Power and Powerlessness in Jewish History

by David Biale

Examines the political history of the Jews, discusses their interaction with various ideologies, and looks at the Holocaust and the state of Israel

Genres: History, Judaism, Jewish, Religion, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Biale explores the myth of Jewish political passivity between the fall of an independent Jewish Commonwealth in 70 C.E., and the rebirth of the state of Israel in 1948. He argues that Jews throughout history demonstrated a savvy understanding of political life; they were neither as powerless as the memory of the Holocaust years would suggest nor as powerful as the contemporary state of Israel would imply.