The Orchard by Yochi Brandes

The Orchard is a novel that takes place in the second century common era and concludes at the gruesome execution of Rabbi Akiva and the birth of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, the eventual leader and redactor of the Mishna. The book is a heavy and extensive political history of the Jewish people through the eyes of the wife of the famous rabbi, Rabbi Akiva. The author has a deep knowledge the contemporary rabbis of the period and she weaves in and out of their lives and moreover their disputes.

The story highlights some famous Talmudic stories like the insight of Kalba Savua's daughter in seeing a future Torah Great in one of her fathers employed shepherds, Akiva ben Joseph.

We are introduced to Rabbi Eliezer, through his wife Imma Shalom who has a deep relationship and understanding of Rachel, Rabbi Akiva's wife. Rabbi Eliezer is depicted as a vestige of the followers of school of Shamai (tracing the famous disputes between Hillel and Shamai) and as a result of Rabbi Akiva's emerging eminence of Biblical exegesis the School of Hillel becomes dominant and solidifies Rabbi Eliezer's isolation - halachically and socially.

We are introduced to the promoter of Christianity, Paul as related to Imma Shalom.  Ms. Brandes assumes the opinion of some scholars that Paul was actually attempting a positive clear division between Jewish believers and those who believe in the Nazarene, that they should remain separate. We are introduced to the great debate of the rabbis on whether to ignore or fight the Nazarenes.  We learn about the new petition that is added to the silent prayer that was known for its 18 petitions but now a 19th is added which is a reference to the elimination of this sectarian threat.

We learn of the harsh treatment of Rabbi Eliezer by Rabban Gamliel who excommunicated him but he, Rabban Gamliel too, was temporarily removed from office and replaced by Ben Zoma.

The books weaves in the story of the Bar Kochba revolt and how there was great infighting and dissension among the ranks of the rabbis. The book is very heavy on the disputes and dissension and quite light about Roman occupation.  Although there is criticism of Rome, not until the ten rabbis are executed brutally does the reader see how outrageous Rome truly is.

The climax of the story is however is quite bitter.  The Talmudic legend is highlighted: the mystical story of 4 rabbis entering the ORCHARD: Ben Zoma dies, Ben Azzai goes insane, Rabbi Elisha becomes an apostate/Roman citizen and Rabbi Akiva comes out whole.  The character of the Rabbi Akiva's wife demands to know what happened in the ORCHARD and before Rabbi Akiva is executed Rachel is granted a private visit to her husband and gets the explosive answer that the future of Jewish history is surveyed as the most lachrymose manifestation nobody could foresee - a history of constant bullying and persecutions basically culminating in a Holocaust. As a result, one rabbi dies instantly one goes insane and one gets "angry at God" becoming an apostate and Akiva comes out whole.  However, Akiva, for the author is not really whole, he concludes to his wife (by what he saw in the ORCHARD) that God will not help but rather we as the nation must act alone and not expect God to help.  Rachel gives Akiva words of encouragement and reminds him of his courage to believe in Hashem and indeed, he shows magnificent courage as he is tortured to death, expiring with the recitation of the SHEMA just as the Talmudic story records. Jewish history is conceptualized to profound rupture and renewal by the fact the novel ends with the birth of the great sage Rabbi Yehuda who will go on to be part of a generation that shows profound religious literary output.

I could not help but notice that this best seller on its back cover noted some very well known and famous people praising the book.  All of them seemed to me secular personages.  The idea that the nation must act alone and not expect Divine help must resonate with those who do not believe in God. The notion that God will not help is not a belief in God but merely a belief in His help. I reject the last visit and conversation between Rabbi Akiva and his wife implying that Akiva's faith waivered and needed encouragement from his wife. The same Akiva that observed the stone being carved out and penetrated by the running water of the stream and connecting such power to Hashem to penetrate his own heart is the same powerful believer to see one last opportunity to do a mitzvah, reciting the Shema  as opposed to saying "why have you forsaken me". 

