The fact that so many reviewers fail to see the value in this work speaks volumes about the success of Arab propaganda in the last 30 years.

Any study of any of revisionist and leftist historians, so-called "new" for good reason, should be filtered through the eyes of Professor Karsh--and Anita Shapira's 10,000-word New Republic piece, "The Past is Not a Foreign Country." Both call to task Avi Schlaim and Benny Morris, who like Tom Segev, fail to explain the war and peace that has afflicted the Middle East since Israel's founding. These new historians all make one gross omission: They consider it irrelevant that seven Arab nations attacked Israel upon her founding in 1947, making no secret of their intention to destroy the new Jewish state. In 1947, Arab League Secretary General Azzam Pasha promised "a war of extermination," "a momentous massacre" to be remembered "like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades."

Nor do new historians bother to note that such words were followed by gruesome acts, about which the world has forgotten, given the ubiquity of biased news reports. In 1947 and 1948, for example, all but one of the 600 Jews captured by Arab forces, including many noncombatants and children, were murdered in cold blood--and mutilated beyond recognition. According to Dr. Eugene Narrett and Jerusalem Post reporter Sarah Honig, amid scenes of rape and other sexual abuse, the Jewish victims were dismembered, decapitated and photographed by their proud captors. In the Etzion settlements south of Jerusalem, three truckloads full of Jewish corpses were found sexually mutilated.

Current accounts of those years often do, however, detail supposedly heinous deeds of Jewish fighters-without appropriate context. In the so-called massacre at Deir Yassin some 200 Arabs were killed. But new historians like Morris, Schlaim and Segev delete the relevant and defining fact that Deir Yassin was the scene of a pitched all-day battle, in which every male Arab villager was armed. One has to turn to more thorough and honest reporters, like O Jerusalem author Larry Collins, to learn that Arab fighters in Deir Yassin used women and children as shields.

In war, bad things happen. But new historians fail to ask four critical questions: Who started the war? What were their intentions? Who was forced to mount a defense? What were Israel's casualties? Ask, and truth becomes crystal clear. As I note in a forthcoming Midstream article, "Mourning the Death of Peace," Israel agreed in 1947 to accept a further partition of less than 20% of the land allotted by the League of Nations in 1922 as a National Home for the Jews. The Arabs, however, begrudged Israel even that small patch of land. In every war since, Arabs have mounted an effort to destroy Israel, either militarily or politically, just as they did in 1947. In 1967, Egyptian leader Gamel Nasser promised to wash Israel into the sea. This intention remains sadly evident today in the Fateh Constitution-and countless Arabic reports, statements and broadcasts, translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute. It seems that moderate Muslim leaders like Shaykh Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi, who support both Israel and peace, remain a depressing minority.

When the conflict is seen through the wide-angle lens of clear-sighted historians like Karsh and Shapira, who DO include all the relevant facts, the work of new historians goes up in smoke--as dishonest garbage. Alyssa A. Lappen

Karsh (a professor of Mediterranean Studies at the University of London) presents the first full-length and detailed rebuttal to those Israeli scholars who call themselves the "new historians." This group, whose ranks include Benny Morris, Ilan Pappé, and Avi Shlaim, seeks to expose Zionism as a rapacious movement and Israel as the actor that bears nearly full responsibility for the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian plight. Noting that others have critiqued the new historians' ignoring important source materials, Karsh concentrates on proving that "the very documentation used by these self-styled champions of 'truth and morality' reveals a completely different picture from that which they have painted."

Elaborating on the argument first made in his June 1996 article in the Middle East Quarterly, Karsh focuses on three main issues: David Ben-Gurion's alleged endorsement of "transferring" Arabs out of the territory to become Israel, "collusion" between the Zionist movement and King 'Abdallah of Jordan to snuff out a Palestinian state, and secret British support for this joint effort. To establish his case, Karsh digs deeply into the documentary record, even going so far as to interpret crossed-out sections in Ben-Gurion's handwritten letters. That's all vital to making his case, but Karsh's key strength is the application of unprejudiced common sense to clarify issues clouded by the pseudo-scholarship of propagandists.

