{"title":"Historical Novels - Biblical Period","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-pharisees","title":"The Pharisees","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter two thousand years of gross misunderstanding and misrepresentation, Hyman rescues the good name of the Pharisees from a polemical and tarnished imagery. The Pharisees were in fact common people who fought to preserve Judaism following the destruction of the Second Temple and the tragic loss of Jewish national life in the Land of Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frieda C. Hyman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336247955766,"sku":"245-1","price":22.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i32598.18841.jpg?v=1785305752"},{"product_id":"the-daughters-victorious","title":"The Daughters Victorious","description":"\u003cp\u003eMore than 3,000 years ago, five determined women fought for equality and dignity – and changed the course of history. Their story is the subject of an intriguing book by Rabbi Shlomo Wexler, The Daughters Victorious, (Gefen Publishing Ltd, 2001), a docu-fiction dramatizing the biblical story of the daughters of Zelaphchad. Arguably the first ‘feminists’, these brave and passionate sisters fought for property rights and religious education for women, at a time when such notions were unthinkable. Their efforts resulted in the institution of inheritance laws that were subsequently incorporated into the laws of the Torah, paving the way for women’s rights and liberty. The Daughters Victorious is based on a rigorous study of teachings from the Talmud and Midrash. Rabbi Wexler invigorates this little-known story, exploring a new and refreshing angle on the subject of women in the bible. Indeed, this book demonstrates how Judaism was the first religion to advance the status of women, more than 3,000 years before even the most progressive western civilizations acted similarly. Engaging and accessible, The Daughters Victorious deftly combines history, fiction and biblical teachings. The result is entertaining, educational and enlightening – a challenging read for Torah scholars, people with an interest in ancient Jewish history, and, of course, women of all ages. “…fascinating and inspiring reading. Biblical figures come to life and one feels the heartbeat of the generation that left Egypt and continues on to the Land of Israel.” —Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet Professor of Rabbinic Literature at Yeshiva University’s Gruss Institute in Jerusalem “…You have succeeded in opening the eyes of our generation.” —Rabbi Hersch M. Galinsky Dean and Director General Educational Centers in Israel of the Rabbinical Council of America\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rabbi Shlomo Wexler","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336249626934,"sku":"g255 \/ 255-9","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i33335.46444.jpg?v=1785305801"},{"product_id":"my-husband-bar-kokhba","title":"My Husband Bar Kokhba","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn epic story of revolution and drama, My Husband, Bar Kokhba is told through the narrative and letters of Michal, the young aristocrat, who, despite her grandfather’s warning, marries Shimeon bar Kosiva, later to become known as Bar Kokhba, leader of the greatest revolution against the Romans. This latest work of historical fiction from the author of Hanina My Son delves into the life and times of this fiery revolutionary, shedding a light on the fascinating historical figure along with the Roman Emperor Hadrian and Rabbi Akiva, the great Talmudic sage that helped spark the Bar Kokhba revolution. Brilliantly describing one of the most exciting eras in Jewish history, Sanders illustrates the irreconcilable worldviews of the “enlightened” Roman Empire and the Jewish people, stubbornly faithful to its God. My Husband, Bar Kokhba describes a life and journey of love and sorrow, revolutions and wars, victory and defeat. Andrew Sanders was born in 1934, in Budapest, Hungary, and is the author of three books based on Jewish historical and philosophical subjects. His first book, Dear Maimonides, is a treatise on science and religion, and has been published in Canada, the United States, and Hungary. Hanina My Son, a historical novel was published in both English and Hebrew. Today, Sanders makes his home in Toronto, Canada, and Haifa, Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Andrew Sanders","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336524419382,"sku":"9789652293060 \/ 306-7","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i71799.55099.jpg?v=1785308167"},{"product_id":"2018-a-novel","title":"2018, A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003e2018, A Novel is a satiric work of fiction founded on real events and the foibles of Israeli society and governance in recent years, extrapolated through constructs into a future two years hence. More importantly, Israel functions in microcosm as a world on fire confronting a war of civilizations. There are three merging storylines, over which the threats and fears of another holocaust, this time at the hands of a nuclear Iran and its proxies, hang: first, the construction of a Mishkan, a portable tabernacle identical to the one the Israelites built in the Sinai desert 3300 years ago. The Mishkan, once constructed, is presumed to become a museum in the desert outside Be’er Sheva. The Israelis are being solicited in the construction for terumah, gifts of labor, materials, equipment, and money, all from the hearts of those willing to give. The second storyline is the convening of a modern-day Sanhedrin (a quasi legislative\/judicial body of ancient Israel), where the members are being urged by their respective constituencies to do something spiritual to avert the coming holocaust. The members, including the two Chief Rabbis of Israel, are willing to agree to rewrite the current halacha (Code of Jewish Law), provided the new halacha will become effective only upon the occurrence of an event they surreptitiously believe will never happen. The third storyline is an Hamas tunnel attack from Gaza into the recently abandoned facility where the Mishkan is being constructed. The workforce for the Mishkan construction prepares for the Hamas attack, and the three storylines mesh in surprising ways to philosophically and satirically address the ills and strengths of Israeli society, and by extension the world at large.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yerachmiel ben-Yishye and Leah Call","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336731644214,"sku":"9789652298492 \/ g849 \/ 849-2","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i225084.37379.jpg?v=1785311542"},{"product_id":"the-orchard","title":"The Orchard","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Orchard by Yochi Brandes is as of 1 July 2024 out of print and unavailable. The original Hebrew edition of this book is available here “The Orchard mines ancient Jewish sources to tell the story of a singular period in the history of our people through the all-too-rare female point of view.” Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel This spellbinding historical novel by celebrated Israeli author Yochi Brandes tells the story of the venerated yet enigmatic Rabbi Akiva, placing him in the context of his contemporaries, the Sages of Jewish tradition and of early Christianity. Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Ishmael, Rabban Gamaliel, Paul of Tarsus, and many others become flesh and blood in this stunning interweaving of biblical and Talmudic lore into a page-turning read. At the heart of the novel is Rabbi Akiva and his complicated relationship with his wife Rachel, who meets him as a forty-year-old illiterate shepherd, marries him against her father’s wishes, and compels him to study until he becomes the nation of Israel’s greatest sage. Rabbi Akiva’s innovative method of interpreting Scripture provides his people with a life-giving elixir after Rome's destruction of the Second Temple, but also fuels the lethal Bar Kokhba Revolt, with disastrous consequences. The Orchard offers a brilliant narrative solution to the fascinating story of four sages who entered a metaphysical orchard: one died, one lost his mind, one became a hater of God, and one – Rabbi Akiva – made it out unscathed. Or did he? Reviews: “The Orchard mines ancient Jewish sources to tell the story of a singular period in the history of our people through the all-too-rare female point of view.” – Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel “I read this marvelous book by Yochi Brandes in a single weekend. It swept me into the orchard and into the sources of our tradition.” – Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel “A fascinating, beautiful book about the roots of the Judaism we inhabit today.” – Peter Beinart, journalist and author of The Crisis of Zionism “Yochi Brandes takes Rabbi Akiva out of the world of history books and places him into the realm of the familiar in this Israeli classic.” – A. B. Yehoshua, best-selling author of The Lover and Mr. Mani “The Orchard exposed Judaism to me in such a different way than I had known it as an Israeli Arab. Required reading for each and every one of us – Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.” – Lucy Aharish, news anchor, Israel’s Channel 2 television network “In this riveting one-of-a-kind novel, Yochi Brandes channels her vast knowledge of the Bible, Rabbinic teachings, and Jewish history into exquisitely crafted characters and a powerful story…supremely relevant to the questions we struggle with as we face our future.” – Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yochi Brandes and Daniel Libenson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54336751796534,"sku":"930-7","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0993\/2092\/2422\/files\/i228398.48902.jpg?v=1785311783"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.gefenpublishing.com\/collections\/historical-novels-biblical-period.oembed","provider":"Gefen Publishing House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}