The Genius: how Bill Walsh reinvented Football and created an NFL dynasty by David Harris

 Growing up in the SF bay Area, I followed the San Francisco 49ers.  It wasn't until Bill Walsh became the head coach that the team started to win with some consistency. I remember before those years the great wide receiver was Gene Washington who came to my High School and I was lucky enough as a child to procure his autograph. However, when the 49ers picked up Joe Montana and Dwight Clark and then Jerry Rice, the team became what a sports fan would call 'magical'.

The book studies the life of a complex personality.  Walsh was well read and even poetic but he was not afraid when challenged 'to go the distance' as Mr. Harris describes a scene when Bill was cut off on the road and followed his opponent off the highway. Despite the size difference, Walsh challenged his opponent and quickly settled the score by a quick combination of punches that he had learned from boxing in College.  From that scene, what was clear was that Walsh could be provoked and his anger could be explosive but decisive.

He was never afraid of making decisions. And those decisions are what made the 49ers successful. As a consummate coach knowing not to scream at his players but rather scream at his coaches resulted in the correct effect of getting players to own up to their mistakes and not blame their coaches! He understood people and enjoyed relationships. He was not afraid to say "I love you!"

Walsh had to deal with an immature owner who lost his temper whenever the team lost.  Walsh needed complete control over football operations to insure that his system of play would be unimpeded.

Early in his coaching career, Walsh was the assistant coach and offensive coordinator to the famous Paul Brown of the Cincinnati Bengels.  With Walsh the Bengels seemed unstoppable.  Much of the Brown's success was due to Walsh.  And when is was clear that Paul Brown was to retire, Bill assumed that he was the natural choice to become Head Coach.  Paul Brown had reservations about Walsh's emotional make-up and did not appoint Walsh as his successor! There was no conversation, no explanation and as a result Walsh seemed to be out of football until he was asked to coach College ball.  

Walsh was somewhat steeled by the Brown episode and continued to show that his teams could score points.  When the 49ers were bought by the Debartolo family the job was offered to Walsh even with the 'Brown cloud' hovering over him.  But the 'West Coast offense' consisting of unstoppable short passes and surprise sweeps or disguised off tackle runs, was given a vehicle in the NFL...

Walsh never liked his team being called a 'finesse' team! Football is physical and even violent so he made sure that his defensive coordinators understood that he expected that his team would not be out hit.

Players like Montana were in awe of Walsh's demand for precision.  As a matter of fact Walsh first noticed Joe Montana's footwork and chose him for his nimbleness with his legs and not necessarily because he had a good arm.  Walsh emphasized the precise number of quarterback drop back steps to insure that the wide receivers would be in the proper places to receive the pass!

Because he was so sensitive the pressure of losses weighed very heavy on him, he was really an absentee father and husband resulting for a time living with another women.  When his son became terminally ill, Walsh was shaken so much that he understood his true responsibilities and reconciled with his wife. Then he himself became sick with a type of rare leukemia and started to get his affairs in order and chose the Stanford U. church to be his final pause before being passing on. Although raised a Baptist, he converted to his wife's Catholicism.

Any one who witnessed the 49er super bowl wins can appreciate why the book was titled Genius.

Herzl's Vision: Theodor Herzl and the foundation of the Jewish State by Shlomo Avineri

This biography of Theodor Herzl is a fascinating study of an assimilated European Jew who is moved to utopian dreams to solve the problem of Anti-Semitism by devising a practical plan that was not utopian. His The Jewish State was a practical guide.  He is unaware of his predecessor Moses Hess who concludes the same ideas that the Jewish people will ultimately not be accepted by the outside world and need their own State to be independent on the one hand and to be accepted as a nation on the other.

Mr. Avineri conceptualizes Herzl's whole career by detailing his failed attempt at getting a sympathetic commitment from the German Kaiser in his meeting at Cairo in 1898.  Herzl's determination in seeking approval of the international community was essential in his mind in solving the Jewish problem. If the world would give its approval to a separate Jewish state there would be legitimacy to such a state and no argument to its existence.  Herzl believes this so wholeheartedly that in his program of establishing a nation state, the Jewish state would not have an army since international acceptance would mean nobody would pose of threat to it!!  Clearly, Herzl underestimated the Arab world and did not perceive the hesitancy of the Ottomans of Turkey correctly.  In many ways, Herzl thought that the issue would be money - if he would be able to find out exactly how much aid would produce acceptance....

