This piece of technical writing is truly informative and a breeze to read.

The author's insertions have made it flow more like a novel than a typical textbook, yet I would still classify it as the latter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first section as it really assisted me in reading the bible.

I also relished reading about the Roman and Greek time periods.

However, things seemed a bit hasty from mid-way through Islam onwards.

I had anticipated a great deal more on WW2, but perhaps the author didn't deem it necessary, and for my part, I already have some knowledge.

Interestingly, the history presented provided a wealth of information about WW2 even without specifically covering that time period.

There is still a great deal for me to read regarding the last 100 years or so.

I find myself extremely interested in the present-day back and forth between Palestine and Israel.

If one delves back far enough, the holy land was Israel.

But the Romans didn't allow them to possess it for long.

And before that, it was under the pagans.

I wonder what the author's thoughts would be on Israel today.

This is truly one of the most fascinating and extremely detailed books regarding Jewish history that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It delves deep into the annals of time, uncovering the rich tapestry of events, traditions, and cultures that have shaped the Jewish people. The author's meticulous research and engaging writing style make this book a captivating read from start to finish. Whether you are a history buff or simply interested in learning more about different cultures, this book is an absolute must-read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

This year, we are delving into the study of the Old Testament in Sunday school. I decided to read this particular book as a supplement to my studies. Given that it is over 400 pages long and of textbook size, it is likely to take me some time to work my way through it.

I have chosen to go through it slowly, not necessarily reading every single word. Instead, I am using it as a valuable reference book. It provides a wealth of information that has been extremely helpful in enhancing my understanding of the Old Testament.

Interestingly, we will be revisiting the study of the Old Testament again in four years. At that time, I look forward to delving back into this book and further deepening my knowledge and appreciation of this important religious text.

I believe that this book will serve as a useful resource not only for my current studies but also for future exploration of the Old Testament.

A very, very thorough survey of Jewish history, stretching from before the time of Abraham all the way to the time of publication. As Potok progresses through the stories of the Bible, it can sometimes read like a beautifully written list. However, he also takes side trips to explore the various grand nations of the ancient world, such as Sumer and Egypt. The tone of the work is mainly journalistic, yet there are echoes of nostalgia and mourning. Potok effectively conveys a profound sense of empathy for the Jews of previous ages, especially those from the 18th through the 20th centuries.

In conclusion, this is a great survey that will surely inspire you to delve more deeply into some of these epochs. It provides a comprehensive overview of Jewish history, touching on both the well-known and the lesser-known aspects. Whether you are a scholar or simply someone with an interest in history, this work is well worth reading.

I wasn't exactly looking forward to picking up Wanderings. But I had a reason for giving it a try.

When I was growing up, the Jewish tragedy was often present in our family, albeit in a vague historic mist. Things had happened, unspeakable things. As a kid, the closest I came to these horrors was my grandfather showing me his yellow star and his ausweis with the big 'J' on it every time I visited him and my (non-jewish) grandmother.

I had a crazy uncle who was seeing nazis everywhere. The world was somehow clearly divided up in nazis and non-nazis.

My grandpa used funny words sometimes which I found out were Yiddish. I asked him once what those funny words were when he said ‘sjoel’. A menorah stood on the mantelpiece and a star of David hung on the wall. The latter a souvenir from Israel, a present, I suppose. My grandparents never travelled that far.

But although there was clearly this Great Historic Tragedy that had happened, this enormous injustice that had been done, nobody seemed to take the time and trouble to try and explain it in a form a kid might be able to begin to get a grip on. Maybe they couldn ‘t. Maybe because it is not possible to explain such a thing to a kid.

We were shown black and white pictures of heaps of dead bodies in primary school though. But they didn ‘t really register. What indeed is a kid supposed to do with information like that? I didn ‘t link it to the tragic events in my family until much later.

Somewhere over us hovered this giant (non-)presence. It could come and go in waves of emotion at family dinners and leave the company in disarray. It seemed to express itself through our characters, it seemed to live its own life.

