Overview

This gripping memoir tells the personal story of a man who has lived at the epicentre of the major events of modern Jewish history. From the ashes of Auschwitz to statehood and the beginning of the in-gathering of the exiles, Rabbi Sholom Gold, born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn nearly eight decades ago, has lived through the most traumatic, tragic, and ultimately majestic period in the four-thousand-year saga of the Jewish people. Rabbi Gold chronicles here his relationships and memorable encounters with many of the Torah world's most illustrious personages, including the Stoliner Rebbe, Rav Yaacov Kaminetsky, Rav Yaacov Yitzchok Halevi Ruderman, the Satmar Rebbe, the Brisker Rav, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, the Kopycznitzer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, Rav Schach, the Ponovezher Rav, Rav Amram Blau, Rav Yisroel Gustman, Rav Avraham Pam, and more, as well as the story of sneaking through the closed-off streets of Jerusalem during a military exercise to be (successfully) tested for rabbinic ordination by Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. A passionate advocate for the land of Israel, in which he has lived for thirty years, Rabbi Gold tells of his encounters with prominent Israeli political figures such as Chaim Herzog, Menachem Begin, Yuli Edelstein, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and relates his struggles and political activism both in Israel and abroad to preserve the integrity of the state against the damaging Oslo Accords. Above all a rav and teacher, Rabbi Gold relates many anecdotes from his years in the rabbinate, including a mission into the heart of Soviet Russia to give encouragement to Moscow's beleaguered Jews. With sensitivity, depth, warmth, and plenty of humour, Rabbi Gold opens a fascinating window on the tumultuous and dynamic years of destruction and rebuilding that preceded and followed the founding of the Jewish state, and offers an insider's perspective on life in the land he holds so dear.

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9789652296399

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Reviews

Touching History should be read by all. Touching History is perfectly named. This book is history. It is the history of Rabbi Gold and his family, and it is the history of Judaism in North America - Canada and the United States of America, and of Israel during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century. Rabbi Gold brings modern Jewish history to life. Rabbi Sholom Gold lived through the most fascinating of times, and was aware enough, cognizant enough of what he was seeing and what he was part of, and retells it masterfully. The book reads as if he is talking. I was able to close my eyes and hear his voice, hear his passion. In this autobiography, he describes the tumultuous era he has lived in, and his small but influential role in it. Since moving to Israel in 1982 he has been a leading scholar and teacher, as the founder of the adult education program at the Israel Center. The book joyfully describes his own activities, as well as his encounters with major Jewish leaders, both religious and secular, and his role in creating todays vibrant and growing observant communities. The result is a simply-told, touching memoir that has a You are there feeling. Rabbi Gold describes the inner workings of day-to-day leadership and community building in the Orthodox world. It will be of interest to high school and college readers, and synagogue members who want to know what was it like? - Fred Isaac, Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA Oct 2015

Touching History should be read by all. Touching History is perfectly named. This book is history. It is the history of Rabbi Gold and his family, and it is the history of Judaism in North America - Canada and the United States of America, and of Israel during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century. Rabbi Gold brings modern Jewish history to life. Rabbi Sholom Gold lived through the most fascinating of times, and was aware enough, cognizant enough of what he was seeing and what he was part of, and retells it masterfully. The book reads as if he is talking. I was able to close my eyes and hear his voice, hear his passion.

"""Touching History should be read by all."" ""Touching History is perfectly named. This book is history. It is the history of Rabbi Gold and his family, and it is the history of Judaism in North America - Canada and the United States of America, and of Israel during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century."" ""Rabbi Gold brings modern Jewish history to life."" ""Rabbi Sholom Gold lived through the most fascinating of times, and was aware enough, cognizant enough of what he was seeing and what he was part of, and retells it masterfully."" ""The book reads as if he is talking. I was able to close my eyes and hear his voice, hear his passion."" In this autobiography, he describes the tumultuous era he has lived in, and his small but influential role in it. Since moving to Israel in 1982 he has been a leading scholar and teacher, as the founder of the adult education program at the Israel Center. The book joyfully describes his own activities, as well as his encounters with major Jewish leaders, both religious and secular, and his role in creating todays vibrant and growing observant communities. The result is a simply-told, touching memoir that has a You are there feeling. Rabbi Gold describes the inner workings of day-to-day leadership and community building in the Orthodox world. It will be of interest to high school and college readers, and synagogue members who want to know what was it like? - Fred Isaac, Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA Oct 2015"

Touching Historyshould be read by all. Touching History is perfectly named. This book is history. It is the history of Rabbi Gold and his family, and it is the history of Judaism in North America - Canada and the United States of America, and of Israel during the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century. Rabbi Gold brings modern Jewish history to life. Rabbi Sholom Gold lived through the most fascinating of times, and was aware enough, cognizant enough of what he was seeing and what he was part of, and retells it masterfully. The book reads as if he is talking. I was able to close my eyes and hear his voice, hear his passion. --Rafi Goldmeier Life in Israel (02/26/2015)

Author Information

Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold is a native of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY, where he grew up and attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. He continued his learning atYeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore and at the Ponevezh Yeshiva and Chevron Yeshiva in Israel. He received his rabbinic ordination from Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevy Herzog and from HaRav Yaacov Yitzchak Ruderman, Rosh Hayeshiva of Ner Yisroel. He also received a doctorate in Talmudic Letters from Ner Yisroel. In 1959 Rabbi Gold founded the Ner Yisroel Yeshiva College in Toronto and built Congregation B'nei Torah of Willowdale, Ontario. In 1971 Rabbi Gold accepted the position as spiritual leader of the growing community of Young Israel of West Hempstead. He built one of the first eruvin in North America, which quickly became a model for communities worldwide. In 1982 the Golds fulfilled their dream of making aliyah, where he has been in the forefront for the struggle for Eretz Yisroel. He is the founder and rav of Kehilat ZichronYosef of Har Nof, Jerusalem, and is founder and dean of the Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults, which has become the educational arm of the Israel Center.

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