Middle East Quarterly, Sept 1997

Prof. Efraim Karsh tears apart the anti-Zionist 'new historians' Benny Morris, Avi Shlaim, and Ilan (now calling himself 'Jean') Pappe. He examines the very texts that they claim illustrate their anti-Zionist agenda, yet finds that they have deceived the public, sometimes giving the exact opposite interpretation of what the document clearly states (witness the Morris outight lie about Ben Gurion's diary entry - Morris makes a big deal saying B-G wrote "We must expel Arabs and take their places.", while Karsh provides us with the original text which states "We do not wish and do not need to expel Arabs and take their place." The EXACT opposite of what Morris said Ben Gurion wrote! Such is the veracity and integrity of chief 'new historian' Benny Morris and his 'scholarship'.) I like to see all the facts uncovered in history, but Karsh exposes some of the foul play of the 'new historians' who manufacture 'history' to fit their anti-Zionist ideological agenda. For more criticism of the so-called 'new historians' read Shabtai Teveth, Robert Satloff, and Anita Shapira. Meanwhile, Karsh's book is a MUST read. I highly recommend it.

Having recieved and MBA a few years ago. This workbook was very helpful as a refresher on the key concepts with some very interesting and compeling leads for further study. One should have a some prior knowledge of basic accounting concepts, if not some of the topics may be overwhelming. The workbook reviews topics which can be very helpful to individuals who may be considering P&L responsibilities. The workbook clearly and concisely explains the relationship between the essential financial statements. The book makes the field of Accounting more interesting than my previous opinions. I would definitely recommend this book considering the conditions mentioned.

I needed a crash-course in accounting prior to starting my MBA. This book gave me what I needed to know so that I wasn't completely clueless on my first day of class. It was also a valuable reference tool throughout school, and a great way to prepare for final exams.

Learning accounting can be tough, but this book helps make it bearable.

I purchased this book as a way to learn about financial statements. My previous knowledge was only that of knowing what a balance sheet looked like, but not what it actually told me. This book took me from only having very limited knowledge of the accounting world, to feeling competent in discussing financials with my peers.

Where exactly is the Holy Land, who owns it & why has there been conflict over it since the beginning of time?

Dorothy Drummond sets out to enlighten us with a broad overview of this eternal conflict.

This is for those who are perplexed about the Middle East, who the people are, & what religions have influenced them. Both the recent history since the birth of Modern Israel & the ancient history have been researched.

An accessible, readable, no-frills tour through the land & its history, out of which three monotheistic religions arose.

Holy Land Whose Land? Modern Dilemma Ancient Roots is the perfect reference for a study-discussion group wishing to research the background of today's continuing horror headlines coming out of the Middle east. D.Drummond gives a detailed view of the present situation, then takes the reader through the history of this land called home by three monotheistic religions, finally dealing with possible approaches to peace. A detailed glossary, maps, and photographs--as well as firsthand observations are a welcome addition to this very readable, balanced study.
With so many folks convinced that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict directly affects the war on terrorism, D.Drummond's book definitely enlightens us.

Critique of "Holy Land Whose Land?"
Written by Dorthy Drummond.
Educare Press,
ISBN 0-944638-30-9.

This is an Excellent History Book that outlines Six Thousand Years of the many people that moved across Palestine.It is very
Topical and contains many facts on present and recent History of the State of Israel.
The style of writing makes for easy Reading and becomes an Excellent Reference work and Argument Settler.The Writer has remained Unbiased and Apolitical. And does not put any Secular Argument,but remains open about various Facts and Unanswered Questions.I recommend This Book.

These Comments are entered by Joseph Guilfoyle for and on behalf of Ben Lewis.

Cohen has done an admirable job of putting together a history of the diplomacy regarding Israel's decsion to pursue a nuclear weapons capability. And herein lies the problem. This book should really be titled Israel, America, and the Bomb. Most of the book is dedicated to telling the story of Isreaeli/US diplomacy regarding Isreal's facilities at Dimona. Readers expecting to find any information on how Israel went about actually building the bomb, will be disappointed. Nonetheless in an age were most non-fiction reads like warmed over attempts at mimicing Tom Clancy, it was refreshing to read a well researched, well written, and most importantly well footnoted, work on a topic that is seldom written about. All in all, worth reading, but dont expect to find anything out about Israel's weapons capability or strategies for employment.

For me, as an Israeli, this book is formally contraband, but thanks to amazon.com, I was able to get it. Although it contains no classified material, the Israeli government banned its publication in Israel and the courts chose not to intervene. It is one of the few scholarly books that reads like a detective novel and as an Israeli who lived through the era up to 1970 depicted in the book, I found it fascinating. The description of the fandango danced by Israel, France and the US through the 1950's and 1960's including the original texts of the diplomatic correspondence provides insight into understanding today's configuration as well as that of the past. Cohen's recommendations for future Israeli nuclear policy and his critique of "opacity" should be considered seriously by Israel's policy makers. I think Cohen did us all a great service by writing it and also by showing up the idiocy of the political establishment and its "security" concerns. I also think that it should be translated into Hebrew and made required reading in Israeli civics classes.

