Fascinating book on the history of Jerusalem
345528
Dore Gold takes the reader on a fascinating journey and brings to life the history of the Jewish capital. He is thorough in providing background information so one can understand the current fight for Jerusalem. Highly recommend this book.
2125316
I highly recommend this book. I picked it up because I wanted to know more about the Crusades and I ended up finding a thorough treatment of a very tumultuous period of world history! The author does a great job of explaining the thought processes behind many of the actions committed by both Europeans and Muslims. Asbridge also had some very astute observations to make about policies and practices that began during the crusades that had a lasting impact upon the European landscape in the years that followed.
13844
Three of the world's great faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - regard Jerusalem as holy, making it the world's single most sacred city. If a lasting peace ever comes to the Middle East, many predict that Jerusalem will become a leading hub of world travel as pilgrims from all three of these faiths visit these ancient sites.

As a traveler in Jerusalem - and a journalist who has reported from Jerusalem - I know that that one of the toughest challenges in our era is seeing past the in-your-face images of Jerusalem that are all too common. In sacred settings, we get stylized images reflecting the interests of our faiths - paintings of Jesus carrying a cross, let's say, in thousands of churches. In news media, unfortunately, we tend to get either images of conflict or images from holiday rituals. We don't see the deeper, larger, timeless richness of the holy city.

In my own library, among my most prized possessions are volumes on Jerusalem down through history, reflecting the work of cartographers, artists, photographers, scholars and writers. These books, often difficult to find, open up windows into Jerusalem that we simply don't see, if we don't seek out these sources.

That's the background for this strong recommendation that, if you care about Jerusalem as a city, you'll want to add this volume to your shelf. The book originally was published in 1999, but has been republished in a brand-new edition by Garnet Publishing. Get a copy while it's available, again.

Here's what makes this collection of images so important. These photos are drawn from the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF), which has 19th Century roots in British evangelical missionary efforts - but evolved into one of the leading sponsors of explorations into "archaeology, manners, customs, topography, geology and natural sciences" of the Holy Land. A Who's Who of famous explorers and scholars worked through PEF sponsorship.

This means the collection of imagery has a remarkable balance. This isn't an inspirationally re-shaped series of images, designed to tell a particular religious story. This is a window into a larger, diverse history.

Here's an example: Christians interested in the Lenten story hear about Jesus leaving Bethany and eventually heading toward Jerusalem. In this book is a remarkable panorama of photos taken in 1864 approaching Jerusalem from the direction of Bethany.

If you've been to Jerusalem, you'll remember many of these locations and can peer backward through history at what they looked like, in many cases, well over a century ago - and, presumably, much closer to their settings thousands of years ago than they are at the moment.

But this isn't merely an academic exercise. There is real spiritual warmth in these photos. I don't think I'll soon forget an 1895, hand-tinted photo of Jews praying at the Western Wall in which the distinctively golden hue of Jerusalem's stones seems to glow right out of the printed page - reaching across time and space.
2791250
An excellent story for anyone interested in Israel history and how the Hebrew faith and Christianity  began and developed into what it is today. Michener takes you from 10000 BC to 1965 in an interesting story of one  tiny local that influenced the world. This is not for the faint of heart because it is very descriptive of the violent historical incidents that took place.
2228736
Moshe Dayan was a great son of Israel- a General, who led the defence of Israel from her sworn enemies, for decades, a gentleman, an archaeologist, a lover of poetry and the Land of Israel, and a scholar of the Bible and the history of the Land of Israel.
In this phenomenal book, filled with photos of the landscape of the Land of Israel, and major landmarks, as well as watercolour paintings of events described in the Bible, throughout the ages, Dayan describes the history of the Land, the roots of the Jewish people in the Land, living with the history recorded in the Bible, and the struggle of the Jews to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland.
Dayan gives his "real and tangible homeland the added dimension of historical depth, to bring to life the strata of the past which now lay beneath the desolate ruins and archaeological mounds- the Israel of our patriarchs, our judges, our kings and prophets".
As he reminds us 'The people of Israel were exiled from their land, but their land was never exiled from their hearts".
He brilliantly juxtaposes the Biblical history of Israel with the modern history of Israel, and her strugle to survive.

