Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

A good introduction for the study of Jesus, 23 Aug 2007
This is a good introduction for those interested in studying the historical figure of Jesus. Deceptively short as the text is quite small, Sanders provides a welcome antidote to the sensationalist pseudo-history such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and others.

Sanders is correct to state that the study of the historical Jesus is a perilous and frustrating task, not least due to the lack of sources. Sanders cleverly provides a setting for Jesus, putting him fully in his times of first century Galilee and Judaea. He places Jesus vis a vis Judaism and the political climate of Jesus' time. The strength of this book is that it is not encumbered with theology, but is an appraisal of Jesus the man, someone who had, or believed he had, an intimate relationship with God and who saw himself as the man to prepare the Jews for the coming of the kingdom. As Sanders correctly concludes, as a result Jesus was more of a teacher and a prophet than a preacher of repentance.

All in all a recommended book for both Christians and non-Christians wanting a good introduction to Jesus, without sensationalism, be it theological or pseudo-historical.




Infromative, 11 Feb 2006
This is an excellent and readable study of the historical figure of Jesus.

Certainly a Helpful Introduction, 29 Dec 2005
This work provides not just an Introduction to reconstructing the life of the historical Jesus, but also to the modes of biblical criticism. The chapter on the Method and Setting of Jesus' Ministry is particularly valuable, and rightly points out misconceptions about the amount of time Jesus would have spent in Judea as opposed to his native Galilee. The book is well written, and the information it provides set down clearly for comfortable reading. In places more detail might be useful, especially regarding the primary and secondary sources that he uses, although these discrepancies are totally rectified by his more in depth works, such as the celebrated 'Jesus and Judaism,' and his work on Paul.

As to his conclusions, they are both conservative and forward looking. This is not a contradiction, as Sanders really pioneers the view that much can be known about the historical Jesus, while at the same time not straying drastically outside generally accepted scholarly thought. His is a careful, but worthy, reconstruction of the life and times of arguably the most influential figure in history.

Authoritative review of Jesus' life, 01 Oct 2005
Whilst books like the Da Vinci Code continue to dominate people's thinking on religion, books like these based in fact provide a welcome read. This book in particular is probably the best historical book I have read.

Sanders has not only created a book that is authorative and intelletucual, but he does what other academics fail to do - he makes it readable. Sanders focuses only on what can be proved or dissproved and rarely goes into speculation. If he does he always tempers it with a 'we infer'. Sanders goes into some detail about the historical setting of Jerusalm and Jewdasim at Jesus' time to build his case.

What he doesn't do is go into great details about his birth or upbringing, because quite simply, he has no proof or knowledge of it.

Very much a recommended read for all those that interested in trying to understand the facts of Jesus' life as opposed to speculating on it.

Enjoyable, informative, authoritative, 17 Aug 2004
Professor Sanders must be one of those rare academics who can write well for the general public, neither over-simplifying the content nor boring the reader with excessive detail. The book has just the right balance of readability and credibility, and there are new insights on every page. Particularly interesting were the first few chapters, covering the historical and political background. We are all aware that Palestine was "occupied" by the Roman Empire at this period, but what was the nature of the occupation? Was it, for example, comparable to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the early 1940s? The answer apparently is no, and the situation in Galilee was very different from that in Jerusalem. The book paints a clear picture of what life was like for ordinary people living in that region around that time. In dealing with the events of Jesus's life, Sanders always makes clear the degree of certainty of any assertion. There is a scale, with "beyond all reasonable doubt" at one end and "as likely as not" at the other. People who want simple answers in black and white may be disappointed by this, but ancient history is not an exact science. This is surely the honest approach.

Professor Sanders has been studying this period since the 1960s and appears to be regarded as knowledgeable on Jesus (as well as on Paul). I am not in a position to judge, but certainly the book seems more authoritative than some similar titles written by journalists or by those with a proselytising agenda. Although raised in the Church of England, I read this book as a complete layman. I was aware that I had no idea how much of what I had been taught was true in a historical sense and how much was mere legend, tradition or the personal opinion of my teachers, and I was starting to ask questions like "who wrote the gospels, and when?" and "what did Jesus ACTUALLY say?". This book has taught me a great deal about the origins of this vast religion.

There is perhaps too much emphasis on dates. To the lay reader, the exact years of Jesus's birth and death are less interesting than what happened in between. And while I'm looking for faults, I could mention that there are a few things that are not well explained. For example, the Pharisees are referred to as a party, but what is meant by "party" in this context? Is it something equivalent to a modern political party? Obviously not, though just what kind of a group they were is still not clear to me. But there are few such omissions. All in all, this book gave me the information that I wanted in an enjoyable form, and I happily recommend it.

Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

A good introduction for the study of Jesus, 23 Aug 2007
This is a good introduction for those interested in studying the historical figure of Jesus. Deceptively short as the text is quite small, Sanders provides a welcome antidote to the sensationalist pseudo-history such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and others.

Sanders is correct to state that the study of the historical Jesus is a perilous and frustrating task, not least due to the lack of sources. Sanders cleverly provides a setting for Jesus, putting him fully in his times of first century Galilee and Judaea. He places Jesus vis a vis Judaism and the political climate of Jesus' time. The strength of this book is that it is not encumbered with theology, but is an appraisal of Jesus the man, someone who had, or believed he had, an intimate relationship with God and who saw himself as the man to prepare the Jews for the coming of the kingdom. As Sanders correctly concludes, as a result Jesus was more of a teacher and a prophet than a preacher of repentance.

All in all a recommended book for both Christians and non-Christians wanting a good introduction to Jesus, without sensationalism, be it theological or pseudo-historical.




Infromative, 11 Feb 2006
This is an excellent and readable study of the historical figure of Jesus.

Certainly a Helpful Introduction, 29 Dec 2005
This work provides not just an Introduction to reconstructing the life of the historical Jesus, but also to the modes of biblical criticism. The chapter on the Method and Setting of Jesus' Ministry is particularly valuable, and rightly points out misconceptions about the amount of time Jesus would have spent in Judea as opposed to his native Galilee. The book is well written, and the information it provides set down clearly for comfortable reading. In places more detail might be useful, especially regarding the primary and secondary sources that he uses, although these discrepancies are totally rectified by his more in depth works, such as the celebrated 'Jesus and Judaism,' and his work on Paul.

As to his conclusions, they are both conservative and forward looking. This is not a contradiction, as Sanders really pioneers the view that much can be known about the historical Jesus, while at the same time not straying drastically outside generally accepted scholarly thought. His is a careful, but worthy, reconstruction of the life and times of arguably the most influential figure in history.

Authoritative review of Jesus' life, 01 Oct 2005
Whilst books like the Da Vinci Code continue to dominate people's thinking on religion, books like these based in fact provide a welcome read. This book in particular is probably the best historical book I have read.

Sanders has not only created a book that is authorative and intelletucual, but he does what other academics fail to do - he makes it readable. Sanders focuses only on what can be proved or dissproved and rarely goes into speculation. If he does he always tempers it with a 'we infer'. Sanders goes into some detail about the historical setting of Jerusalm and Jewdasim at Jesus' time to build his case.

