The World That Was Eretz Yisrael: The Holy Land as the Nexus of Jewish Destiny

With scrupulous attention to historical accuracy, profound understanding of Torah hashkafah, and its magnificent collection of photographs, charts and illustrations, The World That Was Eretz Yisrael is the latest addition to The World That Was series. These volumes have been hailed worldwide for offering readers a fascinating, Torah-oriented perspective on the history of the Jewish communities in various countries. Now, once again, the author meticulously presents the richly layered account of seminal events in the history of the holy, beloved land of Eretz Yisrael, the heart of the Jewish People.

Promised to our ancestors, Eretz Yisrael was the Jewish homeland for over 1,000 years. In this exceedingly long exile of close to two millennia, it has remained our hope, our dream, the destination of our hearts’ desire, the place we turn to in our prayers.

Volume One of The World That Was: Eretz Yisrael explores its history from the aftermath of the First Temple to the beginning of the Twentieth Century. And what an incredible history: The turbulent Second Temple era, the momentous redacting of the Mishnah, the saintly Tannaim and Amoraim, the Moslem, Crusader, and Ottoman conquests, the writing of the Zohar and, later, the Shulchan Aruch. And of course, the various aliyah movements, from the students of the Baal Shem Tov, Vilna Gaon and Chasam Sofer, to the survivors of the Holocaust. All of them were courageous Jews who followed their hearts’ passionate call and came to build what was then a desolate, dangerous land. With uncompromising commitment and love, they triumphed over unimaginable challenges to build Yerushalayim’s Old Yishuv and develop the rest of the Land.

The World That Was: Eretz Yisrael is the riveting story of the unbreakable bond between Hashem, His People, and His beautiful, Holy Land.