Ruth Kark

Sephardi Entrepreneurs in Jerusalem: The Valero Family 1800-1948
By Joseph B. Glass and Ruth Kark

This book was received from LibraryThing in their Early Reviewers program.

Let me start this review with the information that I just returned from a two week trip to Israel over the holidays.

To read this book after visiting this fascinating country and having walked the streets described in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem was very exciting. I couldn’t put this book down and finished it within three days.

I found the story of the Valero Family easy to follow especially with the use of the chapter breakdowns that Glass and Kark had devised. By using the photographs, maps, sketches, and documents you really felt you were seeing history unfold.

For so many years all the citizens had learned to live peacefully with each other. It is very sad that neighbor, coworker, fellow business men ended up in such conflict.

I am very interested in reading these authors first book in the series; Sephardic Entrepreneurs in Eretz Israel: The Amzalak Family, 1816-1918. So far finding a copy has been difficult.

To understand the early story of Jerusalem, I highly recommend this book.… (más)

I received this book through LibraryThings Early Reviewer program and I was really excited about receiving it. Upon the books arrival I noticed that it looked a lot like a text book and it was set up like one too. I tried picking this book up many times but found that I just couldn't get into it. I found the writting to be really dry and the subject matter above what I know about the early history of Jews in Jerusalem. I finally just gave up on this book and sent it off to another LTer. I can't say that this book is good or bad....all I can really say is that it wasn't for me.… (más)