What he doesn't do is go into great details about his birth or upbringing, because quite simply, he has no proof or knowledge of it.

Very much a recommended read for all those that interested in trying to understand the facts of Jesus' life as opposed to speculating on it.

Enjoyable, informative, authoritative, 17 Aug 2004
Professor Sanders must be one of those rare academics who can write well for the general public, neither over-simplifying the content nor boring the reader with excessive detail. The book has just the right balance of readability and credibility, and there are new insights on every page. Particularly interesting were the first few chapters, covering the historical and political background. We are all aware that Palestine was "occupied" by the Roman Empire at this period, but what was the nature of the occupation? Was it, for example, comparable to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the early 1940s? The answer apparently is no, and the situation in Galilee was very different from that in Jerusalem. The book paints a clear picture of what life was like for ordinary people living in that region around that time. In dealing with the events of Jesus's life, Sanders always makes clear the degree of certainty of any assertion. There is a scale, with "beyond all reasonable doubt" at one end and "as likely as not" at the other. People who want simple answers in black and white may be disappointed by this, but ancient history is not an exact science. This is surely the honest approach.

Professor Sanders has been studying this period since the 1960s and appears to be regarded as knowledgeable on Jesus (as well as on Paul). I am not in a position to judge, but certainly the book seems more authoritative than some similar titles written by journalists or by those with a proselytising agenda. Although raised in the Church of England, I read this book as a complete layman. I was aware that I had no idea how much of what I had been taught was true in a historical sense and how much was mere legend, tradition or the personal opinion of my teachers, and I was starting to ask questions like "who wrote the gospels, and when?" and "what did Jesus ACTUALLY say?". This book has taught me a great deal about the origins of this vast religion.

There is perhaps too much emphasis on dates. To the lay reader, the exact years of Jesus's birth and death are less interesting than what happened in between. And while I'm looking for faults, I could mention that there are a few things that are not well explained. For example, the Pharisees are referred to as a party, but what is meant by "party" in this context? Is it something equivalent to a modern political party? Obviously not, though just what kind of a group they were is still not clear to me. But there are few such omissions. All in all, this book gave me the information that I wanted in an enjoyable form, and I happily recommend it.

A handy volume, 24 Sep 2008
Maybe I'm just lucky to have good eyesight, but I find this conveniently-sized volume far more wieldy than the hefty hardback version. It's obviously one of the essential books if, like me, you're studying Biblical Hebrew, and the translation is excellent - although I do wish they were a bit more literal and a bit less keen to respect English idiomatic usage. "When God began to create heaven and earth" is clear English, but it doesn't totally capture the strangeness of the Hebrew. Probably only an interlinear translation could do that. In the meantime, the pocket Tanakh is inexpensive, portable and essential. Nice fonts, too.

Relatively small print, 11 Apr 2007
Please read Kurt's review below for detail, but whilst the Tenach is a great treasure, I was a little disappointed by the small size of the Hebrew font (just over 1mm) for the size of the book (4.5 cm thick,x c.10 x 15 cm), which for a novice is quite hard going, esp for vowels. It looks roughly font size 10 for a Hebrew font on Word - too small for comfortable prolonged reading, especially to begin with.

In the beginning..., 01 Dec 2004
The Tanakh, an edition of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, put out by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), now has a dual-language edition (Hebrew and English), which is incredibly useful for scripture study.

The word Tanakh consists of the first letters of the words denoting the three sections of the text: the Torah (the Law), consisting of the first five books; the Nevi'im (the Prophets), which includes major and minor prophets, as well as some of the history books; and the Kethuvim (the Writings), which consists of poetry, wisdom literature, stories and eschatological literature, and some further history books.

The Tanakh is not simply a new translation of the Christian Old Testament. Indeed, most Christian readers would be surprised at the differences inherent in the Tanakh. For one thing, the ordering of the books in the Tanakh is different from the order in the Christian Old Testament. The intent behind the differing order demonstrates one of the key differences in focus of Judaism and Christianity. The ordering of the Old Testament, with the minor prophets, and their call to repentance and future deliverance of the people of Israel by God, is anticipatory of the Messianic age, and hence provide a `run-up' to the New Testament. Obviously, Judaism does not have the same focus toward Jesus. Thus, the conclusion of the Tanakh leads to the return from exile, the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of promise, and the return of the worship of God to the appointed place, the Temple.

Also, the chapter/verse division is somewhat different. This can be seen in side-by-side comparison with other English Bible translations, but also becomes apparent in comparison with other Jewish editions.

The editors state that English translations usually list thirty-nine books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Hebrew Bibles classically have presented twenty-four books -- counting the following groups as one book each: the two part of Samuel; the two parts of Kings; the Twelve ('Minor') Prophets; Ezra and Nehemiah; and the two parts of Chronicles. Some aspects of our book design presume the thirty-nine-book division: the tables, book openings, and chapter numbers. But we ended only the conventional twenty-four books with a closing prayer and with the sum total of verses.

The Tanakh was originally translated and published in three sections, corresponding to the three divisions of the text. Begun in 1955, The Torah was completed in 1962; then there was a wait until The Nevi'im was released in 1978, and The Kethuvim in 1982. This edition of the Tanakh is the compilation of these efforts by JPS, with revisions, especially of the 1962 Torah translation.

This edition, while incorporating the Hebrew text, is not meant for ritual practice. The intended readership of this volume is the scholar or the general reader; it is not set up for liturgical use -- as the preface states: 'It meets only the traditional rabbinic standards (halakhah) for formatting a study Bible, which are less stringent than those for ritual texts.'

The introduction is quite frank about the difficulties that arise in working with ancient manuscripts. In a section entitled The Unbroken Chain of Uncertainty, the editors address the problem of which documentation and corrective (the masorah, which gives rise to the name masoretic text, meaning, authoritative and 'marked') is used, given the variances that arise in ancient manuscripts with fairly equal claim of authority. Drawing on the MCW (Michigan-Claremont-Westminster) electronic BHS (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), JPS has a text nearly identical with the Leningrad Codex (a 1000-year old volume of the text, the oldest nearly complete volume known). In using this documentation, JPS editors have also done the following in making the text accessible and authoritative:

- added chapter and verse numbers, all of which were added much later
- redivided the Psalms to 150 (the Codex has divisions into 149)
- inserted markings to show codex paragraphing as well as possible scribal errors
- filling in cross-references

The editors point out some of the omissions - Like the medieval scribes, we culled most of our nearly six hundred notes from the larger body of masoretic lore (roughly two hundred thousand notes!); we do not pretend to have been exhaustive.

These notes deal with textual anomalies, and are written in such a manner than a glossary helps decipher them.

This is a rewarding volume for anyone who seeks to tap into the power of the original language side-by-side with a unique and powerful translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

A good introduction for the study of Jesus, 23 Aug 2007
This is a good introduction for those interested in studying the historical figure of Jesus. Deceptively short as the text is quite small, Sanders provides a welcome antidote to the sensationalist pseudo-history such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and others.

