Chaim Potok's "Wanderings: A History ofthe Jews" has been a delight and a challenge - a delight because the language is so well-used and the material so interesting, yet a challenge because the text is so tightly woven that it can only be unravelled slowly.
He begins with a pre-history, informing the reader of the milieu in which Abram and his father, Terah, find...
more Chaim Potok's "Wanderings: A History ofthe Jews" has been a delight and a challenge - a delight because the language is so well-used and the material so interesting, yet a challenge because the text is so tightly woven that it can only be unravelled slowly.
He begins with a pre-history, informing the reader of the milieu in which Abram and his father, Terah, find themselves. He recounts the story of the newly-formed nation as a slave-race in Egypt, the deliverance and the taking of the land, all the way through to the taking of the Temple and the establishing of the Hasmonean dynasty.
He shows the foment within Palestine around the time that the Romans took power with the multitude of religious and politial groups pulling the people in every direction. He shows the spread of the Jews after the destruction of the Temple and the way Judaism developed in each of the major centres.
His next section deals with the coming of the Islamic faith, especially as it concerned Spanish Jewry. The rapid spread of a vibrant and strong faith alongside Judaism had a devastating effect on the Jews. It brought out the best in them in literature, philosophy and even the sciences, but for the Jews were never secure, their status as outsiders being subjec to change at the whim of the current regional ruler.
The last section places the Jews within the Christian milieu, the rapid change within the Roman Empire brought about by the Christian faith and the effect on the Jews. It concentrates very much on the Russian and Polish Jews, the political problems they faced, the problems they created themselves and the awful consequences that converged. He shows the effcts of the Enlightenment and finally the rise of Zionism culminating in a brief description of the resettlement of the Jews in Palestine, now Israel.
In one aspect, this book was a challenge. Potok covers so much ground that I found I could not take too much at once. Details began to be lost in the myriad colours and textures he presents.
However, it is a fascinating book full of intricacies. Potok knows his subject and is passionate about it. As a result, what could be another dull history becomes a very interesting read.
Also, the man is an experienced novelist and short story writerand knows how to use language. His expression at times stops just short of poetry. He is a craftsman who has honed his art and uses it admirably.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to understand the Jews, their religion, and the wealth of culture that follows them.
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