Dr. Avner Cohen's book is unquestionable the most thorough, complete account available on this crucial subject!After almost a decade of minute detail research, ISRAEL AND THE BOMB, IS THE DEFINITIVE REFERENCE WORK ON THIS MATTER! For the record please allow me to state, that as a individual, I have been studying Israel's Defense and Security Matters for over 28 years. David Chindler maucha@unisys.com.br Rio de Janeiro Brazil

I picked up a copy of Hoffmeier's extremely well researched work directly after I finished reading Finkelstein and Silberman's: _The Bible Unearthed_. What a contrast!!! In _The Bible Unearthed_, the authors flatly refute the Exodus tradition with one foul swoop. Their knowledge of archaeology is very impressive and they convincingly show that there is no physical evidence for an Exodus.

Enter James K. Hoffmeier. Prof. Hoffmeier states from the very beginning of his book that there is in fact no archaeological or physical evidence to prove that the Exodus tradition is true. However, he continues to say that he is able to provide indirect evidence that is indeed convincing. Hoffmeier begins his book by first explaining to the reader the types of Biblical Scholars/Archaeologists that exist. Firstly there is the "maximalist" camp. This group ascribes a high level of confidence to the biblical narrative and hence is convinced that much of its content is historical. Conversely, the "minimalist" camp treat the bible as a collection of stories with little or no hitorical significance. Hoffmeier claims that the "minimalist" camp has been destructive and has introduced far too much skepticism into the area of Biblical Archaeology and Scholarship. Hoffmeier then contends that his book is a beacon amongst the sea of skepticism with particular focus on the Exodus tradtion.

Although Hoffmeier's research contains hundreds of references, it seems that his position is not a scientific one. At no point does he criticise or point out the short-comings of the biblical stories but rather he assumes that they are accurate and hence he builds a fortress of speculation around them. His indirect evidence includes Egyptian writings and inscriptions. He asserts that Joseph could have existed and risen to power in Egypt based on the fact that there are a number of Egyptian writings that confirm foreign leadership in Egypt. He claims that most plagues expressed in Exodus may have occured "naturally" as a result of the periodic flooding of the nile. He claims that the inundation could have easily explained the first five plagues reported in Exodus. This is wild speculation and has never been reported elsewhere in history or to this very day. Hoffmeier also conveniently skips over the problem of Moses leading 600,000 men plus an inordinate number of women and children through the wilderness undetected by the enemy and able to sustain themselves for forty years. Finally, Hoffmeier doesn't even dare go into detail about the parting of the Red (Reed) sea and the many problems surrounding this event.

Overall, I believe that Hoffmeier is gravely concerned about the amount of evidence that is currently being accumulated which discredits the historicity of the Bible. His attempt at presenting convincing evidence for the Exodus tration is weak at best. There is no doubt that his book is well researched, however it fails to deal with many issues that are very problematic with respect to the wanderings of the Israelites. As far as readability is concerned, Hoffmeier's book is very dry and I would be hesitant to recommend it to a lay person with little experience in the areas of Biblical Archaeology and Scholarship. I believe that the true value of this book is in its presentation of the "other side of the coin" when dealing with the Exodus tradition. I would therefore recommend that enthusiasts read it along side _The Bible Unearthed_ and reach their own conclusions with respect to this contentious topic.

James Hoffmeier deserves considerable credit for the insightful and thoroughly enjoyable work. Unlike many who discount the Bible and pretend to be archeologists, Hoffmeier is honest enough to admit that his specialty, near eastern and language studies gives him a very different and worthwhile perspective. Hoffemeier begins with several interesting points.

1-While a particular school of near eastern specialists reject the Exodus tradition, scholars of ancient Egypt are far quicker to see it as, if not exact history, at least routed in historic events.
2-The arguments against historicity of the Bible are mostly based on arguments from negative evidence rather than counter evidence, a basic logical flaw.

Hoffmeier, no religious fundamentalist, does not try to prove that the Exodus happened exactly as the Bible recounts. Instead, he looks to indirect evidence and secondary sources to show that, if later fiction as some claim, the author or authors had considerable knowledge of a culture and society long vanished, down to details of household structure and proper names. In the end, the author's goal is to prove that the Exodus is plausible in the historical context of ancient Egypt. Given that goal, he succeeds admirably.

This relatively slim but heavily footnoted volume by Professor Hoffmeier constitutes one of the most recent additions to the ongoing debate on ancient Israel's origins. The author begins with the proposition that while no direct archæological evidence for the Exodus has been discovered to date, indirect indications show the events transcribed to be plausible and therefore potentially historical--not to be dismissed merely because of the theme in which such stories are recorded emphasizes a religion which has many adherents even today.