Sanders is correct to state that the study of the historical Jesus is a perilous and frustrating task, not least due to the lack of sources. Sanders cleverly provides a setting for Jesus, putting him fully in his times of first century Galilee and Judaea. He places Jesus vis a vis Judaism and the political climate of Jesus' time. The strength of this book is that it is not encumbered with theology, but is an appraisal of Jesus the man, someone who had, or believed he had, an intimate relationship with God and who saw himself as the man to prepare the Jews for the coming of the kingdom. As Sanders correctly concludes, as a result Jesus was more of a teacher and a prophet than a preacher of repentance.

All in all a recommended book for both Christians and non-Christians wanting a good introduction to Jesus, without sensationalism, be it theological or pseudo-historical.




Infromative, 11 Feb 2006
This is an excellent and readable study of the historical figure of Jesus.

Certainly a Helpful Introduction, 29 Dec 2005
This work provides not just an Introduction to reconstructing the life of the historical Jesus, but also to the modes of biblical criticism. The chapter on the Method and Setting of Jesus' Ministry is particularly valuable, and rightly points out misconceptions about the amount of time Jesus would have spent in Judea as opposed to his native Galilee. The book is well written, and the information it provides set down clearly for comfortable reading. In places more detail might be useful, especially regarding the primary and secondary sources that he uses, although these discrepancies are totally rectified by his more in depth works, such as the celebrated 'Jesus and Judaism,' and his work on Paul.

As to his conclusions, they are both conservative and forward looking. This is not a contradiction, as Sanders really pioneers the view that much can be known about the historical Jesus, while at the same time not straying drastically outside generally accepted scholarly thought. His is a careful, but worthy, reconstruction of the life and times of arguably the most influential figure in history.

Authoritative review of Jesus' life, 01 Oct 2005
Whilst books like the Da Vinci Code continue to dominate people's thinking on religion, books like these based in fact provide a welcome read. This book in particular is probably the best historical book I have read.

Sanders has not only created a book that is authorative and intelletucual, but he does what other academics fail to do - he makes it readable. Sanders focuses only on what can be proved or dissproved and rarely goes into speculation. If he does he always tempers it with a 'we infer'. Sanders goes into some detail about the historical setting of Jerusalm and Jewdasim at Jesus' time to build his case.

What he doesn't do is go into great details about his birth or upbringing, because quite simply, he has no proof or knowledge of it.

Very much a recommended read for all those that interested in trying to understand the facts of Jesus' life as opposed to speculating on it.

Enjoyable, informative, authoritative, 17 Aug 2004
Professor Sanders must be one of those rare academics who can write well for the general public, neither over-simplifying the content nor boring the reader with excessive detail. The book has just the right balance of readability and credibility, and there are new insights on every page. Particularly interesting were the first few chapters, covering the historical and political background. We are all aware that Palestine was "occupied" by the Roman Empire at this period, but what was the nature of the occupation? Was it, for example, comparable to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the early 1940s? The answer apparently is no, and the situation in Galilee was very different from that in Jerusalem. The book paints a clear picture of what life was like for ordinary people living in that region around that time. In dealing with the events of Jesus's life, Sanders always makes clear the degree of certainty of any assertion. There is a scale, with "beyond all reasonable doubt" at one end and "as likely as not" at the other. People who want simple answers in black and white may be disappointed by this, but ancient history is not an exact science. This is surely the honest approach.

Professor Sanders has been studying this period since the 1960s and appears to be regarded as knowledgeable on Jesus (as well as on Paul). I am not in a position to judge, but certainly the book seems more authoritative than some similar titles written by journalists or by those with a proselytising agenda. Although raised in the Church of England, I read this book as a complete layman. I was aware that I had no idea how much of what I had been taught was true in a historical sense and how much was mere legend, tradition or the personal opinion of my teachers, and I was starting to ask questions like "who wrote the gospels, and when?" and "what did Jesus ACTUALLY say?". This book has taught me a great deal about the origins of this vast religion.

There is perhaps too much emphasis on dates. To the lay reader, the exact years of Jesus's birth and death are less interesting than what happened in between. And while I'm looking for faults, I could mention that there are a few things that are not well explained. For example, the Pharisees are referred to as a party, but what is meant by "party" in this context? Is it something equivalent to a modern political party? Obviously not, though just what kind of a group they were is still not clear to me. But there are few such omissions. All in all, this book gave me the information that I wanted in an enjoyable form, and I happily recommend it.

A handy volume, 24 Sep 2008
Maybe I'm just lucky to have good eyesight, but I find this conveniently-sized volume far more wieldy than the hefty hardback version. It's obviously one of the essential books if, like me, you're studying Biblical Hebrew, and the translation is excellent - although I do wish they were a bit more literal and a bit less keen to respect English idiomatic usage. "When God began to create heaven and earth" is clear English, but it doesn't totally capture the strangeness of the Hebrew. Probably only an interlinear translation could do that. In the meantime, the pocket Tanakh is inexpensive, portable and essential. Nice fonts, too.

Relatively small print, 11 Apr 2007
Please read Kurt's review below for detail, but whilst the Tenach is a great treasure, I was a little disappointed by the small size of the Hebrew font (just over 1mm) for the size of the book (4.5 cm thick,x c.10 x 15 cm), which for a novice is quite hard going, esp for vowels. It looks roughly font size 10 for a Hebrew font on Word - too small for comfortable prolonged reading, especially to begin with.

In the beginning..., 01 Dec 2004
The Tanakh, an edition of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, put out by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), now has a dual-language edition (Hebrew and English), which is incredibly useful for scripture study.

The word Tanakh consists of the first letters of the words denoting the three sections of the text: the Torah (the Law), consisting of the first five books; the Nevi'im (the Prophets), which includes major and minor prophets, as well as some of the history books; and the Kethuvim (the Writings), which consists of poetry, wisdom literature, stories and eschatological literature, and some further history books.

The Tanakh is not simply a new translation of the Christian Old Testament. Indeed, most Christian readers would be surprised at the differences inherent in the Tanakh. For one thing, the ordering of the books in the Tanakh is different from the order in the Christian Old Testament. The intent behind the differing order demonstrates one of the key differences in focus of Judaism and Christianity. The ordering of the Old Testament, with the minor prophets, and their call to repentance and future deliverance of the people of Israel by God, is anticipatory of the Messianic age, and hence provide a `run-up' to the New Testament. Obviously, Judaism does not have the same focus toward Jesus. Thus, the conclusion of the Tanakh leads to the return from exile, the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of promise, and the return of the worship of God to the appointed place, the Temple.

Also, the chapter/verse division is somewhat different. This can be seen in side-by-side comparison with other English Bible translations, but also becomes apparent in comparison with other Jewish editions.

The editors state that English translations usually list thirty-nine books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Hebrew Bibles classically have presented twenty-four books -- counting the following groups as one book each: the two part of Samuel; the two parts of Kings; the Twelve ('Minor') Prophets; Ezra and Nehemiah; and the two parts of Chronicles. Some aspects of our book design presume the thirty-nine-book division: the tables, book openings, and chapter numbers. But we ended only the conventional twenty-four books with a closing prayer and with the sum total of verses.

The Tanakh was originally translated and published in three sections, corresponding to the three divisions of the text. Begun in 1955, The Torah was completed in 1962; then there was a wait until The Nevi'im was released in 1978, and The Kethuvim in 1982. This edition of the Tanakh is the compilation of these efforts by JPS, with revisions, especially of the 1962 Torah translation.

