'Moshe Rosman's How Jewish Is Jewish History is a lucid, engaged, but also dispassionate work certain to become a crucial point of departure for future discussions of fundamental questions facing Jewish studies. It asks, and sets out to offer some answers to the question as to whether historians can maintain the continuity and distinctiveness of the Jewish experience. Rosman sees Jewish historiography as having been altered at its core by postmodernism, and offers an incisive and original polythetic approach to this dilemma grounded in a reformed positivism. This is a wise, courageous, challenging book, subtle, made of many different parts, all of which are insightful, and likely to be of enduring significance.'
From the citation for the 2010 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award'While addressing the issues raised by postmodernism, Rosman provides a starting point from which to discuss how this generation might tackle these challenges. For students of Jewish history and historiography, this is a most worthwhile read . . . Recommended.'
- S. D. Benin, Choice
'Provides clear and insightful expositions of some central contemporary theoretical and methodological issues as they relate to some crucial themes in Jewish history in particular. It provides a learned and highly articulate defence of a pragmatic, moderate, and 'centrist' position by one of the influential practitioners of Jewish history writing . . . a highly valuable attempt to confront some of the major challenges posed by recent innovations from a firm position and in a coherent way. What is more, this collection has much to contribute to the definition of a badly needed common ground between supporters and opponents of postmodernism and thereby helps to diffuse much of the unpleasant polemic that has often surrounded the emergence of postmodern critiques.'
- Ferenc Laczo, European Journal of Jewish Studies
'His brief, incisive, and welcome conversation with contemporary Jewish historiography will be of inordinate use to the perplexed of our time.'
- Steven Bowman, H-Judaic
'Both thought-provoking and entertaining . . . thoroughly engaging and makes one ponder deeply on the basic issues of Jewish historiography. It should be read by all Jewish historians whether they are contemplating writing a grand narrative or a micro-study.'
- John Cooper, Jewish Historical Studies
'He presents a comprehensive work in English on the problems and challenges of writing Jewish history under the impact of postmodern ideas and multiculturalism, for which he deserves credit . . . The book's strong points include its extensive bibliography and excellent documentation.'
- Rivkah Duker Fishman, Jewish Political Studies Review
'Excellent . . . it is a most important and essential book for anyone interested in Jewish affairs. It is an overview of how academic theories of modernism are changing and have changed perceptions. It is a vital analysis of how many different approaches to Jewish history there are . . . Rosman raises all the fascinating issues.'
- Jeremy Rosen, The Jewish Press
'Cogently written, remarkably combining depth of analysis with clear, straightforward writing . . . Rosman has confronted the sharpest challenges for Jewish historiography laid down by contemporary modes of thinking.'
- Michael A. Meyer, Jewish Quarterly Review
'Rosman reviews the newest developments in Jewish historiography in the context of the historical theoretical debates of postmodern and postcolonial studies. In particular, he focuses on the definition of self and other in Jewish culture and history and on the relationship between them.'
- Ekaterina Emeliantseva, Osteuropa
'Absolutely essential reading for any student thinking of writing a thesis or even a serious paper on Jewish history. It is a profound analysis of what the academic study of Jewish history is and what should be taken into consideration in setting out to do research in the field. Rosman asks penetrating questions regarding the possibility of objective study of Jewish history in the light of the issues raised by postmodernist thinking and he sensitively explores ways of dealing with these questions. He applies his wide and perceptive reading in general historiography to clarify the challenge of new modes of historical thought to students of Jewish history. His mastery of the Jewish past, especially but not only of Jewish life in eastern Europe, keeps the discussion from being purely theoretical . . . While Rosman deals with complex issues, his writing is lucid and his examples are fascinating. There is nothing like this book on the market and it is therefore a crucial introduction for students. While Rosman's examples are drawn from the context of Jewish history, the issues he raises apply to the historiography of other religious and cultural groups. Therefore, while this brilliant book should be required reading for all serious students of Jewish studies, it should be equally interesting to students of other traditions.'
- Shaul Stampfer, Religious Studies Review
'Rosman's erudite volume ranges over more theoretical ground than can be explained in a brief review . . . a useful introduction to the heat that history and historiographical disputes generate in contemporary Israel.'
- Michael C. Hickey, Shofar
'Incisive.'
- Nils Roemer, Studies in Contemporary Jewry
'Rosman helps us understand how history has become, in the hands of postmodern awareness, more complicated, less unitary, and still deeply fascinating . . . an important entry in an important debate over the understanding of our multiple pasts in the complex present.'
- David Wolpe, Tablet Magazine
'Moshe Rosman is one of the few Jewish historians who can deal with the theoretical issues besetting Jewish historiography, particularly in the light of postmodernist thought. This book sets an agenda that will be discussed for many years hence.'
- Shmuel Feiner, Bar Ilan University