But 'it' remained clouded in a mysterious mist. We were a secular family. The word religion was only mentioned in negative contexts. And to talk and think about, say, what enlightened Jewry had meant for the making of the modern world you need a certain cultural environment that just wasn't there in our working class social sphere. We were swimming in 1970's popculture.

There was no way to educate us wild kids about historic subjects, especially one as complex and painful as this, even if someone with a pedagogic gift would have been around. Instead of a reason to take a closer look at what ‘jewishness’ was, to try to clear the mist, the Tragedy became a vague source of angry quarrels and sarcastic remarks.

Very appropriate actually, as I later came to understand. ‘We are a fiercely argumentative lot’ as Simon Schama puts it in his recent The Story of the Jews, five fantastic documentaries on Jewish history. Schama’s work is now often compared to that of Potok.

Chaim Potok, Simon Schama, George Steiner and Joseph Roth among others cleared a bit of the mist for me.

WANDERINGS

How is one to wade through this story of hurt, prejudice, emotion, arrogance, unspeakable horror and prosecution and get a more or less objective, historical grip on the subject? The answer is probably: not.

With this in mind I began reading Chaim Potok’s Wanderings. The book was written in the 1970’s, with the tragedy of WW2 still looming large. It is a dry read, but then it can suddenly throw an unexpected light on something and you want to learn more.

I began reading only the last third of the book at first, as I was looking for specific information. And although a clear bias in the text struck me now and then (in the 4th part, Among Modern Heathens, for instance, Potok makes it pretty clear that the age of enlightenment did not mean progress, as far as he is concerned) I was never tempted to put it away. So having finished the last part I went back to the beginning and read the whole thing.

I soon gave up trying to keep track of all the kings that fly by - ‘Who was king, who wasn ‘t king?’ - but I kept on reading. There is an enormous amount of information that not every scholar might always agree on. How am I to know? If there are flaws in Wanderings, they don ‘t matter and are to be expected: Potok is an orthodox rabbi and a philosopher. I read somewhere that this book was a labor of love, a very personal project (much like Schama's work on the Jews) and that it is not always scientifically sound.

Considering this, he tells the story in quite a straightforward way. In the first part Potok tells a lot of the material in the Old Testament from political and demographic perspectives. Wordly events shape and reshape the belief system that is at the heart of Jewish communities. They adapt to, and influence other civilizations, be it Egyptians or Greeks in antiquity or Germans or Dutch in modern times. They are defeated and renew themselves. They are at times no less aggressive then others and no less peaceful. Sometimes they’re weak, then they become strong again.

We wander through Sumeria, Egypt, Kenaän and Babylon. Through Greece and Rome, the middle ages, Christianity and the Islam and on to modern times, to the Haskala (the jewish enlightenment) and the Holocaust and the founding of modern Israel.

From a Jewish perspective, Wanderings sketches an overview of natural and heathen religions in antique times. How Christianity was build on ancient Hebrew roots and how Islam emerged. How the dispersion of the Jews makes ‘the jewish’ become an intricate part of many cultures while at the same time retaining its own character in more or lesser degree depending on the circumstances.

I enjoyed Wanderings a lot more than I expected.

This book truly shed an enormous amount of light on the Old Testament.

It is indeed a rather long read, as it is filled to the brim with intricate details and a rich tapestry of history.

However, despite its length, it is SO interesting that it captivates the reader from beginning to end.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting the information in a way that is both engaging and accessible.

Each page seems to uncover a new layer of understanding about the Old Testament, making it a truly rewarding experience for anyone interested in this area of study.

Whether you are a scholar or simply someone with a curiosity about the Bible, this book is definitely worth reading.

It will open your eyes to the many fascinating aspects of the Old Testament and leave you with a deeper appreciation for its significance.

Fascinating

The world is filled with countless fascinating things. From the magnificent landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see to the tiniest details of a flower petal. There are the mysteries of the universe, with its countless stars and galaxies, waiting to be explored. The diversity of cultures across the globe is also truly fascinating, each with its own unique traditions, languages, and art forms.