This edition, while incorporating the Hebrew text, is not meant for ritual practice. The intended readership of this volume is the scholar or the general reader; it is not set up for liturgical use -- as the preface states: 'It meets only the traditional rabbinic standards (halakhah) for formatting a study Bible, which are less stringent than those for ritual texts.'

The introduction is quite frank about the difficulties that arise in working with ancient manuscripts. In a section entitled The Unbroken Chain of Uncertainty, the editors address the problem of which documentation and corrective (the masorah, which gives rise to the name masoretic text, meaning, authoritative and 'marked') is used, given the variances that arise in ancient manuscripts with fairly equal claim of authority. Drawing on the MCW (Michigan-Claremont-Westminster) electronic BHS (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), JPS has a text nearly identical with the Leningrad Codex (a 1000-year old volume of the text, the oldest nearly complete volume known). In using this documentation, JPS editors have also done the following in making the text accessible and authoritative:

- added chapter and verse numbers, all of which were added much later
- redivided the Psalms to 150 (the Codex has divisions into 149)
- inserted markings to show codex paragraphing as well as possible scribal errors
- filling in cross-references

The editors point out some of the omissions - Like the medieval scribes, we culled most of our nearly six hundred notes from the larger body of masoretic lore (roughly two hundred thousand notes!); we do not pretend to have been exhaustive.

These notes deal with textual anomalies, and are written in such a manner than a glossary helps decipher them.

This is a rewarding volume for anyone who seeks to tap into the power of the original language side-by-side with a unique and powerful translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

He was really a pretty funny guy if you give him a chance..., 29 Mar 1999
"Walter Benjamin is now recognized as one of the most accute analysts of literary and sociological phenomena of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A companion volume to Illuminations, the earlier collection of Benjamin's writings, Reflections presents a new sampling of his wide-ranging work. In addition to literary criticism, it contains autobiograohical narration and travel pieces, aphorisms, and philosophical-theological speculations. Most of Benjamin's writings on Brecht and his celebrated essay on Karl Kraus are included."

Enjoy charming anecdotes like "Hashish in Marseilles" and the sardonic incites of "One-Way Street" (Germans, Drink German Beer!) as you peruse the timeless thoughts of a persecuted man.

Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

A good introduction for the study of Jesus, 23 Aug 2007
This is a good introduction for those interested in studying the historical figure of Jesus. Deceptively short as the text is quite small, Sanders provides a welcome antidote to the sensationalist pseudo-history such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and others.

Sanders is correct to state that the study of the historical Jesus is a perilous and frustrating task, not least due to the lack of sources. Sanders cleverly provides a setting for Jesus, putting him fully in his times of first century Galilee and Judaea. He places Jesus vis a vis Judaism and the political climate of Jesus' time. The strength of this book is that it is not encumbered with theology, but is an appraisal of Jesus the man, someone who had, or believed he had, an intimate relationship with God and who saw himself as the man to prepare the Jews for the coming of the kingdom. As Sanders correctly concludes, as a result Jesus was more of a teacher and a prophet than a preacher of repentance.

All in all a recommended book for both Christians and non-Christians wanting a good introduction to Jesus, without sensationalism, be it theological or pseudo-historical.




Infromative, 11 Feb 2006
This is an excellent and readable study of the historical figure of Jesus.

Certainly a Helpful Introduction, 29 Dec 2005
This work provides not just an Introduction to reconstructing the life of the historical Jesus, but also to the modes of biblical criticism. The chapter on the Method and Setting of Jesus' Ministry is particularly valuable, and rightly points out misconceptions about the amount of time Jesus would have spent in Judea as opposed to his native Galilee. The book is well written, and the information it provides set down clearly for comfortable reading. In places more detail might be useful, especially regarding the primary and secondary sources that he uses, although these discrepancies are totally rectified by his more in depth works, such as the celebrated 'Jesus and Judaism,' and his work on Paul.

As to his conclusions, they are both conservative and forward looking. This is not a contradiction, as Sanders really pioneers the view that much can be known about the historical Jesus, while at the same time not straying drastically outside generally accepted scholarly thought. His is a careful, but worthy, reconstruction of the life and times of arguably the most influential figure in history.

Authoritative review of Jesus' life, 01 Oct 2005
Whilst books like the Da Vinci Code continue to dominate people's thinking on religion, books like these based in fact provide a welcome read. This book in particular is probably the best historical book I have read.

Sanders has not only created a book that is authorative and intelletucual, but he does what other academics fail to do - he makes it readable. Sanders focuses only on what can be proved or dissproved and rarely goes into speculation. If he does he always tempers it with a 'we infer'. Sanders goes into some detail about the historical setting of Jerusalm and Jewdasim at Jesus' time to build his case.

What he doesn't do is go into great details about his birth or upbringing, because quite simply, he has no proof or knowledge of it.

Very much a recommended read for all those that interested in trying to understand the facts of Jesus' life as opposed to speculating on it.

Enjoyable, informative, authoritative, 17 Aug 2004
Professor Sanders must be one of those rare academics who can write well for the general public, neither over-simplifying the content nor boring the reader with excessive detail. The book has just the right balance of readability and credibility, and there are new insights on every page. Particularly interesting were the first few chapters, covering the historical and political background. We are all aware that Palestine was "occupied" by the Roman Empire at this period, but what was the nature of the occupation? Was it, for example, comparable to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the early 1940s? The answer apparently is no, and the situation in Galilee was very different from that in Jerusalem. The book paints a clear picture of what life was like for ordinary people living in that region around that time. In dealing with the events of Jesus's life, Sanders always makes clear the degree of certainty of any assertion. There is a scale, with "beyond all reasonable doubt" at one end and "as likely as not" at the other. People who want simple answers in black and white may be disappointed by this, but ancient history is not an exact science. This is surely the honest approach.

Professor Sanders has been studying this period since the 1960s and appears to be regarded as knowledgeable on Jesus (as well as on Paul). I am not in a position to judge, but certainly the book seems more authoritative than some similar titles written by journalists or by those with a proselytising agenda. Although raised in the Church of England, I read this book as a complete layman. I was aware that I had no idea how much of what I had been taught was true in a historical sense and how much was mere legend, tradition or the personal opinion of my teachers, and I was starting to ask questions like "who wrote the gospels, and when?" and "what did Jesus ACTUALLY say?". This book has taught me a great deal about the origins of this vast religion.

There is perhaps too much emphasis on dates. To the lay reader, the exact years of Jesus's birth and death are less interesting than what happened in between. And while I'm looking for faults, I could mention that there are a few things that are not well explained. For example, the Pharisees are referred to as a party, but what is meant by "party" in this context? Is it something equivalent to a modern political party? Obviously not, though just what kind of a group they were is still not clear to me. But there are few such omissions. All in all, this book gave me the information that I wanted in an enjoyable form, and I happily recommend it.

