historymatters Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) I am trying to decide between From Ur to Eternity Vol. 1: From Patriarchs to Spanish Inquisition by Barbera Engel and Ktav Publ. http://www.ktav.com/product_info.php?products_id=2350 and The History of the Jewish People Vol. 1 Ancient Israel to 1880's America by Behrman House: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?sku=190 I've used BH products for 5 years and I like that this particular series of two volumes has historian Jonathan Sarna as a contributor. That being said, I'd still like to know if anyone has any first hand experience with either one. I don't want twaddle; I take history seriously. We read regularly from biographies and historical fiction for our Jewish history, but I also like to have a "spine". My children are 11 and 12. Todah, Rachel edit: I'm also considering Teaching Jewish History by Julia Berger, but don't know much about it. I like the content of what I've seen of Teaching Haftorah of the same series. Any experience with this title from Berger? It's also distributed by BH: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?sku=A183 Edited August 26, 2012 by Messianicmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 I recently bought the one-volume version of the second resource you listed, the Sarna et al: http://behrman.powerwebbook.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=6557 I have only read about half the book but so far I like it a lot. It's very smart, accessible, and I appreciate the authors' general approach to the topic. Presumably the two-volume set has more in it but if it's essentially the same material, it would be just right for middle school age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I liked The History of the Jewish People all right, but we LOVE Berel Wein's series that starts with Echoes of Glory. Right now, for elementary level, I just pick out excerpts. It's a wonderful resource that could easily be used through high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historymatters Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) Great! I appreciate the reviews. I am planning my year and have a few things undecided, so this helps a lot; we begin at the end of Oct. I am planning on using Rabbi Wein's series for high school; can you tell more about what makes it such a great resource compared to others you have used? I'd also like to incorporate Chaim Potak's narrative version of history; my CM side demands it!:) Have you listened to Rabbi Wein's audio: 5000 Years of Jewish History? I was considering incorporating it prior to high school; I like audios to "fill in the gaps" so-to-speak, but I don't know how dry it may be. As in, is it in a lecturing style or a lively telling? Rachel Edited August 27, 2012 by Messianicmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historymatters Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 bump...:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 I couldn't stand the Jewish history books we used from Behrman, but the ones we used aren't the ones you're asking about. The reason I didn't like the ones we used was that they did not present a coherent narrative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted August 28, 2012 Share Posted August 28, 2012 For me, the main problem with the Behrman series is that it was seriously lacking in details. Way too oversimplified/generalized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historymatters Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Thanks again for your responses. I would choose the two-volume version and not the one vol. condensed version; so hopefully there will be additional material than what you have experienced (of course, I'm assuming that you're referring to the 1 vol. version, alpidarkomama). The only other general history material I've used is the two-volume Seymour Rossel books and they were fine for the ages intended-middle elementary. I'm fine if it's fairly general, though not fine w/simplification; like I said, I read-aloud and they read independently many biographies and other books of historical fiction too that parallels whatever stream of history we're studying. I have collected a very long and extensive booklist (and always expanding!) for what I call our "living Jewish history" selections. I just need a good basic spine to pull it together. We'll be making our rounds again in high school w/Rabbi Wein's materials and they are also learning history via their B'nei Mitzvah classes. I'd love to have Artscroll's The Jewish Experience: 2,000 Years, but it's a little pricey for me this year :sad:. Rachel Edited August 28, 2012 by Messianicmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay3fer Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 p.s. Just want to add that there is a reasonably decent FREE Jewish history text - Crash Course in Jewish History - available at Aish.com: http://www.aish.com/jl/h/cc/ Maybe better for us mamas than for kids, but reasonably easily adapted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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