The book begins with a critique of currently fashionable scholarship which minimizes the historical relevance of any portions in the Hebrew Bible relating to periods prior to the return from Babylonian exile. The first chapter explains the attractive fallacies in modern historical analysis such as the double standards applied regarding credibility of descriptive scriptural texts in contrast to the reception afforded to the supernatural bombast on official records of egotistical rulers.

Hoffmeier notes that scholarship tends to match the political tenor of the times--and that the current skepticism with authority leads to condescention regarding biblical texts. His brief overview of Joshua's conquest demonstrates that the paucity of late Bronze age dwellings with unambiguous burning does not contradict the accounts in Joshua 6-11.

Hoffmeier devotes the remainder of the book to address the particular intersections of Egypt and the period covered in Pentatuch. The text on the Merneptah stela identifies Israel for the first time as a people rather than a nation--indicating the early settlement period of a nomadic group and not indigenous cultural transformation among Canaanites. His explanation of the reference to Israel in the stela illuminates a distinction between the unpronounced hieroglyphic determinative of pre-monarchial Israel as a people and not as a settled land, hence negating the contention of biblical history being merely an ethnic fantasy concocted by post-exilic priests. The story of the patriarchs being among the many Semites who went to Egypt to procure food has many parallel references in Egyptian literature. Even Joseph's tale of a Semite rising to high rank does not lack precedence: the vizier "'pr-el" was only recently discovered from the late New Kingdom which was better documented than the late Middle Kingdom of the patriarchal period.

Most scholars agree that Semitic peoples lived in Egypt during the New Kingdom, and that forced labor by war prisoners in state corvées was extensive, supporting the Penta-tuch claim that Hebrews were oppressed while they sojourned in Egypt subsequent to their arrival. Identification of the "'barê mishkenôt" or "store cities" (Exod 1:11) had been an obstacle to acceptance of this story. But the discovery of Pi-Ri'amses at Qantir in the Nile Delta verifies extensive brick-construction during the 13th century BC. Central to the Exodus strides the figure of Moses. Hoffmeier explores the origin of the "exposed child" narrative and expounds on Egyptian policy of introducing foreign princes at court in the New Kingdom. Moses could have been a "hrd n k3p" or "Child of the Nursery" and thereby received an education reserved for the elite. The plagues provide a backdrop for skepticism of the J and E source-criticial theory, since the devastation inflicted on Egypt forms a more coherent depiction of events than a composite from separate sources would indicate. Except for the death of the firstborn at the finalé, the plagues register a logical sequence of natural events, albeit more intense than commonplace for the Nile valley. Thus, despite the Israelite interpretation for divine intervention, the tenor of the events described does not stretch credulity to the extent that its historical value should be à priori discarded.

The final chapters concern the canal at the eastern frontier in the New Kingdom and the probable route out of Egypt. The northern coastal road is rejected by contrary citation (Exod 13:17) and because of Egyptian military fortifications which the Israelites would have bypassed to forestall pursuit. Rather, Hoffmeier evaluates the etymology of place-names along the derek hammidbbar or "Way of the Wilderness", and enters the debate that has long surrounded the probable location of the Re(e)d Sea crossing at yam sûp. He suggests that the Gulf of Aqaba extended farther north in ancient times and had been connected to the Bitter Lakes, which were joined to Lake Timsah. Future excavation at the eastern frontier may shed additional light on this matter. That no Egyptian records of the escaped slaves have been found is not surprisingany such reports would have been written on papyrus and not likely to be preserved given the dependence on success for the pharaohs to maintain legitimacy. Hoffmeier summarizes his evidence in a concluding chapter, asserting that to deny the Israelite references while accepting the traditions of other peoples denotes an inconsistency that scholars should eschew. Spiritual overtones were prevalent in many ancient documents, but while Near Eastern pagan deities are no longer worshipped (except among New Age narcissists), the continued adherence to monotheistic theology by many has led to a denigration in modern academia of any ancient records that would lend credence to such faith. Hoffmeier's contribution to the understanding of the Genesis and Exodus sojourn accounts regarding the Israelite tribes' early origins provides a coherent and brief apology for greater acceptance on the historical accuracy of the general outlines in Old Testament narratives. Israel in Egypt is a valuable library addition to anyone interested in early biblical period.

(Revised with additions, 6/28/03)
Thank God this book is still available in its unedited/modified edition, besides the Cicero's!

Read and learn. Also, get, and practice, Regardie's 'Art of True Healing,' still available in a useful, functional edition, but little modified by Mark Allen. Well worth your bother!

