Israel Is Real

Israel, Larger Than Life

Dense but thoroughly enjoyable! The irony is in the title: Israel is Real. This is a whole history of Israel as told through the characters that made it, each one painted in four or five pages like a legend, hero, mental patient, cowboy, you name it - thus, Israel being more than real. Cohen does an excellent job of narrating like a man telling stories around a campfire (and you wonder where he gets some of the information). It took me a while to get through, but my knowledge base of eleventh century Jewish poets, fifteenth century Messiahs, twentieth century heroes, and Ariel Sharon, is so much broader. A well-written history/current affairs book with a unique narrative approach. (Watch for his subtle political critique, though, of current Israel.)

Decent Read

I found the book to be entertaining, and interesting, but it falls short of good history, due to some factual mistakes. I enjoyed the book, and how the author ties it to his own personnel story, but I also thought it could have been told better.

MONUMENTAL!

The history of the Jewish people and the state of Israel is of value to everyone. Rich Cohen guides the reader through this long and imposing time in a superior manner. I love his style. He puts the facts out there and makes peronal comments in a, at times, conversational manner. He tells the good, the bad, the ugly, and the very ugly on both sides--the Jews and their opponents throughout 2000 years plus. I am a Christian who believes and feels that I am part of this history. Whether Jews embrace Christianity as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy or not is beside the, my, point. I love them, their history and heritage, and believe that they are the Closen People. Rich Cohen informs and answers many questions about events of the Diaspora. The most exciting chapter is about the Yom Kippur War of 1973. I was literally on the edge of my seat as Sharon and others rallied and saved the young state of Israel. Throughout, there is an underpinning of fear about next time and the time after that. Will Israel survive? As it grows toward a middle age, will the determination prevail? What a sad existence! Being the chosen people should automatically elevate the Jews above all others. Unfortunately, it has, as the name of my little striped plant I have remaining in my mid-autumn garden, created an almost eternal "Wandering Jew," or an equally bad situation of being walled in, century after century--first in ghettos and now in the state of Israel. The danger is high as now many Jews are collected in one place where it would be easier for those who vow to "wipe the Jews off the map," or "push them into the sea," to carry out these horrible threats. I don't get it. Why are so many groups bent on destroying the smartest, most productive group of people alive. It must be founded in jealousy and competition. They are special. They want to be normal. They want to live and create and be secure and eternally viable in Israel. Yet the risks to Jews all over the world who decide to live in this small piece of the world are deadly and could lead to a near exctinction of this holy remnant. My next plan is to read all other books by this amazing journalist/author.

Judgment of Israel.

Concise history of Israel and as such, very well done. Fast reading.

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