narrative draws the reader into the daily activities of a family during years of deprivation, from 1939 pre-war Poland to occupation by the Russian army in 1945.
   
   Combining history and the intimacy of family life, naturalist Diane Ackerman relates how Antonina Zabinski and her husband, Jan, sheltered and saved more than three hundred Jews in their villa and adjacent buildings on the grounds of the Warsaw Zoo. Antonina, a quiet, introspective, knowing woman of the early to mid twentieth century, sensed the underside of things and from that deep knowledge, tempered the violence in which she lived. Her calm courage in the face of great difficulty is never overstated, nor is she made out to be a heroine. Rather, she is a woman doing what she does best and doing it amazingly well in the horrifying circumstance of occupied Poland seventy years ago.



2. The most incredible thing about this book is that it really happened. Jan and Antonina Zabinski were zookeepers at the Warsaw Zoo and were disgusted and horrified by the treatment of the local Jews by the Nazis. As the Warsaw ghetto was gradually cleared by the total annihilation of its occupants, Jan devises ways to bring them to the Zoo secretly and to hide them in the cages which were formerly occupied with exotic animals, now stolen by the Nazis and sent to Germany to fulfill Hitler's mad scheme to "purify" even the animals and to attempt to restore the ancient lines of extinct species. How Antonina managed to keep a cool exterior in the face of the savagery of the soldiers beggars belief and if, as a reader, one attempts to feel the terror of the victims in one's own imagination, I, for one, broke out in a shivering sweat of horror. These incredibly brave people deserve the accolades heaped upon them by the Jewry after the war. Diane Ackerman writes this book as seen through the eyes of Antonina, interrupting the narrative to insert explanatory excerpts, and does a magnificent job of explaining Antonina's amazing rapport with all the animals in her care. It's a masterfully written account of how a few exectionally brave people saved the lives of so many innocents at a time when Poland was ruled by an evil madman who was trying to control and reshape humans and animals to fulfill the Nazi ideal of the worship of their kind of purity in all things.



3. This is a powerful read and should be required reading for all high school seniors. One must learn about the atrocities of the halocaust; remember history can be repeated.



4. Zookeepers Antonina and Jan Zabinski and their son Rys were three of the many, brave, caring persons who helped Jews survive certain death at the hands of the Nazis. The multi-lingual mom and dad's biggest strengths, beyond bravery, were their abilities to act quickly and correctly during a crisis. Eventually, with most of the animals moved elsewhere, the zoo was set up with the various "guests" being assigned animal names. When the arrival of the authorities was imminent, the resourceful Antonina would play (p 178) `Offenbach's "Go, Go, Go to Crete!"' to warn those in hiding. Through their connections to both unsuspecting bad guys and other good guys willing to risk their lives for the cause, they were able to help in ways that others could not due to their affiliation with the zoo. Author Diane Ackerman's research sources consisted primarily of Antonia's writings as well as interviews of both husband and wife. The writing style she employs to tell their story gives it a very authentic feel and allows the reader to get to know Antonia Zabinski (as much as one can with thirdhand knowledge). For example, on the subject of their varied, harried schedule, "attuned" to the needs of the animals, (p 20) "This brought a slated novelty to each day, and though the problems might be taxing, it imprinted her life with small welcome moments of surprise." Additionally, one learns about both the upside and downside of their decision to help: concerns and worries about each person's safety, as well as anecdotes of the exploits employed to fulfill their mission. One of my favorite examples of the latter is a situation involving the Zabinski's son, Encountering young male "guests" in their hiding place, (p 253) Rys (meaning lynx) states his name. One of the boys, aware of the family's use of animal names, replies that his name is "Pheasant." The Zookeepers Wife provides a well-researched and written look at the lives of an unconventional family in their attempts to help the Jews. Also good: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Life in Auschwitz by Primo Levy and Time's Arrow by Martin Amis.