You won't regret it, answer-seekers ... !

Yet, some have little interest in matters purely/strictly occult. Occultism isn't necessarily the only reason one studies Regardie. Throughout all his books, a useful perspective on the world of psychology is offered. You may not care for western magic, Egyptian gods considered as symbols of the mind, spirit, etc.

However, Regardie, although by repute no master 'shrink' himself, offers many useful points of view on psychology and psychotherapy throughout his many books. His sanity and objectivity shine through, little handicapped by personal idiosyncracy. His reading lists can be useful. His 'Teachers of Fulfillment,' currently out of print, I hope to see reprinted soon. It offers a kind of 'Tree of Life' quality coverage on the New Thought ' metaphysical' movement, offering what I think are very useful insights into this movement. 'Energy, Prayer, and Relaxation' is another cognate volume, offering a variant on the 'Art of True Healing' method, and is a useful introduction to such methods/practices.

His 'One Year Manual' also stands well next to these. It is a blend of methods and techniques to be used by the individual, not only for health but for personal self-development as well, spiritual and otherwise. To me, it is an extremely practical work. The small but important and essential practise of 'self-recollection' as described therein has proved invaluable to me. It deserves a small book all to itself.

Add the essay on 'Meditation' from his 'Foundations of Practical Magic' ( out of print, but also no doubt soon to be re-released, ) well-known and admired among the cognoscenti, and you start to have a very well-rounded grounding/perspective indeed. This is a grounding and orientation of occultism, integrating psychology in general, to form a surprisingly unified whole, and a more than suitable springboard for the individual interested in steadily and carefully pursuing a course of action destined to change his/her life.

Also on the horizon is 'Regardie Speaks,' useful for getting a further grasp on his ideas. After all these, you will know where to go next.

Read his books. Read his recommendations. Read introductions he has written for others. You won't regret it. The methods are not to be rushed into, as they can be quite powerful and useful. Sanity must guide the path and, as Regardie would say, 'fanaticism above all is to be eschewed.'

Add to all this his useful recordings, in particular the 'Middle Pillar Ritual' recording, useful with the 'Art of True Healing' essay, and his 'Body Awareness/Relaxation' recording, and you are well on your way.

The quiet intelligence, caution, and subtlety which pervades his books, is something I always look for in a writer, as in J. Krishnamurti, and others.
Those looking for a new perspective on life would do well to investigate his work.

Although I have since added in to the picture a moiety of Taoist immortalist classics to my 'armementarium,' I am constantly returning to Regardie. ( Taoist health techniques as in Eva Wong, Thomas Cleary and the like, I feel is the direction people like Deepak Chopra, Andrew Wyle, writers on the Qi-Jong, Feng Shui, and similar efforts are headed.) Enrich your appreciation and understanding of other psychology and 'self-improvement ' writings, by improving the entire picture for yourself, with Regardie.

You'll be glad you did. It just might be 'more rewarding than watching television,' or pursuing lesser, although 'flashier' writers on personal psychology/human potential and development subjects.

Regardie's Tree of Life is invalueable to the student of both Qabalah and magic, introducing us to the methods employed by Aleister Crowley, the Golden Dawn and the Goetia. Regardie has extensively studied rituals of the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks and outlines simple formulas for performing the most complex rituals founded upon ancient knowledge. Also outlines the Augoeides working.

Thank God this book is still available in its unedited/modified edition, besides the Cicero's!

Read and learn. Also, get, and practice, Regardie's 'Art of True Healing,' still available in a useful, functional edition, but little modified by Mark Allen. Well worth your bother!

You won't regret it, answer-seekers ... !

A Garden of Pomegranates is a book that delivers far less than it promises. This book is split into two parts: a short work by Mr. Regardie, followed by a much longer commentary written by the Ciceros. While most of what is contained in this book is good, most of what is contained in this book can be found in better sources.

Mr. Regardie's section briefly summarizes the themes and ideas of the Hermetic Qabalah. He explains the basic ideas behind the Tree of life, describes the Sefiroth and the 22 paths connecting them, and touches momentarily on Qabalistic practices. He also spends some time tying the ideas of the Qabalah to the theories of his day, especially Freudian psychology.

Unfortunately, the authorship of this book as a whole is loose and unfocused. It is clear that Mr. Regardie had many great ideas on this subject, but he just does not seem capable of expressing his ideas clearly. He touches on many topics, but doesn't stop long enough to develop any one of them. Reading this book is more like watching Mr. Regardie organizing his thoughts on this subject than good presentation of those thoughts to a reading audience.