In describing the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron the burial site of the patriarchs and matriarchs and one of the holiest sites, the author reminds us how for exaxtly seven hundred years, from 1267 AD to the 8 June 1967, the Cave of Machpelah was barred to Jews!
Under Israeli sovereignty it has been open to all faiths!
The first Jew to enter the site, after seven hundred years, was a pretty and clever twelve year old girl, Michal, who was able to wriggle her way through the narrow aperture in the Cave of Machpelah.
I have been to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron for a synagogue service of the Jewish Sabbath, and have never been to such an amazing service, with such devout worship.
The Jewish community of Hebron is a beautiful and warm community.
It is clear from the accounts in this book of David Ben-Gurion and by Moshe Dyan, that  as Ben-Gurion and Dayan' although not observant, were deep believers in the Allmighty.
As the biblical accounts are juxtpaosed with the struggle of Israel. during the 20th century, we read of the frequent Arab terrorist raids into Israel, during the 1950's and 60's in which a number of Israeli men, women and children were murdered.
He describes Varda Freedman, a young girl, murdered at her wedding, by Arab terrorists at the immigrant village of Patish in March, 1955.
Israel-hating revisionist historians have reffered to Israel's raid on a terrorist base in Kibya, in 1953, and labelled it as one of 'Israel's atrocities'.
A close reading of the history of the events, reveals that the raid on Kibya was retaliation for an Arab terrorist raid on the village of Yehudia, in which a Jewish mother and her two small children were murdered.
Dayan describes the struggle for survival during the 1948 War of Independence,  where the vastly outnumbered and outgunned Jewish community of the newly re-born State of Israel (many of them holocaust survviors), was attacked by 7 Arab armies, and against all odds, survived.

He also describes the Six Day War, in which he was minister of Defence, and highlight that the War was effectively declared by Nasser, when after Syrian and Egyptian forces had been massed on Israel's borders, Nasser closed the starights of Tiran, blocking off Israel's port of Eilat.
Dayan describes how Israel longs  and has always longed for peace: "The Arabs come to us with sword, dagger and spear, while we seek to live with them in peace, side by side, in terms of equality. We come to them in the name of the Lord G-D of Israel'.
1633874
Excellent book on the establishment and growth of Israel.
4391640
A wonderful little book prepared as a guided tour through the major historical sites in Jerusalem, ranging from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to the Knesset.  Chronological if only by way of starting at the oldest center of the old city and working forward. But each step is so deeply layered in time.  The book is first and foremost a chronicle of the folly of humanity as embodied by the idiotic wars between the various brands of clergy, and the more bloody affairs related to racial and ethnic riots.  So much of it based on ignorance escalating into endless rounds of reprisal.  You can see so many preposterous legends fabricated out of nothing and being transformed into venerable truths.  The story of Mohammads  midnight ascension from Jerusalem apparently fabricated after the fact, with some assuming that he must have risen from the rock at Jerusalem, and others saying its not possible because no city could be more holy than Karbala  if he ascended to heaven from anywhere, it had to be there.  The heroes of the story are the Victorian Englishmen such as Warren, Storrs, and Ashbee.  The list of improvements made under the British is substantial  sanitation, water supplies, education, and medical care.  In fact, part of the aura of the city seems to stem from the value that outsiders put upon the place as well as the improvements that were made to the infrastructure.  So this is not a complete history, but presents so many hallowed shrines in a very interesting light.  I liked the quote of some anonymous nun that even if the Lithostratus Pavement Stones were late Roman and therefore never trodden trodden by Jesus, they were still holy by way of the many centuries of prayer said over them.  That pretty much tells the story of this particular book.
443799
I am not yet finished with this book (it is over 600 pages) but am thoroughly enjoying it.
The writer includes lots of historic trivia in his footnotes and I had no idea how many empires ruled Jerusalem over its history!
The writing flows well and while there is no way I will remember all of it, I am enjoying learning about this City that is considered holy to three of the world's religions. (though it is NOT religious!)
2763535
If you want to know more about Jerusalem's and Israel's history or how some of the historical happenings fit together, then this is a good book to read.  It has about 12 maps and 15 pictures of events and people who were important to Israel.  It is only 162 pages but you can see God's hand in some of the behind the scenes historical events.
3535954
Very interesting book on the temple mount, and his evidence for its location is overwhelming.  must read
2825065
This is a well-written book that reviews all of the Crusades.  Thomas F. Madden is the general editor and author of several of the chapters of the book.  The book covers all of the Crusades  from the first which resulted in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Muslims in 1099, to the battles against the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century, with prevention of the fall of Vienna to the Ottoman Turks in 1683 and the driving of the Turks back across the Danube and the 1699 treaty of Karlowitz chosen as the end date for the Crusades.  There is a final chapter that covers the legacy of the Crusades, which includes the Islamic reaction to them as well as their impact on the culture of the west and current Christian - Muslim relations.

The book is highly illustrated with a drawing, painting or map on virtually every page.  The book also contains suggested further readings, an index, and a detailed chronology of events starting with the Muslim invasion of the Holy Land in 634 AD and going to Napoleons1798 expulsion of the Hospitallers from Malta.  I highly recommend this book as a very readable account of this pivotal struggle  one that resonates with, and influences, events taking place today.
2449051
This is a fascinating history told by a Jewish General that defected to the Romans after being captured.  The most famous part of this book is the story of the destruction of Jerusalem.  It goes into great detail and is the main source for the story of the Jewish war with the Romans.