A handy volume, 24 Sep 2008
Maybe I'm just lucky to have good eyesight, but I find this conveniently-sized volume far more wieldy than the hefty hardback version. It's obviously one of the essential books if, like me, you're studying Biblical Hebrew, and the translation is excellent - although I do wish they were a bit more literal and a bit less keen to respect English idiomatic usage. "When God began to create heaven and earth" is clear English, but it doesn't totally capture the strangeness of the Hebrew. Probably only an interlinear translation could do that. In the meantime, the pocket Tanakh is inexpensive, portable and essential. Nice fonts, too.

Relatively small print, 11 Apr 2007
Please read Kurt's review below for detail, but whilst the Tenach is a great treasure, I was a little disappointed by the small size of the Hebrew font (just over 1mm) for the size of the book (4.5 cm thick,x c.10 x 15 cm), which for a novice is quite hard going, esp for vowels. It looks roughly font size 10 for a Hebrew font on Word - too small for comfortable prolonged reading, especially to begin with.

In the beginning..., 01 Dec 2004
The Tanakh, an edition of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, put out by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), now has a dual-language edition (Hebrew and English), which is incredibly useful for scripture study.

The word Tanakh consists of the first letters of the words denoting the three sections of the text: the Torah (the Law), consisting of the first five books; the Nevi'im (the Prophets), which includes major and minor prophets, as well as some of the history books; and the Kethuvim (the Writings), which consists of poetry, wisdom literature, stories and eschatological literature, and some further history books.

The Tanakh is not simply a new translation of the Christian Old Testament. Indeed, most Christian readers would be surprised at the differences inherent in the Tanakh. For one thing, the ordering of the books in the Tanakh is different from the order in the Christian Old Testament. The intent behind the differing order demonstrates one of the key differences in focus of Judaism and Christianity. The ordering of the Old Testament, with the minor prophets, and their call to repentance and future deliverance of the people of Israel by God, is anticipatory of the Messianic age, and hence provide a `run-up' to the New Testament. Obviously, Judaism does not have the same focus toward Jesus. Thus, the conclusion of the Tanakh leads to the return from exile, the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of promise, and the return of the worship of God to the appointed place, the Temple.

Also, the chapter/verse division is somewhat different. This can be seen in side-by-side comparison with other English Bible translations, but also becomes apparent in comparison with other Jewish editions.

The editors state that English translations usually list thirty-nine books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Hebrew Bibles classically have presented twenty-four books -- counting the following groups as one book each: the two part of Samuel; the two parts of Kings; the Twelve ('Minor') Prophets; Ezra and Nehemiah; and the two parts of Chronicles. Some aspects of our book design presume the thirty-nine-book division: the tables, book openings, and chapter numbers. But we ended only the conventional twenty-four books with a closing prayer and with the sum total of verses.

The Tanakh was originally translated and published in three sections, corresponding to the three divisions of the text. Begun in 1955, The Torah was completed in 1962; then there was a wait until The Nevi'im was released in 1978, and The Kethuvim in 1982. This edition of the Tanakh is the compilation of these efforts by JPS, with revisions, especially of the 1962 Torah translation.

This edition, while incorporating the Hebrew text, is not meant for ritual practice. The intended readership of this volume is the scholar or the general reader; it is not set up for liturgical use -- as the preface states: 'It meets only the traditional rabbinic standards (halakhah) for formatting a study Bible, which are less stringent than those for ritual texts.'

The introduction is quite frank about the difficulties that arise in working with ancient manuscripts. In a section entitled The Unbroken Chain of Uncertainty, the editors address the problem of which documentation and corrective (the masorah, which gives rise to the name masoretic text, meaning, authoritative and 'marked') is used, given the variances that arise in ancient manuscripts with fairly equal claim of authority. Drawing on the MCW (Michigan-Claremont-Westminster) electronic BHS (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), JPS has a text nearly identical with the Leningrad Codex (a 1000-year old volume of the text, the oldest nearly complete volume known). In using this documentation, JPS editors have also done the following in making the text accessible and authoritative:

- added chapter and verse numbers, all of which were added much later
- redivided the Psalms to 150 (the Codex has divisions into 149)
- inserted markings to show codex paragraphing as well as possible scribal errors
- filling in cross-references

The editors point out some of the omissions - Like the medieval scribes, we culled most of our nearly six hundred notes from the larger body of masoretic lore (roughly two hundred thousand notes!); we do not pretend to have been exhaustive.

These notes deal with textual anomalies, and are written in such a manner than a glossary helps decipher them.

This is a rewarding volume for anyone who seeks to tap into the power of the original language side-by-side with a unique and powerful translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

He was really a pretty funny guy if you give him a chance..., 29 Mar 1999
"Walter Benjamin is now recognized as one of the most accute analysts of literary and sociological phenomena of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A companion volume to Illuminations, the earlier collection of Benjamin's writings, Reflections presents a new sampling of his wide-ranging work. In addition to literary criticism, it contains autobiograohical narration and travel pieces, aphorisms, and philosophical-theological speculations. Most of Benjamin's writings on Brecht and his celebrated essay on Karl Kraus are included."

Enjoy charming anecdotes like "Hashish in Marseilles" and the sardonic incites of "One-Way Street" (Germans, Drink German Beer!) as you peruse the timeless thoughts of a persecuted man.

Fantastic, fictional swoon plot, 16 Oct 2007
The best fiction is based, as much as possible, in truth. Schonfield succeeded in writing an entertaining work of fiction in The Passover Plot, but unfortunately that was not his intent. This now-deceased (1988), esteemed Dead Sea Scrolls scholar sets out to prove his take on the swoon theory. To do so, he must deny Jesus' deity, death, and resurrection. The swoon theory makes the rounds every now and then, and here Schonfield attempts to build a case in the face of strong evidence to the contrary.

Schonfield is clear with regard to his beliefs concerning Jesus and the New Testament (the Gospels in particular), unlike many current authors. In the Introduction (1996 mm ed.), he tells the reader Jesus is not divine (11, 12), nor the incarnate Son of God, but was used as a crutch by the fledgling church, which needed the human embodiment of a deity (13). Schonfield claims Jesus himself would see his deification as blasphemous, but offers only conjecture of Jesus' own interpretation of the prophecies. Regarding the New Testament gospel accounts, Schonfield states they are inconsistent, late, and contain many inaccuracies. Yet he uses his own translation of the New Testament (The Original New Testament) mixed with more widely accepted translations to support his theory.

Schonfield asserts Jesus came to believe he was "the expected Messiah of Israel" (14, 16) after immersing himself in the Old Testament traditions. Jesus then plotted and schemed to fulfill the messianic prophecies, persuaded this was "imposed upon him through the demands of the Old Testament." (51) Counter to the major theme of John's gospel, Schonfield states Jesus was not and did not believe himself to be divine. However, Schonfield uses this gospel liberally in support of his assertions throughout the book. He believes the gospels themselves are corrupted legends and traditions written after A.D. 100 by a Gentile offshoot of Jesus' original Jewish followers after Josephus' works were published. We therefore have no access to the "inside story" of Jesus (218). If the gospels are so corrupt, why use them as support?
Schonfield's belief that the gospels post date 100 A.D. is misplaced. The number of attested manuscripts far exceeds any other ancient work; they exhibit remarkable internal consistency and historical reliability. Even reputable liberal scholars now admit that the whole of the New Testament was written before A.D. 70. Josephus' writings are part of the support for the A.D. 70 date. But Schonfield uses them to claim they were written after A.D. 100. In this regard, the weight of scholarly evidence is not in Schonfield's favor.

