'Israel' by Fred Lawrence

I said I was interested in reading more about the birth and subsequent growing pains of the nation of Israel and I have begun reading more about it. 'Israel' by Fred Lawrence is not a fantastic read. Over 800 pages in length, it walks us through the pogroms in Russia, the Labor strikes in Early 20th century America, and, unfortunately, all 50 years preceding Israel's independence. Although the breadth of the story is interesting from a sheer desire to learn more about historical eras, the lack of specificity in the battles to save the fledgling nation was disappointing. Lawrence was more focused on demonstating the parallels between the separated families progressing in America and Palestine.

We start by meeting Abe Herodetsky, an orphaned Russian teenager, who takes in a fellow orphan 10 years his minor. This child, Haim Kolevetsky, grows in his stead and when war comes to Russia they head in different directions. Haim departs for Palestine with his Zionist ideals and Abe intends to strike off to America in hopes of a equitable opportunity to find success. We follow the two men as they find successes and heartbreak in their seperate lives. Children come and the story picks up in their hands. All characters accomplish great things but the emphasis in the family plot is tiresome and doesn't provide the intimacy to the strugglees that I crave.

Altogether, a new perspective but I want to find a different view that will put me in the battles against the Arab Nations as Israel struggles in it's infancy.

No more Lawrence for me. Just didn't satisfy me the way I was hoping it would.