The second section contains commentary by the Ciceros. The Ciceros briefly explain a few Qabalistic rituals and meditations, and then spend most of their work describing incredibly detailed "guided visualizations." Most of what they write here (e.g. how to do the Middle Pillar Exercise) is described in better detail in other books dealing with ritual or ceremonial magic. For those interested in well-written "guided visualizations," this section might be worthwhile.

Overall, this book promises much, but only delivers some of what it promises. There are good ideas in this book, but the organization is too sloppy and confused to be of much value as an introduction to the Qabalah. For a good introduction to the Hermetic Qabalah, I would recommend the much better written The Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune. Ms. Fortune deals with the same material as Mr. Regardie, but presents it in a coherent and organized manner.

This book is the single best introduction to the Qabalah for Occultists and Magicians. It details the fundamentals of the Holy Qabalah in plain English. All of the information originally left out by Regardie has been provided by the Ciceros, who themselves have quite a name in the Occult books industry. Other great books to check out: Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition, The Middle Pillar (The Balance Between Mind and Magic), The Golden Dawn.

I respect a lot of Israel Regardie's works and this is no different. However, sometimes he is a bit more difficult ot follow, but then again so are Crowley, Mathers, and other writers on Qaballah of their period in history. It may require more than one read and analyzing the correspondences. However, this is not a downfall to the book. Another good book to read along with this is Crowley's "777".

The Cicero's have constantly proven to take the teachings of Regardie and make them a bit more easier for the modern reader to comprehend, and this book is no different in that area either. Their addition to this book by adding excellent and mind provoking insights along with Pathworking is astounding. I would recommend this to any Qabbalist or serious student of the "Higher Science" You must understand the correspondences.

The section on the Literal Qabbalah left me wanting to learn Hebrew so that I could understand it even better. However, another good book to read along with this for the working student is Donald Kraig's "Modern Magick" which I written a review for as well.

This and the books mentioned above, I believe, can get you on the road to better understanding of the Qabbalah in all sense of the word. If you are particular for the dogmatic Qabbalah, also get "The Bahir". All of these you can get at the push of a button via Amazon.com.

Again this is an excellent book for practioners and even those who are into psychology and how the mind works. All in all, it is a very good book, and I suggest picking it up first because it is great for an introduction to the Qabbalah. Wets your tongue for the experience, and if you are further interested, the other books are at your disposal.

This book was defintely written by a person who has truly lost someone she loves..her grandfather. I come from a country where virtually any news on israel or her inhabitants is censored. So a book that introduces Yizthak Rabin, even as a loving husband, father and grandfather not to mention a great statesman is a book worth reading.

Briefly, the author introduces you to her family generally and to her grandfather specifically giving you details on how the man was like seen through the eyes of his family. It touches on the peace process, the conflict in the middle-east and even the military life that young israelis go through.

All in all, I would recommend it for an easy read although I must warn all readers that this book might inspire you to find our more about Mr. Yitzhak Rabin and what he stood for.

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought it for our Lutheran church library. What made me read this book in the first place was the moving eulogy Noa gave at her grandfather's funeral. In front of heads of state, the Israeli government representatives and family, Noa spoke not of her grandfather as prime minister, but what he meant to her as a sabba--he and Mrs. Rabin raised Noa, so Rabin was actually like a father to her. The book is divided into several sections--the assassination and its aftermath, Noa's life, and what it is like to be an Israeli teenager today--very like American living except with compulsory military service and the threat of war always hanging over your head. She calls for world peace. This is an excellent book for teens because it gives them a down-to-earth, real-life story of a young woman in the middle of one of the more important families in political history. I applaud her for writing this story of her life, told touchingly and often humorously. A fine young woman.

Wow, I can hardly believe that I am the first person to write an on-line review of this book. I really found this book to be a breath of fresh air. Noa Ben Artzi-Pelossof's candor, sincerity, innocence and youth combine to produce a work straight from the heart. She reveals a vibrant family life, which included a special relationship with her grandfather, Yitzak Rabin.

This is a great book for someone who enjoys reading about people's lives in other countries, and wants to know the mind of an Israeli citizen. I didn't agree with her political views, but it is easy for me to disagree while living in a country that has not known war on its land for 130 years.

The authors simplicity and failure to romanticize events makes this book ring with truth and honesty. She tells it like is/was and does so in a compelling way. As a result the reader cares for her, her family and her grandfather, so that when tragedy strikes the pain is real.

One of the best 5 books I have ever read.