An underlying current in this book implies religion is not rational because it requires faith (57). One sees this clearly on page 58, on which the author states there was no virgin birth and Jesus was not God. But no basis is given for this claim. Rather, the old modernist position "all religion or matters of faith is myth" is employed in a reverse "God-of-the-Gaps" argument. Yet by the author's claim, Jesus was a deeply religious man convinced by his Jewish faith that he was the Messiah. This is circular reasoning. Further, Jesus had such faith in the prophecies and scriptures of his religion that he put his life on the line to fulfill them. Following this flawed line of reasoning, Schonfield picks and chooses from both Old and New Testaments to support his position. He discounts the Gospels as untrue, but turns around and quotes one (usually John) out of context to support his assertions. The overall effect is scattered.

Last is the "Plot" itself. Jesus was able to plot his way to crucifixion and "resurrection" in the form of a risky plan. He was to be secretly revived after his "death," then assume his rightful place as Messiah. In chapter 12 Schonfield describes the sequence of events surrounding the crucifixion. According to Schonfield, Jesus carefully orchestrated every event with the help of a few assistants. Jesus never intended to actually die on the cross. With exquisite timing he intended to be there no more than three or four hours. He planned to be drugged into unconsciousness briefly while someone ran to a waiting Joseph of Arimathea, who would then run to beg a supposedly agreeable Pilate to allow Jesus' body to be removed from the cross. Joseph would then run back with word of Pilate's approval to the waiting man, who would then return to Golgotha, be believed by the Roman soldiers who would promptly remove the unconscious Jesus from the cross before he suffocated to death. This theory breaks down because the process of crucifixion Jesus endured would have led to his suffocation even if everything went perfectly. The distances involved are too great, and Jesus' physical condition on the cross too deteriorated for survival. By being drugged unconscious, Jesus would suffocate quickly because he wouldn't be able to push himself up to take a breath. The unanticipated wrinkle in Jesus' plan was a Roman soldier with a spear, which he used to pierce the pericardium sac surrounding Jesus' heart, thus ensuring death prior to removal from the cross.

When Schonfield wrote this book, many were seeking a "true Jesus" as an antidote to a church they felt had not succeeded in keeping up with the shifts in cultural moods. The Passover Plot attempts to bridge the gap between old traditionalism and new post modern seekers whose questions the church was slow to answer. In the end, this book raises more questions than it answers.


Unusual, 13 Jun 2007
I understand where the other reviewers are coming from, but they are being a bit harsh. This man does not try an pass off his thoughts as anything more than they are. He has done his research, he has done some original thinking and presents some ideas that are pure speculation. He does this openly and does not pretend that they are anything more. I may not agree with everything, but I admire the earnestness and the effort and the originality. It provokes thought and that can only lead to your own deeper belief.

I found the book easy to read and well written.



How could Jesus feel it necessary to resort to contrivance, 08 Apr 2006
I will offer only one comment about this book : The obvious ignorance of the author about faith and real piety, whether he is a theologian or not. The Old Testament (Tanach) knows the great respect and awe inspired by the God of Israel in pious Jews. How could Jesus, a pious Jew, (since according to the author, he felt called to fulfill the role of Messiah), set about to deliberately fulfill the messianic prophecies ? This is totally at odds with a pious trust in God's omnipotence and action in history. But Hugh Schonfield ignores that obvious flaw in his reasoning and makes the same mistake as those who accuse evangelicals to manipulate history to create the conditions for Armaggeddon and the return of Christ, as if Evangelicals believed God needed a hand in directing history!!!

Good book, but out of date!, 07 Feb 2006
This book got some great reviews, and I decided to give it a try. It took me almost a month to read it, but now I'm done. Why did it take so long? Because the book is very slow-going and VERY predictable.
I realise that this book was written many years ago, and was speciel at that time, but at this time there are much better books out there. The book really says what every logical thinking man can figure out. If you're extremely religious, then perhaps it could rock your world, but otherwise not.
The book is very much based on speculation, and this could've been a lot better, if the author had used more footnotes(but perhaps this wasn't possible because of the speculation).

This review should be seen as a reader from the new millenniums thougts on this book. It was probably good 40 years ago, but not today. Explore the market. There are better books out there.

Great Book, 05 Aug 2008
One of the best books I've read in years. It moved me so deeply that as soon as I finished the book I sent an e-mail to Reva Mann and she immediately wrote back. She is working on a new book and I can't wait for it to come out!

Sensational, 16 Jul 2008
A brilliant spell binding read. You are so easily transported into the world of the orthodox Jewish community and although the book is clearly not a thriller i couldnt stop reading it. Reva's story is heartbreaking, gripping and you feel a real sense of apathy for her plight. I also found the book quite spiritually uplifting i.e. her life story is full of battles but ultimately it makes her stronger and more resilient.
Fabulous read cant recommend enough.

"Amy Winehouse" finds religion and then loses it again..., 02 Jun 2008
An interesting read. Not too deep but enough to understand a little more about the fantical orthodoxy that Reva was involved in.

An Inspirational Memoir, 05 Apr 2008
The Rabbi's Daughter is inspirational.

Through this beautifully scripted memoir, Reva Mann maps out the often turbulent journey she has taken to find peace in herself, with her religion and with her Creator.
The talent of Reva's writing is evident on every page, as it is speckled with Jewish teachings as well as some very humorous scenes in describing her family life.
The beauty of this book is not just in its tale of one woman's journey, but in the delicate way many aspects of orthodox Judaism are addressed. Reva puts across many of the laws that are sometimes hard to explain to a non jewish reader, in a tasteful and clear manner ensuring that this book is educational as well as inspirational.
Once you start this book... you simply won't want to put it down. As you turn every page, you find yourself hoping that this incredible, often destructive, journey will come to a happy ending. It does! And if you're like me, who was moved and transformed by this book, you'll shed a tear of happiness at the end results of this beautiful memoir.


What a lot of self pity this is. , 05 Mar 2008
I started this book with high expectations after reading positive reviews in the papers. However, I quickly tired of her constant self pity, and the lack of responsibility she takes for her own actions. Fair enough, the birth injury of her sister is a tragedy, however the reactions she subsequently develops to other disabled people are vile- surely having lived with someone disabled, she should have had more compasssion for others, a feeling she obviously has very little of. The saga is one of endlessly running away from her problems by the use of self destructive behaviour, and yet there appears to be very little reason for the running away and the attempts to damage her father's reputation. The book is well written and I'm sure there are stories to be told about the oppression women feel in ultra orthadox Judaism, much like there is in other extremely religious sects but this is not one that elicits sympathy for her, so much as sympathy for all the people whose lives were damaged by her.

A good introduction for the study of Jesus, 23 Aug 2007
This is a good introduction for those interested in studying the historical figure of Jesus. Deceptively short as the text is quite small, Sanders provides a welcome antidote to the sensationalist pseudo-history such as Holy Blood Holy Grail and others.

