A "NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW" EDITORS' CHOICE A "SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" BESTSELLER In AD 70, when the Second Temple was destroyed, a handful of visionaries saved Judaism by reinventing it, taking what had been a national religion and turning it into an idea. Whenever a Jew studied--wherever he was--he would be in the holy city, and his faith preserved. But in our own time, Zionists have turned the book back into a temple, and unlike an idea, a temple can be destroyed. With exuberance, humor, and real scholarship, Israel is Real offers "a serious attempt by a gifted storyteller to enliven and elucidate Jewish religious, cultural, and political history . . . A powerful narrative" ("Los Angeles Times"). Rich Cohen is the author of "Sweet and Low," " Tough Jews," "The Avengers," "The Record Men," and the memoir "Lake Effect." His work has appeared in many major publications, and he is a contributing editor at "Rolling Stone." He lives with his family in Connecticut.
"It's a great irony that Israel was more secure as an idea than it's ever been as a nation with an army."
In AD 70, when the Second Temple was destroyed, a handful of visionaries saved Judaism by reinventing it--by taking what had been a national religion, identified with a particular place, and turning it into an idea. Jews no longer needed Jerusalem to be Jews. Whenever a Jew studied--wherever he was--he would be in the holy city. In this way, a few rabbis turned a real city into a city of the mind; in this way, they turned the Temple into a book and preserved their faith. Though you can burn a city, you cannot sack an idea or kill a book. But in our own time, Zionists have turned the book back into a temple. And unlike an idea, a temple can be destroyed. The creation of Israel has made Jews vulnerable in a way they have not been for two thousand years.
In "Israel Is Real," Rich Cohen's new history of the Zionist idea and the Jewish state--the history of a nation chronicled as if it were the biography of a person--he brings to life dozens of fascinating figures, each driven by the same impulse: to reach Jerusalem. From false messiahs such as David Alroy (Cohen calls him the first superhero, with his "tallis" as a cape) and Sabbatai Zevi, who led thousands on a mad spiritual journey, to the early Zionists (many of them failed journalists), to the iconic figures of modern Jewish Sparta, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ariel Sharon, Cohen shows how all these lives together form a single story, a single life. In this unique book, Cohen examines the myth of the wandering Jew, the paradox of Jewish power (how can you be both holy and nuclear?), and the triumph and tragedy of the Jewish state--how the creation of modern Israel has changed what it means to be a Jew anywhere. "Rich Cohen's book accomplished the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story. Not by breaking new ground or advancing a bold peace plan, but by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion."--Tony Horwitz, "The New York Times" "Rich Cohen's book accomplished the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story. Not by breaking new ground or advancing a bold peace plan, but by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion."--Tony Horwitz, "The New York Times Book Review"
"For American Jews, Israel looms large in the imagination. Few are truly neutral, and many are perplexed. It's a sticky wicket--how do you make sense of Israel in the 21st century when the idea of a Jewish state and a Middle Eastern democracy practically seem to be at odds, given shifting populations, religious and cultural affiliations? To this fracturing question, journalist Rich Cohen, the author of books such as "Sweet and Low," has brought his considerable talents as a writer in his new book "Israel Is Real: An Obsessive Quest to Understand the Jewish Nation and Its History." By offering a narrative of Israel's history as if it were an extension of the biblical story of the Jews, Cohen offer s] a cohesive and compulsively readable account of Jewish history and the Jewish state. If it's not a justification for Israel, it's an explanation . . . The book is actually a serious attempt by a gifted storyteller to enliven and elucidate Jewish religious, cultural and political history--all culminating in the establishment of Israel. Cohen sits between generations of American Jews that grew up with an idyllic image of Israel's miracle as a phoenix rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, to a generation that grew up with charges of Israel as a human-rights abuser. Cohen offers no solutions, just a powerful narrative that can make the reader more equipped to have an informed and thoughtful discussion about the reality of Israel and able to relate a few interesting anecdotes along the way."--"Los Angeles Times
""Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, "Israel Is Real "makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation."--Evan Wright, author of "Generation Kill
""Rich Cohen claims his new book is about his 'obsessive quest to understand the Jewish nation and its history, ' but it seems far more complex and personal than that. Beneath his perceptive and provocative prose about Jewish history, religion, identity and memory is his own heartfelt struggle to become a good Jew, something he clearly has trouble defining . . . Cohen beings his book with a vivid description of Israel's victory in June 1967 . . . Cohen is a fearless time-traveler, an acrobat of sorts, who is equally at commenting on ancient Jewish history and biblical stories as he is about the contemporary appeal o
Industry Reviews
"[Israel Is Real] accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining ... Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel." --Tony Horowitz, The New York Times Book Review"A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book." --Samuel G Freedman, Chicago Tribune"Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, Israel Is Real makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation." --Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill"A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit." --Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains"Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is--dare I say--a revelation." --Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court"The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has hava it's full of life." --David Lipsky, author of Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point"Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. Israel Is Real is the definitive book on Israel." --Darin Strauss, author of Chang and Eng"Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel--surrounded by those who want to exterminate it--deserves to survive." --Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler [Israel Is Real] accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel. Tony Horowitz, The New York Times Book Review A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book. Samuel G Freedman, Chicago Tribune Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, Israel Is Real makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation. Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit. Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is--dare I say--a revelation. Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has hava it's full of life. David Lipsky, author of Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. Israel Is Real is the definitive book on Israel. Darin Strauss, author of Chang and Eng Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel--surrounded by those who want to exterminate it--deserves to survive. Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler" ["Israel Is Real"] accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel. "Tony Horowitz, The New York Times Book Review" A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book. "Samuel G Freedman, Chicago Tribune" Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, "Israel Is Real "makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation. "Evan Wright, author of Generation Kill" A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit. "Ian Frazier, author of Great Plains" Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is--dare I say--a revelation. "Jeffrey Toobin, author of The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court" The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has "hava" it's full of life. "David Lipsky, author of Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point" Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. "Israel Is Real "is the definitive book on Israel. "Darin Strauss, author of Chang and Eng" Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel--surrounded by those who want to exterminate it--deserves to survive. "Ron Rosenbaum, author of Explaining Hitler"" "["Israel Is Real"] accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining ... Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel."--Tony Horowitz, "The New York Times Book Review" "A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book." --Samuel G Freedman, "Chicago"" Tribune""Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, "Israel Is Real "makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation."--Evan Wright, author of "Generation Kill""A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit."--Ian Frazier, author of "Great Plains""""Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is--dare I say--a revelation."--Jeffrey Toobin, author of "The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court""The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has "hava" it's full of life."--David Lipsky, author of "Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point""Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. "Israel Is Real "is the definitive book on Israel."--Darin Strauss, author of "Chang and Eng""Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel--surrounded by those who want to exterminate it--deserves to survive."--Ron Rosenbaum, author of "Explaining Hitler" "Accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining ... Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel."--Tony Horowitz, "The New York Times Book Review""A smart, energetic overview of the history of Israel and its relation to the Jewish people, from biblical times to the present. Cohen's narrative is propelled by muscular prose and an irreverent wit at times reminiscent of Jon Stewart. . . . Absorbing, clear-eyed history." --"The Boston Globe" "A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book." --Samuel G Freedman, "Chicago Tribune ""Makes complex history simple and witty without losing sight of the big ideas." --"New York" Magazine "Intoxicating . . . Cohen has maverick tendencies and a wicked sense of irony, coupled with a bristling ambivalence about all dogma that permeates his search for understanding. . . . Wild-eyed and thoughtful." --"The Jerusalem Post ""Cohen is thorough in his research and thoroughly engaging in his writing. "Israel is Real" is a richly historical and intensely personal study of a nation that's as much of a state of mind as a place on the map." --"The San Diego Union-Tribune""Cohen is a masterful and slyly provocative writer who marches boldly into the most controversial issues posed by the existence of Israel. Blending historical narrative with contemporary reportage, "Israel Is Real "makes an argument that cannot be ignored. Along the way, Cohen establishes himself as being among the most talented essayists of his generation."--Evan Wright, author of "Generation Kill""A fascinating big-picture account of Israel from its distant past to what happened last week. Rich Cohen tells this story central to mankind with skill, passion, common sense, and wit."--Ian Frazier, author of "Great Plains""""Rich Cohen's passionate, engaged, thoroughly modern book is--dare I say--a revelation."--Jeffrey Toobin, author of "The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court""The best book I've ever read about Israel (that troubled state), and the last word on it: all the stories, all the figures, all the fires, all the battles, all the exiles, all the personalities, all the strikes, and all the gutters. Rich Cohen has delivered the full big thing, a monumental book, the best I've read and expect to read for a long time. As the priests in the old city would say, it has "hava" it's full of life."--David Lipsky, author of "Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point""Nobody has yet written about our Middle East heartbreak with such range and lucidity. Rich Cohen has kept an account of the wanderings; he's kept a record of the tears. "Israel Is Real "is the definitive book on Israel."--Darin Strauss, author of "Chang and Eng""Rich Cohen's book creates a vibrant portrait that offers reasons Israel--surrounded by those who want to exterminate it--deserves to survive."--Ron Rosenbaum, author of "Explaining Hitler" "Accomplishes the miraculous. It made a subject that has vexed me since early childhood into a riveting story . . . by narrating the oft-told saga of the Jews in a fresh and engaging fashion. Provocative and entertaining ... Cohen brings tough love to Judaism and modern Israel."-Tony Horowitz, "The New York Times Book Review""A smart, energetic overview of the history of Israel and its relation to the Jewish people, from biblical times to the present. Cohen's narrative is propelled by muscular prose and an irreverent wit at times reminiscent of Jon Stewart. . . . Absorbing, clear-eyed history." -"The Boston Globe" "A sweeping and impressionistic saga . . . [which] also happens to be a page-turning delight to read. What other book about Zionist history has ever included references to "Howl," "Goodfellas," Joseph Mitchell, and Willie Dixon? I commend and admire this book." -Samuel G Freedman, "Chicag