I love the original version of the Middle Pillar. It made "magick" a real form of "yoga" for me. Doing the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is great, and the Middle Pillar itself really charges up your "aura" with energy. The feeling of energy is sort of like the feeling of qi energy from doing tai qi or qi gung, but at a different "level."The last edition of this work (that was by Regardie alone) had a nice cover with the spheres superimposed over the body, which really helped the visualization.

The problem I have with this new edition is that Regardie tends to run a little long-winded, and his style is a little dated (originally written in the '30s!). However the original book was mercifully short. The Ciceros have added their own even more long-winded material. To top it off, they are somewhat scholarly to the point of distraction (but at least they edited Regardie's material to conform the spellings of the Sephiroth to traditional Western occult usage). The point of the Middle Pillar is, DO IT. Not study it. (I also have a personal irk. They are strongly Golden Dawn in outlook, and Judaeo-Christian on top of that, while some of the best works out there today are in the Thelemic line of practice. It's as though they are afraid to mention the "Crowley" word, although Regardie's main if not only magickal influence was Crowley.)

On the other hand, as a reference work, the Ciceros footnotes to the original Regardie material are sometimes excellent. Also, some of their additional material is truly helpful, although probably overwhelming for a beginner.

My advice for a beginner (and I have a friend in this predicament) is to just read chapters 3, 4 and 5 at first, since these lay out the actual practice. Save the rest for later, don't confuse yourself.

If you want a really well-rounded curriculum for self study, I highly recommend the two books by Ophiel - Art and Practice of Astral Projection and Art and Practice of Creative Visualization (this second book looks like a "seven laws of success" book on the surface but is much deeper than it appears at first - it is really about how we create our whole world and how we can take an active hand in increasing positive results). The Astral Projection book essentially gives you something fun to work on after mastering the Middle Pillar, which is all about "building a body of light." (The Astral Projection book also has the best explanation of the different forms of astral bodies - etheric, low astral, high astral, mental, causal.) And these two Ophiel books are SHORT!

This is an excellent book. The Cicero's have made Regardie's classic text even better by expanding on every point made by Regardie in the original. They have added extensive footnotes, several rituals, exercises and meditations, and a comprehensive glossary of psychological and magical terms that makes this book twice as valuable to magicians of the 21st century. I can't help but agree with Golden Dawn Historian R. A. Gilbert's assessment of the Ciceros and their work which is printed on the back cover of THE MIDDLE PILLAR. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Magick and the Kabbalah.

The Middle Pillar is one of Regardie's best works. It lucidly explains the correlation between the Tree of Life and the human body, and how certain energy centers are activated for magick. This edition expands on the original. Included are the musical notes for the various rituals, versions of the rituals in languages other the Hebrew, and an essay on Regaries feelings about psychology. The hope is to present basic magical technique as a dovetail to therapy. The additional material contains good information in this area, mostly based on conversations between the Regaride and the Cisoeros. As occultism and psychology are both interests of mine, I loved this book. Recommended for intermidiate magicians and psychotherapists.

in this world. I agree with the reviewer who said that her writing and this book are uneven. But I give Ms.Hass, who won the Robert F. Kennedy prize in journalism a huge break. Because this is a woman who risked her prestige, probably her life to tell a story. As a journalist, she broke the mold, which is to say: She got involved in the search for justice. I read her column in an Israeli newspaper whenever I can because she is a voice of reason, compassion and wisdom. So few Jewish Israelis, as I am Jewish too, lived in Israel, would ever make such a commitment, and so I agree with reviewers who call her a heroine. Indeed. 5 stars to a book that is the single best on Gaza in the 1990's.

Amira Hass is an Israeli citizen. She is the daughter of holocaust survivors. She is a reporter for the newspaper, "Ha'aretz".

In 1992 she became a resident in the Occupied Territories (OT) because as a resident "I learned to see Gaza through the eyes of its people, not through the windshield of an army jeep...". She was warned that her neighbors were savage, violent and hostile to the Jews. Her experience proved to be quite different. Everyone knew she was an Israeli Jew; still they welcomed her into their homes. Those Palestinians who spoke Hebrew spoke to her in Hebrew.

Palestinians in the OT suffer many indignities, harassments, and cruelties. The Israeli military, the IDF, is always present and watching. Palestinians are restricted to the OT and can leave only with permission. Obtaining a permit can be quite difficult. Even those with medical emergencies have been denied permits. Unmarried men and men under forty can not leave.

Making a living is onerous. If a Palestinian is able to find work in Israel he will work at a low end unskilled job for substantially less than an Israeli doing similar work--but he would still be making more than someone who works in the OT.

