A Short History of the Jews

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This book presents the sweeping narrative of the Jewish people, chronicling their experiences from Biblical times to the present. Michael Brenner explores the themes of migration and change, while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. He incorporates the latest scholarly insights, making this work both learned and accessible. The journey spans from the wanderings of Moses to the horrors of the Holocaust, the Babylonian exile to the establishment of the modern state of Israel, and the experiences of Sephardic communities in medieval Islam to the shtetls of Eastern Europe and contemporary Hasidic enclaves in Brooklyn. Richly illustrated, the book features personal stories of exodus and return, such as that of Abraham in Canaan and Holocaust survivor Esther Barkai, who awaited resettlement in Israel on a kibbutz built on land taken from a Nazi. Brenner highlights the significant events, developments, and figures that have influenced Jewish history over the centuries, as well as the vital contributions of Jews to various fields, including the arts, politics, religion, and science. This compelling blend of storytelling and scholarship brings the history of the Jewish people vividly to life.