5. When average people are confronted by extreme circumstances and respond by behaving with extraordinary compassion and bravery, their example challenges us all. The story of the Zabinski family and their efforts sheltering Polish Jews and Resistance fighters in the remains of the Warsaw Zoo during World War II is eye opening. As the Nazi regime and their heinous crimes fade from living memory, it is meticulously documented stories like this that are crucial to keeping the truth alive. The author's style is confusing at times as she begins a story, then diverts to give us a great deal of background information, and then resumes the story pages later. The paperback version is a mere reprint of the hardcover, complete with photographs and consistent pagination.

3 comments about The Night Trilogy: Night, Dawn, Day.

1. Bought this book as a gift for a friend who is a history teacher. She gave me a 3 hour personal tour through the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and commented that she had not read this book.



2. This is a must read - for everyone! A real, raw and riviting account of Ellie Wiesel's personal experience during the Holocaust. Starting when no one believed the pending danger of war... to the formation of ghettos and finally life in a concentration camp. His Nobel Peace Price Acceptance Speech at the end of the book is an important bonus! We must NEVER FORGET... Ellie's account will help.



3. Night is a painful, inconsolable story about the madness and the evil that darkened Europe during the Second World War. Elie's story begins in Transylvania in a small Jewish neighborhood where Elie and his family live, unknowingly, on the brink of terror.
   
   Elie, his family, and community are captured, shuttled into railroad cars, and transported to Auschwitz, Nazi Germany's largest concentration camp. So quickly turns the fate of Elie and his family that they disbelieve their circumstances even as they witness people being conducted en masse to gas chambers and crematoriums. The weak are killed. The strong become industrial slaves, entitling them only to hope for another day and a slower death.
   
   Elie scarcely survives Auschwitz and Buchenwald, outliving his his mother and his sister. But Elie still has his father. Sensitive and intuitive, Elie notices that many fathers die after their loved ones die. He understands that if he were to die, his father would soon follow. Elie tells himself that he must live in order to give his father hope for living. But, Elie does eventually live to see his father die in an infirmary, emaciated, exhausted, beaten, spiritless, and vulnerable like a child.
   
   While his father's health is still in decline, Elie daily brings half his ration of bread to him, but it would not save his father from the darkness. A German soldier beats the last bit of life out of his father while he lay prostrate on the edge of death. "Elie," his father exhaled with barely the strength to whisper his son's name as his last word before dying. Elie, motionless, unable to utter the words in his throat, confronts the guilt of being unable to help his father. How could he allow the soldier to beat his dying father? Why was he too afraid to cry out to answer his father's call? So helpless against the growing darkness.
   
   Elie is most vulnerable when contemplating a world without God where darkness prevails. How can we, he asks, witness thousands burned in crematoriums or children being shot, thrown into a pit, and buried without losing our belief in a loving God? How can God himself ignore such evil? Where can we find a place in such a world for the Torah, the Kabala, and belief?
   
   Yet, in a world hostile to belief and hostile to life, Elie witnesses and shows us that hope and faith do still sprout up like grass through cracks in the sidewalk, or, more appropriately, like moonlight through cracks in the curtain. Night is dark, but not pitch-black where yet lives one sensitive soul.

3 comments about Resistance: A Frenchwoman's Journal of the War.

1. Résistance is the harrowing journal and memoir of Agnès Humbert, a middle-aged art historian in Paris, and her experiences in Nazi occupied France during WWII. When Humbert first hears the rumors of an occupation, she is distraught and numb, but soon finds a strong will of opposition inside her. She begins to contact others who are like-minded and is soon embroiled in producing Résistance, a newspaper filled with propaganda, which she and her colleagues distribute anywhere and everywhere they can. Agnès meets several important contacts and knows that danger is only a heartbeat away, for if the Germans find out about her anti-Nazi sentiments and activities, she will be imprisoned. Though she knows the dangers, she continues with her work, only to be brought in for questioning regarding her activities. Following her eventual trial, Agnès is convicted and sent to prison. What ensues is the heart-breaking story of what she was subjected to after being becoming a political prisoner in France, and later Germany.
   
