Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn - Hardcover

“The author loves his adopted homeland without ignoring its blemishes. He treats the most contested episodes in Israeli history, such as the plight of both Arab and Jewish refugees during the 1948 War of Independence, honestly and fairly.” — Wall Street Journal

“Gordis is determined to do his best to provide some to those who don’t know as much about Israel as they think they know, or as much as they need to know.” — New York Post

“You will enjoy the fluid motion of Gordis’s writing style, which somehow condenses thousands of details into memorable, thought-provoking passages. . .. Gordis grants us more than a peek at the past and present.” — San Francisco Book Review

“Gordis brings to life the colorful patchwork of Israeli society and all those whose work helped shape it. . . . His writerly feat is in making so much so vivid through straightforward prose. . . . Certain to become a standard work.” — Commentary

“Gordis guides readers through all of this and much more, with a blend of energy and grace, brain and heart in mutual embrace.” — Jewish Book Council

“A welcome new primer, just in time for a new generation of English-speakers who are interested in Israel, to learn about the country and its struggles.” — Jerusalem Post

“Gordis crafts an elegant, personal narrative. . . . a readable, concise history that effectively captures the sense of grand ideas in Israel’s identity.” — Kirkus

Israel is a tiny state, and yet since its creation, it has captured the world's attention, earned its admiration, and, often, been the object of its opprobrium. Why is so much of the international community focused on a small country like Israel? Why are Israelis so deeply divided on so many key issues? Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?

Weaving together historical documents, letters, and interviews with his own intimate knowledge of the country, Daniel Gordis tells the story of Israel: when the idea of a Jewish state originated, how the dream was transformed into reality, and how Israel's history has unfolded and why. Israel probes the soul of both a people and a country that have long triumphed over adversity, but which still face grave--some say insurmountable--challenges.

Gordis guides us through the milestones of Israeli history and introduces the passionate and formidable personalities who pioneered the country and shaped its pivotal moments. He illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic, and military powerhouse--but he also explains its grave mistakes and traces its long history of international isolation. Clear-eyed and authoritative, Gordis shows that above all else Israel's prime purpose--and its major accomplishment--has been the modern rebirth of the Jewish people.

With Israel, Gordis offers us a brief but thorough history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, level-headed, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on Israel's past so we can understand its present and future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn.