In his dense panorama of the history of the Jewish people over four thousand years, Marek Halter brings literary imagination to events both known and secret. The patriarchs and the kings, the prophets and the wise men, their ordeals and their challenges, their moments of triumph and their times of distress, from the Egypt of the Pharaohs to the Inquisition and on to today's reality---a compound of wounded memories and redeeming aspirations: it's all there, or almost. It is recounted to readers by a storyteller, who---like all witnesses---is deeply committed to expressing, with a smile, even the inexpressible. Elie Wiesel, writer and recipient of the 1986 Nobel Peace PrizeThirty years ago, I wrote a preface to The Book of Abraham by Marek Halter, the amazing saga of a Jewish family, his own, across two thousand years of history. Today, with The Jewish Odyssey, the story of that Jewish family has become the history of the Jewish people. A history of four millenniums, which, under the pen of Marek Halter, reads like an intelligent novel. Shimon Peres, president of the State of Israel and recipient of the 1994 Nobel Peace PrizeIn The Jewish Odyssey, best-selling author Marek Halter charts the course of Judaism from its origins in Mesopotamia to its role in the world today. Predating all Western culture, its early development of the written word enabled it to lay the foundations of modern civilization. Richly illustrated, this book addresses the extent of Jewish suffering over the years, as well as the lasting contributions of Jews in fields such as science, politics, philosophy, and the arts---from Einstein to Salk, Freud to Meir, and Kafka to Bernstein.Halter explains the delicate state of inter-dependence that exists between the significant Jewish Diaspora communities worldwide and the Israeli nation, taking into account the Zionist notion of the Jewish "promised land." With his expertise, international status, and political insight, Halter offers a unique and compelling view on contemporary issues ranging from anti-Semitism to the emergence of multi-faith families. This engaging illustrated tribute to the Jewish story culminates in a message of hope for the universal freedom of all mankind. Read Less