From Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to contemporary Israel with its problems and conflicts, this lavish volume takes a fascinating journey through Jewish history. It chronicles the religion"s principles and beliefs; key figures and events; and the diversity of Jewish culture that arose as, exiled from their homeland, they dispersed both east and west. Fifteen breathtaking rare facsimile documents include pages from the Vienna Genesis, the oldest illustrated Biblical codex; a letter describing one of the Russian pogroms in 1881; and a copy of David Ben Gurion"s speech declaring Israel"s independence in 1948.