Rating: 
Summary: Valuable Read
Review: Rabbi Blech does a wonderful job in presenting an accurate and informative view of the history of Judaism. This book has so much information it may take you two reads to absorb it all -- but that's okay because the book is funny and amusing. You will never be bored reading this. This book is valuable to Jews wishing to learn about their history and to non-Jews wishing to gain a closer look at the history and culture of the Jewish people. This book will not disapoint.
Rating:
Summary: What an exciting way of discovering Jewish history
Review: Rabbi Blech has turned thousands of years of Jewish history into an interesting and entertaining resource book. The book has a great layout, nice illustrations, and features many amusing anechdotes. Kudos to Rabbi Blech.
Rating:
Summary: excellent, entertaining, and all encompasing
Review: Rabbi Blech has written a book that is both entertaining and informative. Most people have trouble learning or remembering history because it's presented in such a dry boring manner. This book overcomes that limitation and presents thousands of years of history in an easy to read and enjoyable style. The author also adds many insightful concepts and anecdotes along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Mallowcups for Rabbi Ben
Review: Rabbi, don't let anyone tell you the title of this book is wrong. At a convention I asked a Jewish man a few questions about Jewish history; not only was he unhappy with my questions, but he gave no answers. Feeling like a, well, idiot...imagine how happy I was to discover your book. My questions were answered halfway through, but the book was so interesting I couldn't stop reading. What an education. I had no idea the scope of the persecution Jewish people have had to endure, especially from "Christians." This book brought an understanding to me, of why the relationship between Jews and Christians is often antagonistic. (Hey, I'm from Hudsonville...I don't get out much.) The book was written like we were having a conversation. I liked the layout of the chapters, and the interesting nuggets in "Listen to your Bubbe" and other insets. About the only place I'd armwrestle you over is your take on the New Testament text: the verse in 1 Timothy 6 doesn't say (like everybody thinks it does--you're not alone) that money is the root of all evil. It actually says the "love" of money is the root of "all kinds" of evil. But hey--why should I expect you to quote perfectly a text most Christians probably couldn't? In fact, the man who penned those words penned these: "Respect what is right in the sight of all men." You read it right--ALL men. Whip out that text the next time some intolerant Christian act intolerantly. (Romans 12:17) Thanks for a great book, and thanks for the education.
Rating:
Summary: Mallowcups for Rabbi Ben
Review: Rabbi, don't let anyone tell you the title of this book is wrong. At a convention I asked a Jewish man a few questions about Jewish history; not only was he unhappy with my questions, but he gave no answers. Feeling like a, well, idiot...imagine how happy I was to discover your book. My questions were answered halfway through, but the book was so interesting I couldn't stop reading. What an education. I had no idea the scope of the persecution Jewish people have had to endure, especially from "Christians." This book brought an understanding to me, of why the relationship between Jews and Christians is often antagonistic. (Hey, I'm from Hudsonville...I don't get out much.) The book was written like we were having a conversation. I liked the layout of the chapters, and the interesting nuggets in "Listen to your Bubbe" and other insets. About the only place I'd armwrestle you over is your take on the New Testament text: the verse in 1 Timothy 6 doesn't say (like everybody thinks it does--you're not alone) that money is the root of all evil. It actually says the "love" of money is the root of "all kinds" of evil. But hey--why should I expect you to quote perfectly a text most Christians probably couldn't? In fact, the man who penned those words penned these: "Respect what is right in the sight of all men." You read it right--ALL men. Whip out that text the next time some intolerant Christian act intolerantly. (Romans 12:17) Thanks for a great book, and thanks for the education.
