How Jewish is Jewish History?

Reviews / Votes

'Both
thought-provoking and entertaining . . . thoroughly engaging and makes one
ponder deeply on the basic issues of Jewish historiography. It should be read
by all Jewish historians whether they are contemplating writing a grand
narrative or a micro-study.'
- John
Cooper, Jewish Historical Studies 'He presents a
comprehensive work in English on the problems and challenges of writing Jewish
history under the impact of postmodern ideas and multiculturalism, for which he
deserves credit . . . The book's strong points include its extensive
bibliography and excellent documentation.'
- Rivkah Duker Fishman, Jewish Political Studies Review 'Excellent
. . . it is a most important and essential book for anyone interested in Jewish
affairs. It is an overview of how academic theories of modernism are changing
and have changed perceptions. It is a vital analysis of how many different
approaches to Jewish history there are . . . Rosman raises all the fascinating
issues.'
- Jeremy Rosen, The Jewish
Press 'Cogently
written, remarkably combining depth of analysis with clear, straightforward
writing . . . Rosman has confronted the sharpest challenges for Jewish
historiography laid down by contemporary modes of thinking.'
- Michael A. Meyer, Jewish Quarterly Review 'Rosman reviews the newest developments in Jewish historiography in
the context of the historical theoretical debates of postmodern and
postcolonial studies. In particular, he focuses on the definition of "self" and
"other" in Jewish culture and history and on the relationship between
them.'
- Ekaterina Emeliantseva, Osteuropa 'Absolutely essential
reading for any student thinking of writing a thesis or even a serious paper on
Jewish history. It is a profound analysis of what the academic study of Jewish
history is and what should be taken into consideration in setting out to do
research in the field. Rosman asks penetrating questions regarding the
possibility of objective study of Jewish history in the light of the issues
raised by postmodernist thinking and he sensitively explores ways of dealing
with these questions. He applies his wide and perceptive reading in general
historiography to clarify the challenge of new modes of historical thought to
students of Jewish history. His mastery of the Jewish past, especially but not
only of Jewish life in eastern Europe, keeps the discussion from being purely
theoretical . . . While Rosman deals with complex issues, his writing is lucid
and his examples are fascinating. There is nothing like this book on the market
and it is therefore a crucial introduction for students. While Rosman's
examples are drawn from the context of Jewish history, the issues he raises
apply to the historiography of other religious and cultural groups. Therefore,
while this brilliant book should be required reading for all serious students
of Jewish studies, it should be equally interesting to students of other
traditions.'
- Shaul Stampfer, Religious
Studies Review 'Rosman's erudite
volume ranges over more theoretical ground than can be explained in a brief
review . . . a useful introduction to the heat that history and
historiographical disputes generate in contemporary Israel.'
- Michael C. Hickey, Shofar 'Incisive.'
- Nils Roemer, Studies in Contemporary
Jewry 'Rosman helps us
understand how history has become, in the hands of postmodern awareness, more
complicated, less unitary, and still deeply fascinating . . . an important
entry in an important debate over the understanding of our multiple pasts in
the complex present.'
- David Wolpe, Tablet
Magazine 'Moshe Rosman is one of the few Jewish historians who can deal with the
theoretical issues besetting Jewish historiography, particularly in the light
of postmodernist thought. This book sets an agenda that will be discussed for
many years hence.'
- Shmuel
Feiner, Bar Ilan University