--- product_id: 46885341 title: "Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn" price: "29508CFA" currency: XOF in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/46885341-israel-a-concise-history-of-a-nation-reborn store_origin: SN region: Senegal --- # Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn **Price:** 29508CFA **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn - **How much does it cost?** 29508CFA with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/46885341-israel-a-concise-history-of-a-nation-reborn) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Winner of the Jewish Book of the Year Award The first comprehensive yet accessible political history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day, from Daniel Gordis, "one of the most respected Israel analysts" ( The Forward ) living and writing in Jerusalem. In the landscape of Middle East history, Israel is a tiny state, and yet it has captured the world’s attention, aroused its imagination, and lately, been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future? We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts, the hopes and desires, that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict, these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state, and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of modern Israel, Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite, he illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic and military powerhouse―but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation. With Israel , public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn. This thorough and riveting account illuminates the pivotal events and complex questions at the heart of the nation’s story: Zionism and the Birth of a Nation: Explore the dream that gave birth to the state and the drama of the Jewish people’s story, guided by one of the most respected Israel analysts writing from Jerusalem. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Trace the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation and understand why the nation makes the decisions it does through a clear-eyed look at its gravest mistakes and greatest military triumphs. A Nation Reborn: Go beyond the headlines to see how a tiny state became a cultural, economic, and military powerhouse while navigating the hopes, desires, and conflicts that animate its people. Comprehensive Israeli History: Follow the milestones of the state from its inception to the present day in a rigorous, accessible, and levelheaded account of this complex nation's past and future. Review: A Masterpiece of Clarity, Depth, and Truth - Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn is one of the most thorough, engaging, and illuminating books I have ever read about the Jewish people and the rebirth of the State of Israel. It is rare to find a historical work that is both academically rigorous and emotionally resonant, but this book achieves that balance effortlessly. The author tells Israel’s story with honesty, nuance, and humanity — from ancient roots to modern challenges. Every chapter is rich with context yet incredibly readable. Whether you are well-versed in Jewish history or just beginning to learn, this book gives you a deep and meaningful understanding of how a nation, scattered and persecuted for centuries, rebuilt itself in its ancestral homeland against all odds. What stands out most is how respectfully and comprehensively the author presents the complexities of Israel’s past and present. It is neither propaganda nor revisionism — it is simply a truthful, beautifully told account of resilience, identity, faith, and survival. For anyone who cares about Jewish history, Middle Eastern politics, or the incredible story of a people who refused to disappear, this book is essential reading. I finished it feeling more informed, more grounded, and deeply moved. A brilliant work — and a must-have for every library. Review: Concise history of the creation and growth of Israel - Daniel Gordis tells the story of Israel, from the early Zionists to the mid-2010s. The book is subtitled “A Concise History of a Land Reborn”. Due to the complexity of Israel’s history, Gordon’s’ book is not short but it is written in a concise readable style. Gordis explains the origins of the Zionist political movement. It was interesting to learn that not all Zionists agreed with the Herzl’s goal of creating a Jewish nation state, and there was at least one serious alternative location to Palestine. The turbulent period of British rule from 1918 - 1947 is well covered. The War of Independence and the subsequent major wars and peace negotiations with neighboring Arab nations and the PLO are discussed at a high level. Gordis provides great insight into the clashes between major Israeli leaders, including one clash during the War of Independence that almost resulted in a civil war. The book includes a set of excellent color maps that show the shifts in the territory that resulted from the various wars, as well as proposed territorial divisions in the peace proposals which were not implemented. There is also an excellent glossary. Gordis is writing from the perspective of an American who emigrated to Israel, and he is unabashedly proud of his country. He details the remarkable growth of Israel beginning with immigration at the beginning of the 20th century, and the influences of multiple waves of immigrants on its culture and politics. He devotes significant attention to leading cultural figures in literature and music. The critical role of foreign financing of Israel, beginning with the controversial war reparations received from Germany, is also discussed. The increasing influence of Orthodox Jews is discussed. Gordis acknowledges the great suffering of the Palestinian Arabs, and he does not shy away from critiquing Israel’s mistakes. In summary, I recommend “Israel” to readers seeking to learn about the country’s fascinating history, and the challenges it continues to face domestically and internationally. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #30,601 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #18 in History of Judaism #24 in Israel & Palestine History (Books) #33 in Middle Eastern Politics | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,537 Reviews | ## Images ![Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71decArxoVL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Masterpiece of Clarity, Depth, and Truth *by A***E on December 13, 2025* Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn is one of the most thorough, engaging, and illuminating books I have ever read about the Jewish people and the rebirth of the State of Israel. It is rare to find a historical work that is both academically rigorous and emotionally resonant, but this book achieves that balance effortlessly. The author tells Israel’s story with honesty, nuance, and humanity — from ancient roots to modern challenges. Every chapter is rich with context yet incredibly readable. Whether you are well-versed in Jewish history or just beginning to learn, this book gives you a deep and meaningful understanding of how a nation, scattered and persecuted for centuries, rebuilt itself in its ancestral homeland against all odds. What stands out most is how respectfully and comprehensively the author presents the complexities of Israel’s past and present. It is neither propaganda nor revisionism — it is simply a truthful, beautifully told account of resilience, identity, faith, and survival. For anyone who cares about Jewish history, Middle Eastern politics, or the incredible story of a people who refused to disappear, this book is essential reading. I finished it feeling more informed, more grounded, and deeply moved. A brilliant work — and a must-have for every library. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Concise history of the creation and growth of Israel *by L***R on September 2, 2025* Daniel Gordis tells the story of Israel, from the early Zionists to the mid-2010s. The book is subtitled “A Concise History of a Land Reborn”. Due to the complexity of Israel’s history, Gordon’s’ book is not short but it is written in a concise readable style. Gordis explains the origins of the Zionist political movement. It was interesting to learn that not all Zionists agreed with the Herzl’s goal of creating a Jewish nation state, and there was at least one serious alternative location to Palestine. The turbulent period of British rule from 1918 - 1947 is well covered. The War of Independence and the subsequent major wars and peace negotiations with neighboring Arab nations and the PLO are discussed at a high level. Gordis provides great insight into the clashes between major Israeli leaders, including one clash during the War of Independence that almost resulted in a civil war. The book includes a set of excellent color maps that show the shifts in the territory that resulted from the various wars, as well as proposed territorial divisions in the peace proposals which were not implemented. There is also an excellent glossary. Gordis is writing from the perspective of an American who emigrated to Israel, and he is unabashedly proud of his country. He details the remarkable growth of Israel beginning with immigration at the beginning of the 20th century, and the influences of multiple waves of immigrants on its culture and politics. He devotes significant attention to leading cultural figures in literature and music. The critical role of foreign financing of Israel, beginning with the controversial war reparations received from Germany, is also discussed. The increasing influence of Orthodox Jews is discussed. Gordis acknowledges the great suffering of the Palestinian Arabs, and he does not shy away from critiquing Israel’s mistakes. In summary, I recommend “Israel” to readers seeking to learn about the country’s fascinating history, and the challenges it continues to face domestically and internationally. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Well written and concise, but short on details and perspective *by T***Y on March 26, 2019* Since I was a kid, I've seen countless news stories about Israel, most of which have involved Palestinians, the PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah, battles, border skirmishes, and/or peace attempts. I have a vague understanding of the region's major problems, but I purchased this book because I wanted to take a deeper dive into the conflicts, to explore the complexities--and I was certain there were many to explore. If there weren't, surely the issues would've been resolved long ago, right? Gordis does a great job of explaining how Israel got its start. I enjoyed learning about the World Zionist Congress; about the array of factors driving Jews to move to Palestine, forsaking their homes in Europe, Africa, and elsewhere in the Middle East; and about Israel's zig-zagging path to independence. For the first eight chapters, Gordis manages to put all of that neatly in perspective. Unfortunately, Gordis loses his way in the second half of the book, as he races through high points and low points of the last 70 years. He still tries to put things in context, but the narrative moves so quickly that there's little time for him to do so. It feels like a lost opportunity. A more significant problem--and frankly, the biggest issue I had with this book--is the lack of outsider perspective. Gordis was born in America but emigrated to Israel over 20 years ago. In his introduction, he admits that he is a proud Israeli citizen and that that has perhaps colored his analyses. I give Gordis credit for his honesty. I also give him credit for a solid overview of Israeli history told from an Israeli point of view. However, I feel like a Palestinian would've had a very different story to tell. I'm not saying that Gordis avoids the issue of Palestinian refugees--in fact, he spends a fair bit of time addressing it. I'm only saying that I'd like to hear the same history told from a Palestinian perspective. Both POVs would be biased, of course, but at least I'd be able to compare and contrast the two sides. In sum: If you're looking for an overview of Israeli history from the 19th century through independence, this is a great book to read. If you're looking for a recap of important moments in Israeli history post-independence, it's still pretty good. If you're looking for a discussion of Israel and the Palestinian conflict--how it began, how it evolved, and where it stands today--this will do in a pinch, but you may want to look elsewhere. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/46885341-israel-a-concise-history-of-a-nation-reborn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/46885341-israel-a-concise-history-of-a-nation-reborn) --- *Product available on Desertcart Senegal* *Store origin: SN* *Last updated: 2026-06-18*