The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land (Updated in 2008), (Paperback)

Donna Rosenthal interviewed an impressive cross-section of Israeli society, from all backgrounds and viewpoints. It's especially affecting to read the interviews with the young people, whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. THE ISRAELIS is a far-ranging book, with too many interesting foci to list completely: The decline of the collective ethic on Israel's kibbutzes. The insular nature of the ultra-Orthodox communities, and the painfully high human cost of leaving. The presence of ordinary vice and corruption, and how terrorists use the drug trade as a weapon of war. It is very good to finally have some voices to put with the faces of this remarkable people. Let one of the interviewees have the last word: "We're always in the headlines. The New York Times. CNN.The BBC. We get more coverage than India. Than China. Than the entire continent of Africa. There's so much news about us, you'd think we're also a billion people, not six million. We're all the time on TV and front pages, so people think they know us. Unsmiling soldiers. Screaming settlers. Crying mourners. Bearded guys in black hats. Well, Israelis are much more than those photos. We complain about our teachers. Worry about exams. Flirt at parties. Wonder if we look good in our bathing suits. We curse at traffic jams and cut in line at the movies. We've got normal fears and dreams. Like young people everywhere, we want to find love and be loved. We're just normal people trying to live in this abnormal, tiny, beautiful country."

This is a very well written book about modern Israelis. It consists of plenty of anecdotal information about a wide variety of aspects of Israeli life. It's wonderful and easy to read and full of fascinating information you won't find in newspapers or magazines or tv. We meet young adults, the army, and entrepreneurs. We see divisions among Jews into Ashkenazim, Mizrahim, Russians, Africans, Haredim, Orthodox, and Non-Orthodox. And we see the internal and external worries and joys they have. Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is the description of non-Jewish Israelis: the Muslims, Bedouin, Druze, and Christians. Excellent gift for all ages. Great for book groups, tourists and arm chair travelers. Give it to your priest, iman, or rabbi to open their eyes.