We can find fascination in the simplest of things, like a beautiful sunset or the sound of raindrops on a windowpane. Even the most ordinary objects can hold a certain charm if we look at them with a fresh perspective. And then there are the people we meet, each with their own stories and personalities, who can inspire and amaze us.

Fascination has the power to spark our curiosity, fuel our imagination, and open our minds to new possibilities. It can make us feel alive and excited about the world around us. So, let's keep our eyes and ears open, and continue to seek out the many fascinating things that life has to offer.

Not worth it.

This simple phrase holds a lot of meaning. It implies that something is not worthy of the effort, time, or resources that would be invested in it.

There are many things in life that may seem appealing at first glance, but upon closer inspection, we realize that they are not worth it.

For example, we might be tempted to buy a cheap knockoff of a designer item, thinking that we are getting a great deal. However, when we receive the item, we find that it is of poor quality and does not last long.

In the end, we realize that we would have been better off saving our money and buying the real thing.

Another example could be taking on a job that pays well but requires us to work long hours and sacrifice our personal lives.

While the money may seem诱人 at first, we soon realize that the stress and lack of work-life balance are not worth it.

It is important to take the time to evaluate whether something is truly worth it before making a decision.

We should consider the long-term consequences and weigh the pros and cons carefully.

By doing so, we can avoid making mistakes and ensure that our time and resources are well spent.

I really liked this book. However, most of the time, the parallel stories in it were extremely hard for me to follow.

To be honest, this is not an unusual situation for me. I often find it challenging to keep track of multiple storylines that are happening simultaneously.

It requires a lot of concentration and mental effort to understand how each storyline is progressing and how they are interconnected.

Despite this difficulty, I still appreciate the creativity and complexity of the book. The author must have put a lot of thought and planning into creating these parallel stories.

Maybe with more practice and experience, I will become better at following such complex narrative structures.

Overall, I would recommend this book to others who enjoy reading challenging and thought-provoking literature.

A sensitive and detailed portrayal of the extensive history of a particular people. This account offers a profound exploration that delves deep into their past. As a non-Jew, I found myself deeply moved by numerous aspects while reading this. The rich tapestry of their experiences, struggles, and achievements unfolded before my eyes, evoking a sense of admiration within me for the Jewish people. Their unwavering spirit, perseverance through difficult times, and contributions to various fields are truly remarkable. It is through such narratives that we can gain a better understanding and appreciation of different cultures and their unique histories. This work serves as a reminder of the importance of learning from the past and respecting the diversity that exists in our world.

Fantastic!

If you are someone who desires some truly serious, educational, or heavy reading material specifically about the Jews, then you are in for a treat. The subject matter related to the Jews is not only rich and complex but also deeply fascinating. It encompasses their long and storied history, their unique cultural traditions, their significant contributions to various fields such as art, science, and literature, and their profound spiritual and religious beliefs. Reading about the Jews can provide valuable insights into different aspects of human civilization and help us better understand the diversity and complexity of our world. Of course, it is also a beautiful exploration that can touch our hearts and expand our minds.

Whether you are a student, a scholar, or simply someone with a curious mind, delving into the world of Jewish studies can be an incredibly rewarding experience. There are numerous books, articles, and resources available that offer in-depth and engaging perspectives on this captivating topic. So, go ahead and embark on this wonderful journey of discovery, and you will surely be amazed by what you find.

I embarked on this particular journey a quarter of a century ago.

However, for various reasons, I was unable to bring it to a conclusion.

Over the years, it has remained at the back of my mind, a project unfinished.

But now, I feel that the time has finally come to return to it.

It's like rediscovering a long-lost treasure that has been patiently waiting for me.

I am filled with a sense of determination and excitement as I prepare to pick up where I left off.

There may be many challenges ahead, but I am ready to face them head-on.

After all, this is a task that I have been longing to complete for a very long time.

I believe that with perseverance and hard work, I will be able to achieve my goal and finally put an end to this chapter of my life.