Eban's book is a reasonably good review of Jewish history albeit very condensed. The ancient history chapters are fascinating, middle history is conventional, modern history is more cheerleading and not as insightful as I had hoped. Still, Eban's unique position in Israeli history makes this book well worth reading ... and the historic photos and illustrations are great! I have only one big quibble. Eban uncritically repeats the myth that the names of immigrants were changed at Ellis Island (because the immigration officials couldn't spell the spoken name). That is patently false. Names were recorded in immigration docs directly from the ship's manifest. The manifest was created at the port of departure and turned over to immigration officials upon landing in the US. ( )

1901 Heritage: Civilization and the Jews, by Abba Eban (read 12 Jan 1985) This is a kind of a coffee-table-top book rather than a history book, but I found it very impressive, especially the post-medieval part of the book. The story told is a fantastic story and one cannot fail to be impressed when one reflects on Jewish contributions to civilization: from the Greatest Jew Who Ever Lived (Jesus) on down. The chapter on the Holocaust was especially moving and awesome, and I strongly believe it is important never to forget that awful page in the history of mankind. I may read more in the area this book suggests: the events leading to the creation of the modern state of Israel. ( )

Eban's c0mmand of the English laguage is superb. Text and phots of highest quality. Gift from Rosenbergs. If offered as a gift or you need to buy this book-do so with alacrity. ( )

The story of a small people with a large place in the destiny of mankind...There is virtually no civilization that does not have a Jewish component, just as there is no Jewish civilization that does not bear the mark of another culture. " Thus states Abba Eban in this magnificently illustrated and superbly written book, the companion volume to the PBS television series "Heritage". Profusely illustrated. 354 w/index and illustration credits.

9 tapes of Jewish history, from pre-history to 1980's; written catalogue accompanies