The Kindle edition was free, but I ended up purchasing the Audible edition for a minimal price since they offered it for very cheap for owners of the Kindle edition (which I got for free).  The syncing process worked perfectly and I went back and forth between the Kindle and the audiobook.  This is a great feature.

Recommended for students of ancient history and of warfare.
541701
Jerusalem is the story of the most famous spiritual city in the world! The tale is told in a large brick o a book by Dr. Simon Sebag-Montefiore. His distinguished Jewish family has done much to build and preserve Jewish buidling in Jerusalem including the famous Montefiore Windmill constructed in the nineteenth century. The author is also famous for his work "Stalin: In the Court of the Red Tsar" The Bill Clinton endorsement of this massive tome resonates with this reviewer. Clinton says that the book "...tells you what the life of the city has been like and why it means so much..."
  How encapsulate all of the sights, sounds, smells, battles, colorful personalities and spiritual leaders who have made the ancient city so important? Here are King David and Muhammed, Jesus and the Sultans; the Crusaders; Mamlukes; Turks; and countless other conquerors and victims who have spilled blood and built buildings in the Zion fortress on Mt. Zion. Here are the Muslim Dome of the Rock built in the seventh century and updated by Suieleman the Magnificent in the sixteenth century; her is the Jewish Western Wall built by Herod the Great and Sacred to the Jews and here is the Via Dolorosa and the hill of Gogotha where Jesus Christ was crucified. Here is the Church of the Holy Sepluchre constructed at the behest of Helena the mother of Constantine the Great and fought over ever since.
  Fascinating figures, colorful anecdotes and well researched and well written history make this book the sine qua non for those persons who wish to know more about Jerusalem. As a Presbyterian pastor I have greatly increased my understanding of Jerusalem by perusing these many pages. The book is well illustrated and the many footnotes are illuminating. Well recommended!
2114256
Azrieli, did it again with this book.  Shamefully, I must admit before reading The Jerusalem Inception, I knew very little about the six day war or the challenges and terror that were present in Israel.  Azrieli artfully educates the reader of the true conflicts, conspiracies, and feelings as they may have occurred.  The characters are well developed and the research and history that is provided is presented eloquently and as crucial, intertwined pieces of the book, rather than boring facts.

I highly recommend this book.  If you are someone who is unfamiliar with this piece of history, or if you believe that Hitler and the Third Reich were the only enemies that threatened and terrorized Jewish people, their culture, or their existence, this book is a must read!!!

I can't wait to read The Jerusalem Assassin by Azrieli next.
3246940
VERY good read; helpful in understanding the conundrums that make up Jerusalem.
2821491
Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth is a very interesting and informative book that I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Biblical times and the life and times of Jesus.  From my own studies of the Bible and Biblical times, I have learned that there are so many other writings from those time periods, but the average person is not aware of them.

Mr. Aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions so he has thoroughly done his research and done it very well.  He takes the various writings from countless writers in Biblical through current times and combined the information into a pretty accurate bibliography.  These include the life and times of Jesus.  Some of these may challenge your current beliefs, especially if you believe that the Bible is the one and only source.  Mr. Aslan points out the contradictions, myths, and discrepancies, and by pulling from other writings, he points out what more or less actually occurred.

In this book, Mr. Aslan enlightens his readers about the man they call Jesus and gives us so much more information than is currently available to the average person.  It is all done in a positive light and with due respect.  So, if you think you are looking at a book that is going to put a negative perspective on Jesus, then this isn't the book for you.  As Mr. Aslan says in the last paragraph of the last chapter, Two thousand years later, the Christ of Pauls creation has utterly subsumed the Jesus of history.  The memory of the revolutionary zealot who walked across Galilee gathering an army of disciples with the goal of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, the magnetic preacher who defied the authority of the Temple priesthood in Jerusalem, the radical Jewish nationalist who challenged the Roman occupation and lost, has been almost completely lost to history.  That is a shame.  Because the one thing any comprehensive study of the historical Jesus should hopefully reveal is that Jesus of Nazareth  Jesus the man  is every bit as compelling, charismatic, and praiseworthy as Jesus the Christ.  He is, in short, someone worth believing in. (pg 216)

In the notes section at the end of the book, Mr. Aslan details his research and provides the arguments of those who disagreed with his interpretations, which was also very informative.

Thank you, Mr. Aslan for a very well written book.  I am an interfaith minister and had no issues whatsoever with anything you have written.  In fact, I appreciated the more in-depth teachings.  I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about Jesus the Christ.
682329
The book was fascinating and opened doors that I would like to investigate further.
Although the book was long, I wish the author has been more inclusive about the social and religious mores of the BCE and 1st century inhabitants of Israel.