About his program for a Jewish state there is a curious fact.  For example, Herzl does not believe that Hebrew would be the official language of the Jewish country.  He believes that a better model would be a country like Switzerland where there are many official languages.  He reasons that the Jewish people are a dispersed nation all over the globe speaking many different languages, Hebrew is just not practical since it is only a liturgical, dead language.  Herzl is completely unaware of what was going on in Israel with a rejuvenation and revival of the language with the Yishuv from the Hovevei Zion settlers.

Herzl gains enormous popularity with Eastern European Jewry.  Those communities are educated Jewish communities that suffer from deep hatred of the gentile world.  The yearnings for Zion are a natural outgrowth. Herzl's own central European communities were slow to accept the Jewish people as a separate nation, calling into question their loyalty to their host country.  His popularity gains such strength in Russia that he is heralded as King! something that he rejects outright.

Mr Avineri points out that a common understanding about Herzl and the Dreyfus trial lacks evidence. The conventional understanding of Herzl's awakening about Anti-Semitism comes from his coverage of the Dreyfus trial.  Professor Avineri adroitly points out that Herzl's coverage is rather dry and factual, not even questioning Dreyfus guilt at the first trial.  There is no comment or thought about the Anti-Semitism that is drummed up during the affair recorded in Herzl's personal diaries, an extensive source of Herzl's mindset. Clearly Herzl understood the horrible problem of Anti-Semitism, however, there is no tangible evidence that the Dreyfus Affair was the impetus!!

The greatest blunder of Herzl's career was the offering of Uganda as an option for the Jewish state.  Herzl was intent on NOT dismissing the offer from the British so as the keep the international lines of communication open.  He knew that Palestine was the real option and that he could sense that Uganda if an option could only be a stop gap measure for the immediate needs for those seeking refuge from the violent pogroms in Russia.  When he put Uganda on the agenda of the 7th Zionist congress he was traumatized and shocked by tremendous upheaval it caused and damaged his image with the Eastern European Jews.  The ferocious negative response dealt Herzl such a blow he never really recovered and was dead 6 months later.  The arguments against the option were simple: one would be naïve to think that one could get Palestine if there was a Jewish state in Uganda! One would argue "what do you need Palestine if you already have a refuge in Uganda?  And although the Uganda option passed at the congress, nevertheless real fissures formed against Herzl. He and Menachem Ussishkin, head of the Russian Zionist group had to make amends.  The Uganda option went nowhere.

Herzl is the one person responsible in creating the concept that a Jewish State was a real possibility. He is responsible in creating the Zionist congress and Jewish agency. He also created an international awareness that eventually created the modern State of Israel. Although it took two world wars and the Holocaust, Herzl's dream came to fruition with the world agency of the UN giving acceptance.

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

 I have always thought that Winston Churchill was the greatest statesman of the 20 century.  The Splendid and the Vile is just more evidence that Churchill deserves such a title.  Mr. Larson takes the reader through the first year of WWII when Germany attacked England and threatened invasion.  He brings to the fore the different viewpoints and approaches that were coursing through English and German circles during that first tumultuous year of the German Blitz against England virtually standing alone against Hitler's Germany.

This is an epic saga of persuasion, encouragement and courage as each quality is manifested in the personage of Churchill.  

Mr. Churchill knew that England could not win the war without the help of the USA, so he deftly cultivated close relationships with the leadership of America.  First with Harry Hopkins, then with Averill Harriman but ultimately with the one who really counted: Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the president. Churchill's talent for persuasion and delicate argument is easily seen in his conversations that showed wit and in his correspondences to FDR that exhibited frankness.

Standing alone against Germany meant that Mr. Churchill would have to lead and set an example encouraging his nation that they could overcome the odds and defeat Hitler's Germany.  In his speeches, one is introduced to his great oratory.  He would often visit tragic areas hit hard by Germany bombings, showing the people that he feels the pain and suffering but is resolute in standing up against German aggression.

On the German side one is introduced to the feelings of frustration on the part of Herman Goering and Josef Goebbels. Goering is frustrated that his air force can not subdue the British into submission. Goebbels is frustrated that Germany can not knock the wind out of British morale.  

