Jewish History: A Trilogy
| Echoes of Glory Herald of Destiny Triumph of Survival | |
| Author | Berel Wein |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Jewish history |
| Publisher | Shaar Press |
| Published | 1990-1995 |
| No. of books | 3 |
| Website | www |
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Jewish History: A Trilogy is a series of three books by Berel Wein, published by ArtScroll-Mesorah Publications' Shaar Press. Published between 1990 and 1995, the series spans thousands of years of Jewish history, with the first book beginning with Jews exiled to Babylonia returning to the Land of Israel in year 400 B.C.E, and the last book concluding with the Rabin Assassination and its aftermath of 1995-96 in Israel. The three books are Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Erea 350 BCE-750 CE, Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews in the Medieval Era 750-1650, and Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in Modern Era 1650-1996.
Overview[edit]
The three books were written chronologically out of order, with the one titled Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in Modern Era 1650-1996 published first, in 1990, although the subjects discussed in the book happened later than those of the other books.[1] The second book, Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews in the Medival Era 750-1650 was published in 1993,[2] and the third, Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era 350 BCE-750 CE, was published last in 1995, although the subjects discussed in it happened first chronologically.[3]
In the preface to his first book, Rabbi Wein writes that "all authors write with a bias," and that his is that of "an Orthodox Jew who believes in the divinity of Jewish tradition and the uniqueness of the people of Israel." He also writes about his personal connection to the subjects of his writing: "One benefit of being an Orthodox Jew is having access to this memory bank of events, insights, world views, and life giving legends. My education in a yeshiva, my good fortune in knowing and conversing with some of the last great Eastern European rabbis, and my family tradition and its members have combined to allow me a glimpse of this collective memory treasure in Israel."[4]
Echoes of Glory[edit]
In 333 pages, Echoes of Glory outlines Jewish history in the Classical Era, beginning with the Jews exiled to Babylonia from the Land of Israel's return to their homeland and the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash (Jewish Temple in Jerusalem). The book talks in depth about the relations between the Jews in Israel and the Greeks, beginning with the conquest of Alexander the Great. The book continues to discuss the Jewish Hasmonean dynasty that later ruled Israel, before going into the Roman's rule and the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. The book then discusses the Jews after exile, from the Bar Kochba revolt to writing of the Mishna and Talmud, concluding with the era of the Geonim.[5]
The book was well received, specifically by Orthodox Jews, as there was little writing from an Orthodox Jewish standpoint about this point in history. Reviewers have commented that "it's about time that a traditional approach to a special people has been written," and that "there is a huge need for such a book. A book on Jewish history written by someone with Yirat Shamayim (Fear Of Heaven)".[6]
Herald of Destiny[edit]
In his second book, which is 333 pages long, Rabbi Wein writes about the Jewish people in the Medieval Era, beginning with the Geonim and the major Jewish communities in Babylonia, before going into the decline of Babylonian Jewry and the birth of the Jewish community in Spain. The book discusses at length the Jewish communities in Western Europe (specifically in Germany and Provence) at length, and alternates between chapters to talk about the Spanish Jews and the Western European Jews, discussing Rashi, the Tosafists and Maimonides;[7] it also discusses the Jews of Italy at the time. The book then goes on to talk about the Spanish Inquisition, the Jewish community of Tzefat, and the shift of the Ashkenazic community's centers from Germany to Poland. The book concludes with the Cossack pogroms against Jews in the Chmielnicki Uprising.
Triumph of Survival[edit]
The last book in the series, although the first one to be published, Triumph of Survival deals with the Jews in the Modern Era in it's 508 pages,[8] beginning with the Cossack pogroms against Jews, known as "Tach V'Tat", and then the story of Shabtai Tzvi. The book continues discussing the movements that were popping up among the Jewish communities in Europe, first with the non-religious Enlightenment, and then the religious Torah im Derech Eretz approach in Germany, and Chassidim and Misnagdim in Eastern Europe. Rabbi Wein talks about the yeshivos in Europe, starting with the Volozhin Yeshiva, and then other ones, before discussing the Jews in the oppressed Russian Empire, the Mussar Movement, and the immigration to America. More movements sprang up then, namely Political Zionism, Communism as well as Reformed and Conservative Judaism. The book then discusses Jewish life in America, Palestine, and the Middle East, before discussing the Holocaust, which spans over forty pages.[9] The last chapters of the book discuss the State of Israel as well as the vibrance of Orthodox Jewish life in America after World War II, concluding with the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin and its aftermath in 1995-96.
Reception[edit]
The series was included in Book Authority's list of the 50 Best Jewish History Books of All Time.[10]
Compact Edition[edit]
Originally, the books were published as coffee-table books with 8.5 x 11 inch dimensions,[11] however in October 20, 2014, ArtScroll-Mesorah Publications published the series in compact size, slipcased, with 7 by 9 inch dimensions. It was then that the name, Jewish History: A Trilogy was given to the series.[12]
References[edit]
- ↑ Wein, Berel (September 1990). Triumph of Survival: The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era 1650-1990. ISBN 9780899064987. Retrieved August 18, 2020. Search this book on
- ↑ Wein, Berel (1993). Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews in the Medieval Era, 750-1650. ISBN 9781422615096. Retrieved August 18, 2020. Search this book on
- ↑ Wein, Berel (1995). Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era, 350 BCE-750 CE. ISBN 9780899063409. Retrieved August 18, 2020. Search this book on
- ↑ Triumph of Survival (First ed.). Brooklyn, NY: Shaar Press. October 1990. p. xi. ISBN 1-4226-1514-6. Search this book on
- ↑ "Echoes of Glory / Description". mekorjudaica.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
Rabbi Wein takes us from the end of the First Temple Era to the times of the Geonim. He transports us to the eras of Alexander the Great; the miracle of Chanukah; the creation of the Mishnah and Talmud, and how they saved Jewish life for all time; the Roman Empire and the courageous rebellion of Bar Kochba; the rise of Christianity; such great Geonim as R’ Saadia, R’ Sherira and R’ Hai, and how they led the monumental Torah centers of Babylonia and North Africa; the emergence of Islam and the Jewish response; Jewish life taking root in the then barbarous lands of Europe.
- ↑ "Customer reviews". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ↑ "Overview / Product Details". Shopeichlers.com. The New Eichlers. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
[T]he Golden Age of Spain, of Rashi and the Tosafists, R' Yehuda Halevi and Maimonides.
- ↑ "Product Details". shopeichlers.com. The New Eichlers. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ↑ "Triumph of Survival, About this Edition". google.books.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
[D]escribe the pogroms of 1648-49 in the Ukraine, led by Bogdan Chmielnicki...discuss the Pale of Settlement in Russia and oppression under the Tsars...discuss the Holocaust.
- ↑ "50 Best Jewish History Books of All Time". Bookauthority.org. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ↑ "Product Details". Artscroll.com. Artscroll. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ↑ "Jewish History Trilogy - 3 Vol Set - Wein / More Information". zbermanbooks.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
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