Rating:
Summary: Mallowcups for Rabbi Ben
Review: Rabbi, don't let anyone tell you the title of this book is wrong...I'm telling you, it's what made me buy it. See, I asked a man a few questions at a convention about Jewish history, and I think the poor man thought I was trying to convert him--to what, I'm not sure. He wasn't happy with me, and I got no answers. Feeling like a, well, idiot...imagine how happy I was to find your book. I got the answers to my questions halfway through your book, but you wrote the book so well I coudln't stop reading. It was quite an education. I simply had no idea of the amount of anti-Semitism the Jewish people have had to endure, practically since their existence. The book was written like we were having a conversation, and the way it was laid out was terrific...the chapter highlights at the beginning and end of the chapters were great memory tools. Though at times you seemed a bit cheeky with all the "innovations" and accomplishments, I figured hey, who isn't a littly cheeky when it comes to family. The only part I'd armwrestle you over is your take on the New Testament text: the verse in I Timothy 6 doesn't say (like everybody thinks it does--you're not alone) that "money is the root of all evil." It says the "love" of money is the root of "all kinds" of evil. But hey--why should I expect you to quote perfectly a text most Christians probably couldn't? Come to think of it, and this is tragic, all of the anti-Semitism belonging to Christions would be non-existent if those "Christians" would get their fannies in gear and camp on these words, penned by the same man who penned the verse in Timothy: "Respect what is right in the sight of all men." You read it right--ALL men. I'll bet if I looked that up in the Greek the word "all" would mean, ahem, all. (You'll find that little gem, by the way, in Romans 12:17. Whip it out the next time some yahoo "Christian" makes a remark. By the way, I'm a Christian so I can get down and dirty with my own.) Rabbi Blech, yours was a very sobering, very thought-provoking, very enlightening book. Like the New Testament, this book should be required reading for Christians. Maybe a required viewing of "Schindler's List" wouldn't kill them either. (These are great ideas, eh? Between you and me Tikun Olam would be a done deal...but we'd have to rephrase the word "required." I don't think that would fly.) Anyway, thanks for a great book. Shalom to you too.
Rating:
Summary: Mallowcups for Rabbi Ben
Review: Rabbi, don't let anyone tell you the title of this book is wrong...I'm telling you, it's what made me buy it. See, I asked a man a few questions at a convention about Jewish history, and I think the poor man thought I was trying to convert him--to what, I'm not sure. He wasn't happy with me, and I got no answers. Feeling like a, well, idiot...imagine how happy I was to find your book. I got the answers to my questions halfway through your book, but you wrote the book so well I coudln't stop reading. It was quite an education. I simply had no idea of the amount of anti-Semitism the Jewish people have had to endure, practically since their existence. The book was written like we were having a conversation, and the way it was laid out was terrific...the chapter highlights at the beginning and end of the chapters were great memory tools. Though at times you seemed a bit cheeky with all the "innovations" and accomplishments, I figured hey, who isn't a littly cheeky when it comes to family. The only part I'd armwrestle you over is your take on the New Testament text: the verse in I Timothy 6 doesn't say (like everybody thinks it does--you're not alone) that "money is the root of all evil." It says the "love" of money is the root of "all kinds" of evil. But hey--why should I expect you to quote perfectly a text most Christians probably couldn't? Come to think of it, and this is tragic, all of the anti-Semitism belonging to Christions would be non-existent if those "Christians" would get their fannies in gear and camp on these words, penned by the same man who penned the verse in Timothy: "Respect what is right in the sight of all men." You read it right--ALL men. I'll bet if I looked that up in the Greek the word "all" would mean, ahem, all. (You'll find that little gem, by the way, in Romans 12:17. Whip it out the next time some yahoo "Christian" makes a remark. By the way, I'm a Christian so I can get down and dirty with my own.) Rabbi Blech, yours was a very sobering, very thought-provoking, very enlightening book. Like the New Testament, this book should be required reading for Christians. Maybe a required viewing of "Schindler's List" wouldn't kill them either. (These are great ideas, eh? Between you and me Tikun Olam would be a done deal...but we'd have to rephrase the word "required." I don't think that would fly.) Anyway, thanks for a great book. Shalom to you too.
Rating: 
Summary: Self-Congratulatory
Review: The book is simple, straightforward and communicates the history of the Jewish people concisely. However, it is also smacks of arrogance and possesses a self-congratulatory tone. No doubt the Jews are successful, no doubt they are smart - but no doubt the Jewish author need not boast about the 21 Jewish Nobel Prize Winners without even trying to be modest, or about the Jewish conquest of Hollywood. It's almost vulgar to see such a noble race unashamedly trumpeting their achievements.
Rating:
Summary: Self-Congratulatory
Review: The book is simple, straightforward and communicates the history of the Jewish people concisely. However, it is also smacks of arrogance and possesses a self-congratulatory tone. No doubt the Jews are successful, no doubt they are smart - but no doubt the Jewish author need not boast about the 21 Jewish Nobel Prize Winners without even trying to be modest, or about the Jewish conquest of Hollywood. It's almost vulgar to see such a noble race unashamedly trumpeting their achievements.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing introduction to Judaism
Review: This book is a gem!In a concise, practical, funny way, it gives a non-jew some answers to some very pertinent questions. I enjoyed it tremendously and I recommend it even to Jews who cannot really remember the specific of their Hebrew School days. It is a good start to familiarise one self to Judaism. Congratulations on a book well written.
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