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Rating: 
Summary: A movie translated into written words.
Review: More than typing a review , I want to deeply congratulate the author. I am 40 and it is the best book in the subject I have ever read. Eventhough English is not my native language I can feel the passion the writter used in describing us a real life movie in written words I should say BRAVO for his book.... ...I wish I can get in contact with the author and ask thousands of questions.......
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful needed text on oft ignored subject
Review: This is a wonderful book by a great author. It reads like a novel, from character to character from country to country surveying Europe from 1945 to present and the lives of the Jews who remained after the Nazi horror. Looking deeply into the lives of Jewish communities in the eastern block the author illuminates the still struggling Polish community, who suffered anti-Semitism either because they were communists or because they were not, usually simply as an excuse. The author deals with specific individuals and this is probably the greatest flaw of the text. Jews came to the very pinnacles of government in Poland and Czechslovakia(Slansky) and yet these pivotal government officials are all but ignored, because the author concentrates on the everyday lives of Jews who chose to either immigrate to or remain in Europe. So one is found wishing they could read more about Bruno Kriesky the Jew who led Austria in the 70s and was noted for being anti-Israel.The book is broken up into neat sections detailing the growth out of the rubble of the holocaust, 1968 and the rebirth of European anti-Semitism among other subjects. Good portions are devoted to large Jewish communities in France and Italy. One overlooked community are the Spanish Jews who supported Franco, but otherwise this book is a must read for anyone interested in modern Judaism or post WWII Europe. Seth J. Frantzman
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful needed text on oft ignored subject
Review: This is a wonderful book by a great author. It reads like a novel, from character to character from country to country surveying Europe from 1945 to present and the lives of the Jews who remained after the Nazi horror. Looking deeply into the lives of Jewish communities in the eastern block the author illuminates the still struggling Polish community, who suffered anti-Semitism either because they were communists or because they were not, usually simply as an excuse. The author deals with specific individuals and this is probably the greatest flaw of the text. Jews came to the very pinnacles of government in Poland and Czechslovakia(Slansky) and yet these pivotal government officials are all but ignored, because the author concentrates on the everyday lives of Jews who chose to either immigrate to or remain in Europe. So one is found wishing they could read more about Bruno Kriesky the Jew who led Austria in the 70s and was noted for being anti-Israel. The book is broken up into neat sections detailing the growth out of the rubble of the holocaust, 1968 and the rebirth of European anti-Semitism among other subjects. Good portions are devoted to large Jewish communities in France and Italy. One overlooked community are the Spanish Jews who supported Franco, but otherwise this book is a must read for anyone interested in modern Judaism or post WWII Europe. Seth J. Frantzman
Rating: 
Summary: More Objective Than Most Similar Accounts
Review: When Kurlansky, the author, describes the surviving Polish Jews, he does so with a less anti-Polish bias than many other writers on this topic. When discussing the so-called Kielce Pogrom, for example, Kurlansky recognizes the fact that this was no spontaneous anti-Jewish riot, but was orchestrated by the Communists (who were being forcibly imposed upon Poland at this time on the heels of the Soviet Army). Unfortunately, Kurlansky also uncritically repeats some stereotypic reactions to historical events. When considering the fact that Jewish involvement in Communism had provoked anti-Semitic feelings among many Poles, Kurlansky gives the standard line about this Jewish-Soviet collaboration being necessary to save Jews from the Nazis. But this is contrary to facts: To begin with, extensive Jewish involvement in Communism had long predated the origin of the Nazis, and continued long after their defeat. Moreover, in 1939, the genocidal intentions of the Nazis were not taken seriously. In fact, most Jews saw the Germans as a civilized people, and welcomed them as such.
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