Sanders is correct to state that the study of the historical Jesus is a perilous and frustrating task, not least due to the lack of sources. Sanders cleverly provides a setting for Jesus, putting him fully in his times of first century Galilee and Judaea. He places Jesus vis a vis Judaism and the political climate of Jesus' time. The strength of this book is that it is not encumbered with theology, but is an appraisal of Jesus the man, someone who had, or believed he had, an intimate relationship with God and who saw himself as the man to prepare the Jews for the coming of the kingdom. As Sanders correctly concludes, as a result Jesus was more of a teacher and a prophet than a preacher of repentance.

All in all a recommended book for both Christians and non-Christians wanting a good introduction to Jesus, without sensationalism, be it theological or pseudo-historical.




Infromative, 11 Feb 2006
This is an excellent and readable study of the historical figure of Jesus.

Certainly a Helpful Introduction, 29 Dec 2005
This work provides not just an Introduction to reconstructing the life of the historical Jesus, but also to the modes of biblical criticism. The chapter on the Method and Setting of Jesus' Ministry is particularly valuable, and rightly points out misconceptions about the amount of time Jesus would have spent in Judea as opposed to his native Galilee. The book is well written, and the information it provides set down clearly for comfortable reading. In places more detail might be useful, especially regarding the primary and secondary sources that he uses, although these discrepancies are totally rectified by his more in depth works, such as the celebrated 'Jesus and Judaism,' and his work on Paul.

As to his conclusions, they are both conservative and forward looking. This is not a contradiction, as Sanders really pioneers the view that much can be known about the historical Jesus, while at the same time not straying drastically outside generally accepted scholarly thought. His is a careful, but worthy, reconstruction of the life and times of arguably the most influential figure in history.

Authoritative review of Jesus' life, 01 Oct 2005
Whilst books like the Da Vinci Code continue to dominate people's thinking on religion, books like these based in fact provide a welcome read. This book in particular is probably the best historical book I have read.

Sanders has not only created a book that is authorative and intelletucual, but he does what other academics fail to do - he makes it readable. Sanders focuses only on what can be proved or dissproved and rarely goes into speculation. If he does he always tempers it with a 'we infer'. Sanders goes into some detail about the historical setting of Jerusalm and Jewdasim at Jesus' time to build his case.

What he doesn't do is go into great details about his birth or upbringing, because quite simply, he has no proof or knowledge of it.

Very much a recommended read for all those that interested in trying to understand the facts of Jesus' life as opposed to speculating on it.

Enjoyable, informative, authoritative, 17 Aug 2004
Professor Sanders must be one of those rare academics who can write well for the general public, neither over-simplifying the content nor boring the reader with excessive detail. The book has just the right balance of readability and credibility, and there are new insights on every page. Particularly interesting were the first few chapters, covering the historical and political background. We are all aware that Palestine was "occupied" by the Roman Empire at this period, but what was the nature of the occupation? Was it, for example, comparable to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the early 1940s? The answer apparently is no, and the situation in Galilee was very different from that in Jerusalem. The book paints a clear picture of what life was like for ordinary people living in that region around that time. In dealing with the events of Jesus's life, Sanders always makes clear the degree of certainty of any assertion. There is a scale, with "beyond all reasonable doubt" at one end and "as likely as not" at the other. People who want simple answers in black and white may be disappointed by this, but ancient history is not an exact science. This is surely the honest approach.

Professor Sanders has been studying this period since the 1960s and appears to be regarded as knowledgeable on Jesus (as well as on Paul). I am not in a position to judge, but certainly the book seems more authoritative than some similar titles written by journalists or by those with a proselytising agenda. Although raised in the Church of England, I read this book as a complete layman. I was aware that I had no idea how much of what I had been taught was true in a historical sense and how much was mere legend, tradition or the personal opinion of my teachers, and I was starting to ask questions like "who wrote the gospels, and when?" and "what did Jesus ACTUALLY say?". This book has taught me a great deal about the origins of this vast religion.

There is perhaps too much emphasis on dates. To the lay reader, the exact years of Jesus's birth and death are less interesting than what happened in between. And while I'm looking for faults, I could mention that there are a few things that are not well explained. For example, the Pharisees are referred to as a party, but what is meant by "party" in this context? Is it something equivalent to a modern political party? Obviously not, though just what kind of a group they were is still not clear to me. But there are few such omissions. All in all, this book gave me the information that I wanted in an enjoyable form, and I happily recommend it.

A handy volume, 24 Sep 2008
Maybe I'm just lucky to have good eyesight, but I find this conveniently-sized volume far more wieldy than the hefty hardback version. It's obviously one of the essential books if, like me, you're studying Biblical Hebrew, and the translation is excellent - although I do wish they were a bit more literal and a bit less keen to respect English idiomatic usage. "When God began to create heaven and earth" is clear English, but it doesn't totally capture the strangeness of the Hebrew. Probably only an interlinear translation could do that. In the meantime, the pocket Tanakh is inexpensive, portable and essential. Nice fonts, too.

Relatively small print, 11 Apr 2007
Please read Kurt's review below for detail, but whilst the Tenach is a great treasure, I was a little disappointed by the small size of the Hebrew font (just over 1mm) for the size of the book (4.5 cm thick,x c.10 x 15 cm), which for a novice is quite hard going, esp for vowels. It looks roughly font size 10 for a Hebrew font on Word - too small for comfortable prolonged reading, especially to begin with.

In the beginning..., 01 Dec 2004
The Tanakh, an edition of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism, put out by the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), now has a dual-language edition (Hebrew and English), which is incredibly useful for scripture study.

The word Tanakh consists of the first letters of the words denoting the three sections of the text: the Torah (the Law), consisting of the first five books; the Nevi'im (the Prophets), which includes major and minor prophets, as well as some of the history books; and the Kethuvim (the Writings), which consists of poetry, wisdom literature, stories and eschatological literature, and some further history books.

The Tanakh is not simply a new translation of the Christian Old Testament. Indeed, most Christian readers would be surprised at the differences inherent in the Tanakh. For one thing, the ordering of the books in the Tanakh is different from the order in the Christian Old Testament. The intent behind the differing order demonstrates one of the key differences in focus of Judaism and Christianity. The ordering of the Old Testament, with the minor prophets, and their call to repentance and future deliverance of the people of Israel by God, is anticipatory of the Messianic age, and hence provide a `run-up' to the New Testament. Obviously, Judaism does not have the same focus toward Jesus. Thus, the conclusion of the Tanakh leads to the return from exile, the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of promise, and the return of the worship of God to the appointed place, the Temple.

Also, the chapter/verse division is somewhat different. This can be seen in side-by-side comparison with other English Bible translations, but also becomes apparent in comparison with other Jewish editions.

The editors state that English translations usually list thirty-nine books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Hebrew Bibles classically have presented twenty-four books -- counting the following groups as one book each: the two part of Samuel; the two parts of Kings; the Twelve ('Minor') Prophets; Ezra and Nehemiah; and the two parts of Chronicles. Some aspects of our book design presume the thirty-nine-book division: the tables, book openings, and chapter numbers. But we ended only the conventional twenty-four books with a closing prayer and with the sum total of verses.