   The first section of this book was given over to the specifics and details of who and what her group of friends did in opposition to the German invasion. Many were implicated, yet as her journal was never found, Agnès was not the cause of any imprisonments or executions. Unfortunately, many of the people responsible for Résistance were tried and convicted anyway. I found this section to be a little dry and methodical. It almost seemed that this part of the book acted as a type of ledger of information, rather than a chronicle. Many of the people were only briefly mentioned, and I had some trouble in understanding who was who and what part they played in the opposition. While I believe that it was important to know the events that led up to her imprisonment, this section seemed a little too matter-of-fact.
   
   The majority of this book was devoted to the time that Agnès spent as a prisoner and laborer. During this time she suffered many abuses at the hands of the Germans. The tortures that she and her fellow prisoners faced in the prison were terrible, from starvation and beatings to severe confinement. Despite their atrocious treatment, the women were able to form friendships and take joy in the company of others, sharing news and small victories with each other. Many would not recant their political ideology even after being subjected to daily bouts of cruel treatment. I found it hard to believe that things could get any worse for them, but when they were moved to a German work camp, what had come before paled by comparison. In the labor camps, it was obvious that life was expendable and cheap. The overseers' attitudes went beyond the malicious and into the area of savagery. They were worked like dogs, with no care given to injuries or illness, and the living conditions and rations were pitiful. While Agnès and her fellow laborers struggled, inhaling caustic chemicals that gave them temporary blindness and suppurating ulcers, they still found ways to share political information and news among themselves. Sometimes these friendships were cut short, as their overseers didn't like their fraternization, and women would be moved to other areas of the workhouse. Agnès, nevertheless, found ingenious ways to sabotage her work, as it was the only way she could oppose the occupation from inside its confinement. She never let them break her spirit, no matter what was forced upon her. When help finally arrived in the form of American troops in April of 1945, Agnès had been imprisoned for 5 years. Despite her experiences, she immediately took charge and helped the American forces seek out fleeing Nazis and created a temporary hospital for the refugees and Germans alike. She took command of many aspects of this new civilian life, and was greatly esteemed by the Allied forces, fellow prisoners and the community.
   
   One of the most amazing thing about this book was Agnès' remarkable wit and sense of humor. No matter what horrors the day brought her, she had an amazingly beautiful spirit that enabled her to continue laughing. She never showed despair and defeat; rather a cynical cleverness in which she documented the sufferings of herself and those around her. Despite all that happened to her and her compatriots, she never let go of her beliefs and fought in the only way she knew how. Agnès never let herself sink into depression, despite her many injuries or disappointments. I very much admired her courage and strength.
   
   This story was both haunting and inspiring. Among the atrocities committed in WWII, this remains a story that is not often heard but that truly needs to be told. It may enlighten others to the fact that Jews were not the only victims of this terrible war. I found myself feeling maudlin and upset while reading this book, but I am glad that I read it. It is a terrible tale, but behind that tale lurks the spirit of of a woman who would not give up, turning a story that could only be ugly into a thing of beauty.



2. I remember reading this book years ago in the original French when I was a student, and I find it amazing that such an important primary source on the French Resistance and German occupation of France has taken sixty years to be translated. Agnes Humbert's sheer tenacity in banding together with her comrades to publish and distribute the illegal anti-German newspaper Résistance is a riveting profile in courage, yet Humbert never really draws any attention to her heroism, presenting her actions merely as what was required of a moral, patriotic person in a conflict where there were only two sides: for the Nazis or against them.
   
   I agree with the previous reviewer that the second half of the book detailing Humbert's arrest and imprisonment is more interesting, better written, and overall more compelling than the early sections, which are indeed dry and expository. Which brings me to my only real objection to this very useful addition to the English-language literature on the civilian experience of the war: the publishers should have gone to greater lengths to commission a truly spirited and detailed introductory essay orienting the lay reader (or, more importantly, college students) to the timeline and chain of events in the Nazi takeover of France, the division into Vichy and German-administered provinces, etc. I think there is a great deal of room for confusion here for people unfamiliar or only vaguely familiar with the historical background.
   
