The first difficulty is that, over the last one hundred and fifty years, the term 'Jew' has come to be used in two very different ways. To understand this, let's imagine ourselves back in 1780. At that time, the meaning of this term for everyone coincided with what the Jews themselves considered to be the constitutive basis of their own identity.

This identity was essentially religious; moreover, the precepts of religion governed, down to the smallest daily detail, all aspects of the social and private life of Jews amongst themselves and in their relations with non-Jews. It was unthinkable for a Jew to drink even a glass of water in a non-Jew's home.

This situation was changed by a twofold process, which began in Holland and England, continued in France during the Revolution and in the countries that followed its example, and eventually spread to the modern monarchical states of the nineteenth century: in all these countries, Jews acquired numerous and important individual rights (and, in some cases, complete legal equality); and the judicial power that the Jewish community exercised over its members was abolished. It should be noted that these two developments were simultaneous, and that the second - although little known - is even more important than the first.

Israel Shahak was a remarkable man. Born in the Warsaw ghetto and a survivor of Belsen, Shahak arrived in Israel in 1945. Brought up under Jewish Orthodoxy and Hebrew culture, he consistently opposed the expansion of the borders of Israel from 1967. In this extraordinary and highly acclaimed book, Shahak embarks on a provocative study of the extent to which the secular state of Israel has been shaped by religious orthodoxies of an invidious and potentially lethal nature. Drawing on the Talmud and rabbinical laws, Shahak argues that the roots of Jewish chauvinism and religious fanaticism must be understood before it is too late. Written from a humanitarian viewpoint by a Jewish scholar, this is a rare and highly controversial criticism of Israel that will both excite and disturb readers worldwide.

This is a new edition of a classic and highly controversial book that examines the history and consequences of Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel. It is essential reading for anyone who wants a full understanding of the way religious extremism has affected the political development of the modern Israeli state. Acclaimed writer and human rights campaigner Israel Shahak was, up until his death in 2001, one of the most respected of Israel's peace activists - he was, in the words of Gore Vidal, 'the latest - if not the last - of the great prophets.' Written by Shahak together with American scholar Norton Mezvinsky, this books shows how Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, as shown in the activities of religious settlers, is of great political importance. The authors trace the history and development of Jewish fundamentalism. They place the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in the context of what they see as a tradition of punishments and killings of those Jews perceived to be heretics. They conclude that Jewish fundamentalism is essentially hostile to democracy.

'As a critic of Zionism and as an opponent of Jewish exclusivity, Israel Shahak is special. He possesses in-depth knowledge of Israeli society, Jewish culture and the history of his people. His humanitarian concerns and commitments are extensive; his work as a human rights campaigner ... is enormous ... Shahak provides insights [in Open Secrets] that are often far more penetrating than what has been written by others ... Little of the information and few of the insights in Open Secrets can be found in other books that focus on Israel and the Middle East ... Open Secrets is an excellent book for required reading in History, political science and/or international affairs courses in which there is consideration of Israel in the Middle East.' The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

This is a new edition of a classic and highly controversial book that examines the history and consequences of Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel. Fully updated, with new chapters and a new introduction by Norton Mezvinsky, it is essential reading for anyone who wants a full understanding of the way religious extremism has affected the political development of the modern Israeli state.

Acclaimed writer and human rights campaigner Israel Shahak was, up util his death in 2001, one of the most respected of Israel's peace activists - he was, in the words of Gore Vidal, 'the latest - if not the last - of the great prophets.' Written by Shahak together with American scholar Norton Mezvinsky, this books shows how Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, as shown in the activities of religious settlers, is of great political importance.

The authors trace the history and development of Jewish fundamentalism. They place the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in the context of what they see as a tradition of punishments and killings of those Jews perceived to be heretics. They conclude that Jewish fundamentalism is essentially hostile to democracy.

Übersetzung: Israel Shahak, Jüdische Geschichte, Jüdische Religion - Der Einflu von 3000 Jahren, Ohne dieses sensationelle Aufklärungsbuch sind die heutigen politischen Vorgänge in den USA und Europa ebenso wenig zu verstehen wie diejenigen um Israel und Jerusalem. Dem Buch ist daher weitestgehende Verbreitung zu wünschen. Nach Buchbesprechungen und Anzeigen wird dieses Buch des Israeli Shahak sowohl von jüdischer Seite als auch von Teilen des deutschen Buchhandels - möglicherweise wegen des 5. Kapitels Die Gesetze gegen Nichtjuden oder wegen seiner Politischen Konsequenzen in Kapitel 6 - boykottiert. Harm Menkens, Kapitän auf Gro er Fahrt - Lühe‐Verlag Israel Shahak kam 1945 nach Palästina. Er war Professor für organische Chemie an der Universität Jerusalem.

Er starb in 2001. Als lebenslanger Kämpfer für Menschenrechte schreibt er über Aspekte des Judentums in Hebräisch und Englisch.

Während im Westen gegen den mohammedanischen Fundamentalismus gehetzt wird, breitet sich der jüdisch‐orthodoxe Fundamentalismus weitgehend unbemerkt aus. In diesem wissenschaftlichen und höchst lobenswerten Werk liefert Shahak eine provokative Studie darüber, in welchem Ausma der weltliche Staat Israel durch religiöse Orthodoxien von gehässiger und potentiell todbringender Natur umgestaltet worden ist. Aus seinem Studium des Talmud und der rabbinischen Gesetze zieht Shahak die Erkenntnis, da die Wurzeln des jüdischen Chauvinismus und religiösen Fanatismus verstanden werden müssen, bevor es zu spät ist.