This beautifully illustrated book is an excellent

introduction to the rich and influential story of the

Jewish people. It contains a timeline from the ancient

Hebrews of 2000BC through to the medieval period.

The opening section covers the biblical account of how

Abraham and his descendants formed nomads into 12

Israelite tribes with a belief in one God and a distinct

moral code. The book describes the Exile to Babylon, the

Dispersal and the Diaspora, the rise of Christianity, and

Judaism’s relationship with Islam. This in-depth account

will be of special interest to anyone wanting to discover

the history, philosophy and traditions of Judaism.

• A history of the Jewish faith from the time of Abraham

and the 12 tribes through the destruction of the Temple

in Jerusalem to the Diaspora and the Golden Age of Spain

• Presents all the major festivals of the year, such as Yom

Kippur, Purim, Hanukkah and Passover, plus the

observances and traditions of the Shabbat

• ‘Lawrence Joffe’s history overflows with images and ideas

and amply fulfils its opening declaration: “The tale of

Jewish survival is full of extraordinary drama — triumphs

followed by … near extinction.”’ The Jewish Chronicle