   Nonetheless, it's wonderful to know that this book is now available in English (and in a very nice, fluid translation)--a great addition to the reading list for any college course on WWII.



3. Heart-wrenching and totally mesmerizing. I was completely engrossed, especially because it is all so real, all the mundane details, and all the big historical events. I didn't find a single moment where the story dragged. Completely engrossed by this book--highly recommend.

5 comments about The Jewish Study Bible: featuring The Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation.

1. The Jewish Study Bible: featuring The Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation is a superb edition of the Holy Bible. As a dedicated Christian, I have a desire to learn more and more about the Word of God. God used the Jewish people to provide humanity with His Word and His Son; therefore, their point of view is valuable to me in my quest for a deeper walk with Him. Although the vast majority of Jews do not yet accept Jesus as their Messiah, The Jewish Study Bible, an easily read English translation written by Jewish scholars, is full of prophetic scriptures pointing to Him (obvious to the Christian) and confirming His exalted position in God the Father's kingdom. Historical explanations of "Old Testament" Tanakh time periods are fascinatingly inserted throughout this Bible as side notes and essays. Linguistic helps also appear to provide greater understanding of individual words and phrases commonly used in the Near Eastern languages of that day. Cultural insights abound. From time to time, this wonderful translation also provides side notes and commentaries that are purposefully inserted explaining Christian principles, beliefs, and teachings from the Jewish point of view. I highly recommend this translation of the Word of God to all who are willing to learn, grow, and be surprised by our Heavenly Father's wisdom, knowledge, and will for our lives. If you do not yet own a copy of this translation, you have no idea how much revelation you are missing!



2. I have between 10-12 different versions of the Jewish Bible, and this one is my least favorite. I am a fluent Hebrew reader and I find that the English translation is limited and not accurate. The commentaries are un-original and often quite shallow. What I do like in this book are the maps, I find them helpful.
   I would not recommend buying this book.



3. Excellent study guide. Great for definitions of words . Explains from Jewish perspective. Each Chapter gives background of the Torah, Nevi'im and other important Jewish and Chritian text. If you want to study the Bible or Tanakh this is great for beginners.



4. This product is superbe. I was not happy with the way it was packaged. This is a havy book and it must be wrapped individually. The outer jackets of all of the books I ordered were damaged and wrinkled.



5. The book has excellent editorial information for anyone wanting a good study text for the Hebrew bible.

5 comments about Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland.

1. This book (as described by previous reviewers and the product description) details what the men in the Nazi Reserve Police Battalion 101 went through, specifically during the SS Invasion of Poland.
   
   Browning describes in detail the process of dehumanizing the Jews, and writes at length on the style of execution that the Germans refined and perfected in Poland, prior to the widespread use of gas chambers: the person to be killed forced to lie down flat on their face, and then shot at a particular spot in their neck. The accounts of these executions is not just gratuitous violence -- graphic gore for the sake of shock or horror -- but rather, demonstrates that over time, the police officers involved in the executions worked to make the process of mass killing more humane (an idea that was at the root of the gas chambers, as ironic as that seems). It also serves to drive home the point that after so many hundreds of people were shot, the officers were able to completely dehumanize the people they were killing.
   
   What is unique about this book is that it is not just another historical account; the author takes into consideration what the Nazis themselves had to go through, psychologically and emotionally, in order to carry out their orders. Many other historians have analyzed historical events during WWII while still demonizing the Nazi forces ~ but Browning shows us that the troops really were Ordinary Men, and these men suffered tremendous emotional tolls as a result.
   
   And herein lies the Truth that makes this book so chilling: any one of us could have found ourselves in the very same position, carrying out the very same orders, as the German troops in WWII.
   
   Browning describes the various social conditions and governmental policies that effected how the Nazis were able to so completely dehumanize their enemy and rationalize their own involvement -- in part, because the men were assuaged of their sense of responsibility for their actions, and also in part due to the tremendous number of times that the actions had to be carried out. Repetition bred a sense of normalcy.
   