Churchill would often defy security recommendations and go to the roof and look out at the blitzing of London.  He truly was a fearless foe against Hitler.

Mr. Larson takes the reader beyond the battles and describes the emotional ups and downs of Churchill's inner circle, his family and the upper echelons of the British government.  With Larson's characteristic strong narrative, the book is a fine introduction to WWII and the leadership of Winston Churchill.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer

This 1500 page monumental narrative of one of the darkest periods in the history of world events reads like a Thriller.  From the rise of Adolph Hitler through World War II and the Holocaust, Mr. Shirer thoroughly tells us about a twisted conqueror who persuaded his nation to follow him blindly promising a grand Reich that would last a thousand years.  I am only going to touch on some themes that struct me worth pointing out, because I recommend this book as essential reading for anyone interested in understanding World War I and World War II.  

It is a narrative about the humiliation of a nation and its one leader with a savior mentality who develops a successful political campaign to eventually take over Germany without a majority but because of his emerging political skill is able to successfully take full control of the country legally and democratically.  He swiftly crushes, however, any vestige of democracy so that one understands that this proud nation would become a personality cult, a personality that suffers from such a violent temper that he is called the 'carpet eater' behind his back as a result of the fury of his tantrums. He falls violently to the floor and ferociously bites down on the corner of the carpet to gain the physical control that he lost during his tantrum!

Hitler calculated successfully that the Allies lost their desire to go to war.  World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, however for Hitler, the war was a complete humiliation that had to be extirpated. In his wilderness years in Vienna he discovered Jew Hatred and became an rabid Anti Semite and successfully developed a theme of scapegoating the Jews and blaming them for every economic ill that plagued Germany as a result of losing first World War. He developed a following initially of misfits and discovered a talent for community organizing and political management.  He practiced his oratory and became a charismatic speaker and was able to spellbind audiences, with women even swooning  during his speeches.

Hitler equated his Jewish boogey man with the Soviet Union - he believed the Soviets were part of an international Jewish conspiracy that needed to be destroyed and ironically he made a pact, a peace treaty with such an arch enemy, the Soviets so that he could maintain a one front war.  His plan was brilliant: offer the Soviets half of Poland so he could unify German speakers in Austria and parts of Poland and the Balkans and then crush the Western Allies of France and England (his nemeses from the first WW) and then turn on the Soviets...

His beginning of the WWII was riddled with success on the battlefield.  His treaty with the Soviets held as he destroyed Poland and maintained a successful irredentism "Living Space" swallowing up Austria and the Sudetenland.  He then turned on France which capitulated surprisingly quickly. The only one who understood early on what Hitler was doing was Winston Churchill.  (Ironically Churchill early in his career equated the Bolsheviks with the Jews like Hitler, however, Churchill learned and was educated being able to differentiate Jews from the Bolsheviks. He had a healthy distain for Communism but became a Zionist sympathizer and good friend to the Jews.) 

Hitler, blundered badly, however and did not accept his Generals' advice.  He turned on the Soviet Union, underestimating its strength and was ultimately pushed back and had a two front war which even he knew could not be won when the USA joined the Allies (as Churchill maintained a close relationship with Franklin Roosevelt.)

Shirer touches on the brutal abuses of the Nazi Concentration and Death camps and highlights some very horrible "medical" experiments.  The sadism of the Nazi medical personnel at these torture chambers defy human behavior.  One experiment records how long one freezes to death and to see if one could be revived. The so called "Freeze dried' experiment means that a person is splashed with very cold water and the timer records how long it takes for a person to lose consciousness and expire.  Ironically, the doctors also become surprised when they attempt at reviving a victim through the warmth of the embrace of the opposite sex.  Occasionally an unusually strong man would warm and be revived.

This long narrative reads quickly.  It is well structured and keeps the reader's attention.  Mr. Shirer even admits in his afterword his surprise at the success of the of such a long book.  And although professional historians don't appreciate a journalist taking on the role of an Historian, the book is not journalism but rather based on original research based on captured documents. The author appreciates the warm reception all over the world to his narrative.  He notes that Germany did not appreciate the book. 

This book is highly recommended.