The Tanakh was originally translated and published in three sections, corresponding to the three divisions of the text. Begun in 1955, The Torah was completed in 1962; then there was a wait until The Nevi'im was released in 1978, and The Kethuvim in 1982. This edition of the Tanakh is the compilation of these efforts by JPS, with revisions, especially of the 1962 Torah translation.

This edition, while incorporating the Hebrew text, is not meant for ritual practice. The intended readership of this volume is the scholar or the general reader; it is not set up for liturgical use -- as the preface states: 'It meets only the traditional rabbinic standards (halakhah) for formatting a study Bible, which are less stringent than those for ritual texts.'

The introduction is quite frank about the difficulties that arise in working with ancient manuscripts. In a section entitled The Unbroken Chain of Uncertainty, the editors address the problem of which documentation and corrective (the masorah, which gives rise to the name masoretic text, meaning, authoritative and 'marked') is used, given the variances that arise in ancient manuscripts with fairly equal claim of authority. Drawing on the MCW (Michigan-Claremont-Westminster) electronic BHS (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia), JPS has a text nearly identical with the Leningrad Codex (a 1000-year old volume of the text, the oldest nearly complete volume known). In using this documentation, JPS editors have also done the following in making the text accessible and authoritative:

- added chapter and verse numbers, all of which were added much later
- redivided the Psalms to 150 (the Codex has divisions into 149)
- inserted markings to show codex paragraphing as well as possible scribal errors
- filling in cross-references

The editors point out some of the omissions - Like the medieval scribes, we culled most of our nearly six hundred notes from the larger body of masoretic lore (roughly two hundred thousand notes!); we do not pretend to have been exhaustive.

These notes deal with textual anomalies, and are written in such a manner than a glossary helps decipher them.

This is a rewarding volume for anyone who seeks to tap into the power of the original language side-by-side with a unique and powerful translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

He was really a pretty funny guy if you give him a chance..., 29 Mar 1999
"Walter Benjamin is now recognized as one of the most accute analysts of literary and sociological phenomena of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. A companion volume to Illuminations, the earlier collection of Benjamin's writings, Reflections presents a new sampling of his wide-ranging work. In addition to literary criticism, it contains autobiograohical narration and travel pieces, aphorisms, and philosophical-theological speculations. Most of Benjamin's writings on Brecht and his celebrated essay on Karl Kraus are included."

Enjoy charming anecdotes like "Hashish in Marseilles" and the sardonic incites of "One-Way Street" (Germans, Drink German Beer!) as you peruse the timeless thoughts of a persecuted man.

Fantastic, fictional swoon plot, 16 Oct 2007
The best fiction is based, as much as possible, in truth. Schonfield succeeded in writing an entertaining work of fiction in The Passover Plot, but unfortunately that was not his intent. This now-deceased (1988), esteemed Dead Sea Scrolls scholar sets out to prove his take on the swoon theory. To do so, he must deny Jesus' deity, death, and resurrection. The swoon theory makes the rounds every now and then, and here Schonfield attempts to build a case in the face of strong evidence to the contrary.

Schonfield is clear with regard to his beliefs concerning Jesus and the New Testament (the Gospels in particular), unlike many current authors. In the Introduction (1996 mm ed.), he tells the reader Jesus is not divine (11, 12), nor the incarnate Son of God, but was used as a crutch by the fledgling church, which needed the human embodiment of a deity (13). Schonfield claims Jesus himself would see his deification as blasphemous, but offers only conjecture of Jesus' own interpretation of the prophecies. Regarding the New Testament gospel accounts, Schonfield states they are inconsistent, late, and contain many inaccuracies. Yet he uses his own translation of the New Testament (The Original New Testament) mixed with more widely accepted translations to support his theory.

Schonfield asserts Jesus came to believe he was "the expected Messiah of Israel" (14, 16) after immersing himself in the Old Testament traditions. Jesus then plotted and schemed to fulfill the messianic prophecies, persuaded this was "imposed upon him through the demands of the Old Testament." (51) Counter to the major theme of John's gospel, Schonfield states Jesus was not and did not believe himself to be divine. However, Schonfield uses this gospel liberally in support of his assertions throughout the book. He believes the gospels themselves are corrupted legends and traditions written after A.D. 100 by a Gentile offshoot of Jesus' original Jewish followers after Josephus' works were published. We therefore have no access to the "inside story" of Jesus (218). If the gospels are so corrupt, why use them as support?
Schonfield's belief that the gospels post date 100 A.D. is misplaced. The number of attested manuscripts far exceeds any other ancient work; they exhibit remarkable internal consistency and historical reliability. Even reputable liberal scholars now admit that the whole of the New Testament was written before A.D. 70. Josephus' writings are part of the support for the A.D. 70 date. But Schonfield uses them to claim they were written after A.D. 100. In this regard, the weight of scholarly evidence is not in Schonfield's favor.

An underlying current in this book implies religion is not rational because it requires faith (57). One sees this clearly on page 58, on which the author states there was no virgin birth and Jesus was not God. But no basis is given for this claim. Rather, the old modernist position "all religion or matters of faith is myth" is employed in a reverse "God-of-the-Gaps" argument. Yet by the author's claim, Jesus was a deeply religious man convinced by his Jewish faith that he was the Messiah. This is circular reasoning. Further, Jesus had such faith in the prophecies and scriptures of his religion that he put his life on the line to fulfill them. Following this flawed line of reasoning, Schonfield picks and chooses from both Old and New Testaments to support his position. He discounts the Gospels as untrue, but turns around and quotes one (usually John) out of context to support his assertions. The overall effect is scattered.

Last is the "Plot" itself. Jesus was able to plot his way to crucifixion and "resurrection" in the form of a risky plan. He was to be secretly revived after his "death," then assume his rightful place as Messiah. In chapter 12 Schonfield describes the sequence of events surrounding the crucifixion. According to Schonfield, Jesus carefully orchestrated every event with the help of a few assistants. Jesus never intended to actually die on the cross. With exquisite timing he intended to be there no more than three or four hours. He planned to be drugged into unconsciousness briefly while someone ran to a waiting Joseph of Arimathea, who would then run to beg a supposedly agreeable Pilate to allow Jesus' body to be removed from the cross. Joseph would then run back with word of Pilate's approval to the waiting man, who would then return to Golgotha, be believed by the Roman soldiers who would promptly remove the unconscious Jesus from the cross before he suffocated to death. This theory breaks down because the process of crucifixion Jesus endured would have led to his suffocation even if everything went perfectly. The distances involved are too great, and Jesus' physical condition on the cross too deteriorated for survival. By being drugged unconscious, Jesus would suffocate quickly because he wouldn't be able to push himself up to take a breath. The unanticipated wrinkle in Jesus' plan was a Roman soldier with a spear, which he used to pierce the pericardium sac surrounding Jesus' heart, thus ensuring death prior to removal from the cross.

When Schonfield wrote this book, many were seeking a "true Jesus" as an antidote to a church they felt had not succeeded in keeping up with the shifts in cultural moods. The Passover Plot attempts to bridge the gap between old traditionalism and new