   In the Afterword, Browning addresses another author who has critiqued Browning's work -- Daniel Jonah Goldhagen -- whose work I feel compelled to mention since it directly relates to this book.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who is studying modern history, sociology / psychology, or WWII, but keep in mind that it is extremely graphic and very, very hard to read -- not because of the language used, but because of the events that Browning so meticulously describes.



2. Very well-done and insightful study on ordinary Germans in the Holocaust and Browning's overall thesis extends to "ordinary men" in many circumstances.



3. This book, which follows step by step the itinerary of a battalion of German security police in the East during WWII, is a scary confirmation of Hannah Arendt's theory on the "banality of evil" that emerged after Eichmann's trial in 1961. It shows how perfectly average people, representing a cross-section of a developped country's society, when placed in certain circumstances, are able to perform the most gruesome and crual acts of barbary in an efficient and non-committal way against innocent populations. It is a depressing book, all the more so as almost none of these perpetrators suffered any consequence after the war. They went on to live their banal and mediocre lives as ordinary people, until the 1960's when some of them were tried and suffered very light sentences.



4. Another brick from the the Professors' classroom. I got to page 148, which was quite a feat, believe you me. But important it is. I don't deny that, and true too.
   
   Here's a token of the Professor's clear narrative style: "The portrayal of German-Polish and German-Jewish relations in these testimonies is extraordinarily exculpatory; in contrast, the portrayal of Polish-Jewish relations is extraordinarily damning. If we begin by examining the first two relationships as described by the former policemen, we can better see the asymmetry and distortion involved in their account of the third." Of the third! The third what? Do you know what he's taking about anymore?
   
   Please, give me a break, mister. I believe the Lord gives gifts and talents to every one of His creatures. You can pick to be a bullfighter, a fireman, or a professor. But pick right.



5. Christopher Browning is a distinguished historian of the horror of the Nazi holacaust against the Jews during World War II, His book on Reserve Police Battalion 101 is a microcosmic examination of how ordinary men responded to the Hitler's regime's insane plan to kill all of the Jews in
   Europe.
   The book focuses on the Reserve Police Battalion 101 made up of lower middle class men from Hamburg. These men were typical Germans in their views toward Jewry and the Nazi propaganda drummed into their heads. Most of the soldiers were long married, had some level of education and managed to avoid frontline service. These men were not in the military elite and most prefered civilian life back home in Hamburg.
   These approximately 500 soldiers particpated in several shooting of Jews in Polish villages; transportation of the Jews to death camps and Jew hunts in which the hapless Semites would be captured. They are responsible for the shooting of 6,500 Jews at Jozefow and Lomazy; 35,000
   at Majdanek and Poniatowa and placing Jews on trains to Treblinka. In all they participated in the deaths of 83,000 Jewish men, women and children.
   The vast majority of the German soldiers took part in the murders. Some were reluctant to engage in this murderous enterprise by they were in the minority. Among reasons given for the odious and criminal behavior of the men in Reserve Police Batallion 101 are according to Browning:
   1. Peer pressure of their comrades in arms. These were men in hostile territory who did not want to be accused of letting their buddies down.
   2. Obedience to orders from higher authorities.
   3. Fears of their or their family's punishment if orders were not obeyed.
   4. A belief that the Jews were not Aryan human beings and were responsible for the killing of German women and children.
   Browning claims each person's motivations are a mystery to the rest of us and we can never say beyond extrapolation what led these men to commit such abhorrent deads of cruelty and murder.
   Browning has included a long appendix in which he responds to the criticisms on his work made by Dr. Daniel Goldhagen. Goldhagen believes that Germany was pervaded by antisemetic culture making the entire nation into Hitler's willing executioners. Browning contrarily argues that antisemitism was not limited to Germany. Browning states that German authoritarianism, conformity with the social group and Nazi propaganda all played a role in turning regular individuals into mass killers. He is cautionary on the power for harm which can be inflicted by authoritarian states on their citizens.
   Browning's book is a classic of holocaust literature and is essential in any study of the gruesome and heartbreaking study.