The Israeli military, the IDF, is constantly watching the inhabitants. People live in constant fear of arrest; being subjected to brutal, humiliating interrogations; being held for months, without seeing a lawyer, without being tried, without charges being brought against them, without being told their offense, without seeing members of their families. Homes have been demolished long before guilt or innocence has been extablished. The army, when searching for wanted men, will break into homes, usually in the middle of the night, and needlessly shoot, destroy and vandalize the contents. Mere suspicion will sometimes lead to long prison sentences, and those sentences will usually be accompanied by torture.

Even though they earn less than Israelis they are taxed more heavily. Typical tax rates on identical annual incomes for Israelis and Palestinians would be: no tax against 4%; and 7% against 15%. The Israeli economist Ezra Sada, a member of a right-wing party admits that the tax burden creates hatred and is onerous, oppressive and arbitrary. Unemployed Palestinians can be taxed on a hypothetical income--the 'life tax' (if you're alive, you must have income). Disputing the tax is useless.

The bureaucrats claim they must raise a fixed sum to cover the civil administration's budget but Palestinians contend the money is not being used for benefit of the local population. The World Bank substantiates their claim. Israel's response, "Expenditures of Security"-- Palestinians benefited from money spent to suppress the uprising "Our taxes are paying for the bullets and the tear gas".

There is a rotting infrastructure-a lack of clean running water, paved streets, reliable electricity, and modern sewage systems. A West Bank economist found that between 1967 and 1994 Israel had invested an average of $15 per capita in the OT compared to $1000 per capita in Israel.

The settlements are a particular sore point. The Israeli settlers occupy one-fifth of the total area of the Gaza Strip. They comprise only one-half percent of the people who live within its borders. The settlers receive an average of 280 liters of good quality water per day while the Palestinians subsist on only 93 liters of poor quality--foul tasting-- irregularly supplied water.

The people hoped that the Oslo agreement would bring normalcy, peace and quiet. Those hopes did not materialize. The Palestinian Authority took over certain administrative functions-but the Israeli military government remained. Living conditions did not improve because the Authority responds to instructions from Israel.

The newly formed Palestinian State Security Court became synonymous with speedy secret trials, and judges with little or no legal training. Lawyers for defendants had no advance knowledge of their client's cases and no time to prepare. Families were not kept informed of proceedings and the accused themselves never knew where they were being taken when they were hustled out of their homes without warning in the dead of night. There was a continuous stream of arrests and releases and secret summary trials. An Amnesty International report criticized the State Security Court trials for violating minimum standards of international law, including: the right to a fair and public trial by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal; the right to have adequate time to prepare one's defense; the right to be defended by a lawyer of one's choice; the right to appeal to a higher court.

Reporters who dared transmit critical news were detained for long periods of time. One editor was arrested for an article on the economic monopolies; another editor was arrested for not printing a news item flattering to Arafat on his front page. Offices of an opposition newspaper were broken into and new machinery destroyed. An Islamic Jihad paper was shut down after it published an article exposing corruption. The message to all reporters: these subjects are taboo. What the papers don't print the people pass on by word of mouth.

With high unemployment, Arafat was able to create a local police force whose members felt a sense of loyalty and personal debt to him for the guaranteed monthly paychecks. Arafat exploited disagreements and personal rivalries so as to foster divisions within the opposition.

After the Palestinian Authority was installed, its elite profited extensively. Symbols of riches--gleaming new apartment buildings, lavish hotels, shiny king-size cars--contrast sharply with the economy's general deterioration. Monopolistic arrangements with several Israeli firms--on gasoline, diesel fuel, and cooking and heating gas--eliminated hundreds of Palestinian retailers, importers, and truck drivers. Consumers were adversely affected as prices rose.

These are just a few of the many facts that are exposed and explored in "Drinking the Sea in Gaza". Amira Hass is that rare journalist who is dedicated to the truth even when it conflicts with cherished beliefs, government policies, etc. She is set in the image of George Polk--the journalist for whom the George Polk Award was named (the Acadamy Award of Journalism). To learn more about George Polk try to get hold of an out of print copy of "The Polk Conspiracy".

If you have an open mind and suspect that the media has not presented this conflict with an unbiased perspective, read this book. You may come to believe, as I have, that resolution of this problem will take a long, long, long, long time!

For anyone who truly wants to understand the plight of Palestinians - in Gaza in particular, in Israel in general - this is the book to read. Compassionate and brave, the Israeli journalist Amira Hass holds up for examination the 1001 administrative rules which hold Palestinians back from the chance to live with dignity - rules which imprison and control every aspect of their lives. This book was a bestseller in Israel, read and discussed by all who cared about the nature of their developing country. It should be read with attention and admiration in America too.